Franklyn vs Continental vs Lycoming: which is better?

(Malcolm Teas) wrote in message news:

I appreciate all your comments, here's some replies:

It sounds like you are looking for something fairly cheap.

Yup. We all have budgets, mine's probably smaller than many.

think you need to refine what you are looking for in an airplane
some more. You've go a wide range of aircraft listed which are all
useful for different types of flying.

I generated my list by a) making a list of all planes on Trade-a-plane
that fit my budget, b) generating a spreadsheet of their speeds,
useful loads, range, engine, seating, etc. Then cut the list down to
those planes that fit what my wife and I want to do.

Congratulations on your future purchase! I can see that you are considering
some antique/classic beauties. Do not let comments about these
aircraft
being "old" bother you. I have found the usenet groups to be rather
ignorant
about our type of aircraft. ...

Unfortunately that second step eliminated a lot of interesting
sounding, but for me, impractical planes like the Luscombes or
Aeroncas for example. While I'd love to fly one of these, it would
have to be a second plane. And with my budget, a second plane going
to have to be a paraglider. grin It's not the age that bothers me
really, it's the internal space and the low useful load. I'm 6' 3"
and - to my regret - just don't fit well into some planes. I've been
imposing myself on kindly owners and testing my fit. This helped cut
some planes from my list. However, while I don't want to own one and
fly it all the time, I'd love to rent some older classic planes
sometime! And you're right, the type clubs are very helpful.

Here we go ... Franklins are smooth running engines that often have
cylinders that don't make it to TBO. Parts are hard to find. No
problem
getting parts for most Continental O-300, O-470 variants. No problem
getting parts for Lycoming O-320, O-360, IO-360. All bets are *off*
for
any other engines you mentioned.

This'll be useful in looking at individual planes now, thanks. It's
most useful!

Based on the info you gave me privately about your budget, I think you can scratch
the Cessna 180. I would be reluctant to fly in any 180 that you can
afford. Decent
ones start at about $80 grand. It's a great plane, though; wish I had
one.

Ok, that's helpful. I'm in the third phase of whittling this list
now. I believe that the Maule will fall into the same category as the
180.

This leaves the Pacer/Tripacer, the C172, the C177, and the Musketeer.
I have heard polar opposites on the 177, seems to be a plane you
love or hate. I think there was an engine change in it's short
history that might explain that.

Also, you might notice that he Cherokee 140 was never on my list.
I've been told, and confirmed, things I don't like about it's load
capacity and short glide range. I guess I just don't like the
consequences of it's hershy bar wing.

I'm a little more partial to high wings myself, and would like to
learn tailwheel at some time. We'd like to be able to fly into small
country strips and relatively unimproved strips, have a couple longer
trips (600-1200 nm or so) each year, but most trips will be out and
back in one or two days. Most of the time it'll be us two, our small
dog, and with a little luggage.

Of those planes listed above, I'm unlikely to find a 177 as there's
not many on the market. And - my opinion only - I think the nosewheel
on the tripacer looks funny. So, that leaves Pacers, C172, and
Musketeer. All seem to have a reasonable enough engine, resale, and
availability. (I can fit into a Pacer, but it is small for me.)

And, just maybe, trade up to a Maule or C180 down the road sometime.

So, that sets the type and now I just have to think about individual
airplanes.

Make sense?

-Malcolm

"Malcolm Teas" wrote in message
m...
I'm a little more partial to high wings myself, and would like to
learn tailwheel at some time. We'd like to be able to fly into small
country strips and relatively unimproved strips, have a couple longer
trips (600-1200 nm or so) each year, but most trips will be out and
back in one or two days. Most of the time it'll be us two, our small
dog, and with a little luggage.

Cessna 170?

Paul