I've never liked the idea of extenders. They're a solution to a problem caused by bad habits; if you need them you're doing something wrong. The Champ spoiled me. I could lazily plop it on and not be punished with a bounce.

The rental has extenders. I should find one without before I rule out the series. I like "boing-o-matic." That's exactly what it is.

Yes, principles can get pricey. I'd stagger the wings and fuselage to make that pill easier to swallow.

Yes, a champ is very easy, of all taildraggers it requires the least amount of footwork. And it's much easier to get in and out of than a cub.

Similarly, of all ag planes a pawnee is the most benign. A travel air is light and easy to put exactly where you want it, it was a great trainer for people with few skills. And a king air 90 can be flown by a trained chimp who can do little more than stay awake.

<==== check the airplanes I fly regularly. Easy does it.

Ah, that explains it.

Mike C.

I co-own a 1946 Chief, 65 HP. $600 yr. insurance, 20K hull, coowner w 800+ tailwheel hrs., me -0-. Same broker as my G33. We burn 4-4.5 gal/hr. With owner assist inspection plate removal and cowl, prebuy/annual was $250.

Fun plane and I feel like a peeping Tom at 500 ft and 50 Kts.

I'm not an expert but this is my understanding.

The extenders move the axles forward about 3". There are two styles of gear legs for the 120/140. The early straight legs and the later swept forward legs. It is also my understanding the the extenders are not to be used on the later swept forward legs. My 120 is an early model and has the original early straight legs. I do not have extenders. It seems that most folks are no longer fans of extenders. My only experience is with my airplane, without extenders, and it seems to handle well. I do stay off the brakes.

I make full stall landings. When done right, the tailwheel rolls on first and the boing-o-matic main gear just plunk on without much fanfare.

YMMV

Robert

I don't disagree but I'm amused at the number of ads for Citabrias and the like that mention metal spars and a starters. If those things are important to the buyer, most of the 120's and all of the 140's came with these. I do have a fairly light 120 and concede many have become fat over the years. The little 120's are cheap and I've learned to like mine.

Robert

but not to important for a champ

on the plus side, if someone put a wingtip in the dirt i can splice onto the broken end of a wood spar a heck of a lot easier than with metal

Well, most of the Champs I've seen have useful loads around 500 lbs (give or take a bit). When I put my 300 lbs in there, and fill the tanks (25 gal = 150 lbs), it leaves about 70 lbs left over for the other seat. Even if I drop the fuel to 1/2 tanks (75 lbs), it only leaves about 145 lbs for the back-seater. I can't seem to find any 145-lb CFIs in the Dallas area - much less 70-pounders!

That's where the extra 80-or-so pounds of useful load from the factory metal spar would come in handy. I can probably find a CFI <= 225-lbs!

Well, most of the Champs I've seen have useful loads around 500 lbs (give or take a bit). When I put my 300 lbs in there, and fill the tanks (25 gal = 150 lbs), it leaves about 70 lbs left over for the other seat. Even if I drop the fuel to 1/2 tanks (75 lbs), it only leaves about 145 lbs for the back-seater. I can't seem to find any 145-lb CFIs in the Dallas area - much less 70-pounders!

That's where the extra 80-or-so pounds of useful load from the factory metal spar would come in handy. I can probably find a CFI <= 225-lbs!

I've heard that the real benefit that a metal spar brings to the table would be for those flying off the water. Wood works for me.

I'm curious why the AD doesn't also apply to the Champ. I thought they were the same wing?

I fly a cub, but don't have any champ time, so excuse the ignorant questions... Do you solo a Champ from the front? Does it have doors or windows like the cub so you can fly with the door/window open?

Is there any semblance of cargo space in a champ?

Robert

Solo from the front. The door is more like a 150's door than a cub's door so, unless you take it off completely, there's no way to fly doors open. The left windows do slide open though.

Thanks John!

Robert

Robert, you can fly mine anytime you want.