New Member, Wyoming

[bcraft]

Good morning all, I have a strong interest in the 8-GCBC Scout line. I am not a current owner but hope to be in the not too distant future. I've not flown in nearly four years, economics forced me out of the game, but am looking to return to the fold. This time, as a "real" pilot, "dragging my tail". Anyway, looking for helpful information regarding the type, suggestions for pre-buy inspections in different parts of the country, etc.

Just consider me "anxious". ;o)

 

[Bob Turner]

If you are new to taildragging, a Citabria would serve you well and cost half as much. You could trade up later.

 

[Goodyear]

Oh come on Bob. Go big or go home! But Bob is right. There are a lot of good tail wheel airplanes. And Bob is an expert in many of them. As a Scout owner I will say it is a comfortable well mannered craft. A little heavy on the controls, but that also has its benefits.

 

[Bob Turner]

The little J3 is the best of the lot. I can train a pilot in the J3, and they can darn near fly anything.

Surprise - I can train them in a Super Cub, and it takes a little extra time in a J3.

But - and it is these anomalies that can only happen with really good pilots - that pair with the Twin Beech taildragger behind your hangar got checkouts in Citabria and 140 Cessna, then with 20 hours each total tail wheel time they brought that Beech all the way from Georgia! And it doesn't even have a locking tailwheel!

For us mere mortals, start simple - even an old Champ - and work your way up. A hundred pattern hours before you can really call yourself a taildragger pilot.

Opinion, of course.