What to buy...what to buy?

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 08:34:17 -0500, Ron Natalie
wrote:

I think C-170B model prices start at around $30K-$35K for one that
starts, flies and stops up to $50K - $55K+ for show quality examples.

I always thought it would be neat to move the main gear forward of
the spar on a Navion and stick a tailwheel on the back (has anyone
done this?).

Bela P. Havasreti


Bela P. Havasreti wrote:
Where are you at? I own a C-170B, and it's one of the best all-around
airplanes ever built (one could argue the C-172 might fit that bill,
but I have a weakness for taildraggers....).

I agree...I've got about 35 hours in a 170 (really the only taildragger
time I have since someone else groundlooped the one I was flying and I
went out and bought the Navion before the thing got back on the line).

Certainly, combines the best of the taildragger and the pseudo-four place
172. It's also old enough to get you preferred parking at flyins but not
so unusual that you'll have trouble finding maintenance.

How much are these going for these days?

As for Navions, I'm sort of partial to them, but you're going to have
a harder time finding one for $30K these days. Mine ran about $35
ten years ago (but it was a fairly nice one when I got it). The maintenance
is a bit more involved than the many of the others.

If you want all out speed, bet either the long-eze or the AA5B (again I don't
know how well you're going to do finding one of those for $30K). I'm partial
to the looks of the Swift as well, but they have problems of their own.