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Six new supercub buyers?

sj

Staff member
Northwest Arkansas
I am giving doing six tailwheel endorsements in a PA-18-135, and have three or four other folks in line. There are other taildraggers to fly in Kansas City, and probably much better instructors than me, but I think the mystique of the supercub has lured them in. I always like to fly back to the home airport after a lesson at 501 agl (cough cough 8) ) looking at cows, turkeys, horses, pools, the river, and urban sprawl. I installed a little convex mirror in the front of the cub so I can see the look of terror / enlightenment / pre-barf on the face of the student. I can see the little wheels turning in their head thinking "How cool would it be to own one of these bad boys?"

Inevitably, once we land, the person asks, "So, what's a supercub like this go for?"

Interestingly, unlike a 172 or an Arrow, this type of plane causes a yearning for personal ownership. Much like a motorcycle, a home, or a piece of art. You can always rent a 172, and Arrow, or whatever. But renting a cub might feel more like renting a wife than renting an airplane.

On of the greatest privileges I have is the ability to introduce others to this airplane. For a while at least, they can escape to a place that so many of us enjoy, and often take for granted.

sj

Postscript: Now, the way things have been going around here, this seemingly benign and whimsical post about flying will probably end up in the rant and rave section when somebody starts talking about who I should thank for this freedom and who would take it away, etc. I have, in many posts, expressed that gratitude. Today, I am just enjoying it.
 
Strange thing Steve.

When I was taking my early instruction in Nebraska in a J-3, I never thought anything about it being a tail dragger (gee, a very long time ago) until I got a chance to take some dual cross country in a C-172 from Lincoln to Epply in Omaha with a little radio nav instruction enroute, all at the J-3 costs. They were going anyway to pick up some aircraft parts so we both lucked out, cost wise. I was actually very concerned trying to land that very odd looking aircraft with the funny looking thingie hanging down under the engine but the CFI kept telling me to just fly it onto the runway and keep the nose a little high. Turned out to be a grease landing oddly enough. Once done and exiting the runway, I got to thinking what the big deal was. No fun at all and no challenge. Just like driving a car in a way.

Taildraggers, the only way to fly.
 
Well said Steve. I think that expresses how many of us feel about our Cubs. Hard to duplicate that window open, door down, low and slow experience in anything else.

My kids think it's "Way cool"

Bob[/quote]
 
Amen Steve. Your post reminded me of the EAA airshow at Arlington WA this past Sunday. I was hanging around waiting to fly Daisy home. She was still tied up next to the exhibition booth. The "official" show was over. Vendors were tearing down displays and packing them away. I was just hanging with Mike B waiting for the crowd to take off before flying back to Fall City.

Two young lads, maybe 12 and 8, came by and started looking Daisy over. I walked over and said hello. I answered their questions about the airplane. Explained what all the dials and gauges were for on the panel and how the stick and rudder control flight.

I asked them if they had come out to watch the airshow (the aerobatic demonstrations). They said, "No, we came out to check out the kits." "Oh, are you and your Dad going to buy a kit?" I asked.

"No, but someday my brother and me are going to buy a kit", they told me. Then they asked me a lot of questions about whether or not you needed a pilot's license to fly a kit airplane and if kit airplanes flew differently from "regular airplanes". I answered their questions and suggested that they were getting close to old enough (the oldest one anyway) to be able to take flying lessons.

I could see the burning desire to fly in their eyes. They wanted it bad. "Why don't you take an introductory flight lesson with your Mom or Dad", I asked?

"Naw, we can't, it's not in the budget", the oldest replied, "You see our, Dad doesn't live with us anymore." He went on, " but we'll get a kit, we're saving up for it, and then we'll learn how to fly".

Man, it was all I could do to keep from breaking down right in front of those kids. What 12 year old kid knows what the word "budget" means? Why should a 12 year old kid have to know what "budget" means. At 12 anything should be possible (or seem so) which is how dreams are born. If I possibly could have I would have taken both of them for a ride right then to help keep their dream alive. But, the airplane was tied down, it was right in the middle of the mad rush by all the aircraft to depart and both the kids had to run off to meet their Mom.

As they ran off toward the gate to return to their daily lives at 12 and 8 with a budget, no Dad, and dreams of builiding a kit and learning to fly, I stood there thinking just how lucky I am to be blessed with the privilege to fly and own an airplane. I'm not gonna squander that privilege and I'm gonna share it every chance I get.
 
Gunny, that's awesome. I hope those guys stick with their dream!

sj
 
Wow, well said. I hope they don't succumb to reality. Tell em about the pietenpol. I'll bet if an EAA chapter would adopt em they could find a way. God Bless them.

I have been Blessed to have flown lots of airplanes and a big part of the Cub magic is in the door and window arrangement. A Champ flies great, has more room but you can't open up the side (unless you take the door off but then its just not the same). It also has the stick. A Taylorcraft is a fine airplane but it has a yoke. It seems that it just all comes together in the Cub. You either get it or you don't. After the first ride you either become a rabid Cub junky or not. Who knows.

Bill
If I could only own one airplane it would be a Cub.
 
Bill, recently because of 'BUDGET CONTRAINTS' (there's that b word again), I had to sell my beautiful C180. It was all those things that my Supercub is not: fast, comfortable, IFR capable, beautifully painted, upholtered, instrumented, and full of all those gadgets that we drool over. Several people, including my wife, asked " why didn't you sell the Cub instead?" The only answer that I could come up with that most of the folks understood was "you don't sell family".
 
Ron, sorry to hear to you had to sell one of your planes, but you made the right choice.

Anne.
 
I know what you guys mean when it comes to Cubs, but I am right in love with my 210 hp 172 on amphibs.
 
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