I’ve owned a Taylorcraft L-2 (kind of like a cub, with 65hp); 2 Citabrias, a Husky; instructed in J-3, super cub; owned a Stinson 108; etc....

FWIW, here are my thoughts:
-define exactly what you want to accomplish...if it’s just go out, low and slow, and enjoy early mornings, late evenings, go nowhere...you’ll never beat a cub or Champ. But the “slow” part will really get to you if you want to go someplace. (when I was instructing a kid in a J-3, out of Lafayette, LA, it took us quite a while to get far enough away from the TRSA to be able to do maneuvers...)

-Don’t overlook the 4 seaters....agreed, they aren’t as classic as a cub, but you’ll suddenly find utility you didn’t know you “needed”. Anything from just carrying some stuff with you, to occasionally carrying a 3rd person...I loved my Stinson up until I had an engine failure (side note: it was a bilateral magneto failure...later an AD came out on the mags, due to the coil breaking down...so don’t let that discourage you from a Stinson. I had parts problems for it back in the 80s, but now don’t know that its the same problem it was then). The Stinson is an incredibly well engineered plane, great flying qualities, classic...and reasonably priced.

-CAREFULLY consider if you want to hand prop....it’s an art form, and IMO is dangerous. I have done it thousands of times, and will continue to prop planes by hand....but it’s DANGEROUS. You’ll find yourself all alone, have to go through the “tie the tail, chock the mains, prop the plane, get it set, fix a loop to “untie” it while you’re sitting at the brakes”....all that will occasionally prompt you to skip a step...and then you’ll have the opportunity to either tear it up, or maybe you’ll get lucky and get the throttle before it gets away from you. This is one of the reasons I sold my L-2 (which was a beautiful classic) and get a Husky (more mundane)...I let other people fly it, including my son, and I didn’t want someone to get hurt. Conversions with a lightweight starter, even if there is no electrical system (i.e., just a battery that gets charged at home to power the starter) are, IMO, worth it.

-If possible, get a ride in a contemplated model....in north GA (I think that’s where you are) if you weigh much more than the FAA 170 pounds, and take someone with you, you don’t have a lot of climb gradient on a hot day. I looked at a really nice ex-military J-3 that had insufficient margin with myself and one other person to get over the trees in south GA....as mentioned by others, these planes were designed in a day when a lot of healthy men weighed 145-150 pounds....many of us haven’t seen those weights since high school.

-once you get one...you’ll have a blast.

I like your use of bilateral in that situation.

I skip the tail dragged and get a nice 152 which by now is no more expensive to buy than a tricky to handle 120/140. No more costly to operate and much more livable.

Yep, I've also heard that Hondas are cheaper, more reliable, and every bit as much of a motorcycle as Harleys are.

Great thread....

I've been seriously thinking about a taildragger as well but something with a little more hp for Colorado. Obviously more $$$

I talked to a guy on the ramp recently with an older Citabria with the 150hp engine and he said it was very underpowered up here.

I like your use of bilateral in that situation.

I guess if you want to do bush flying the 150 hp isn't enough, but for a Saturday breakfast tourer it should be plenty, even at high density altitude.

I have about 50 hours in a 7AC Champ with 65 hp. I'm 6'2" and 250. The biggest problem I have is my legs. My knees barely fit under the panel up front and I kept scratching my knee cap on the primer assembly behind the panel. I normally fly that one from the back, even solo. Plenty of hip and shoulder room for me. My knees are above my hips, though, a situation which my bad back doesn't always tolerate well.

I fly that one out of a 2600' grass strip with trees at one end. It clears them comfortably even a hair over max gross unless it's a hot day with no headwind, but folks used to planes with a lot of excess power think it's scary. I got used to the performance and now it's normal to me to be able to make out individual leaves as we fly by.

I've owned a Champ for most of my life and if I was to replace it with more utility and keep a tailwheel, I think a C-170 would fit really well. And if it had a 180 with C/S I believe I'd gloat.

Only thing that's wrong with the Bo is that tailwheel is on the wrong end! As others have said earlier, tandem seating (J-3, Champ, ect.) more room; C120/140 are a shade faster but little shoulder room. T-craft, Luscombe still no room and slow but, really economical. So if you truly don't care about going anywhere, and on the cheap, nearly any of the 2 place machines will fill the bill. Unless you have something to carry family or friends, you will soon be lusting for a Cessna 170, Stinson, or more, ect. Perhaps a good 2pl solution might be a Swift but, they ain't cheap. I've owned C-120/140/170B and flown just about all of the rest and enjoyed each and every one. Decide what your priorities and go for it.
My $.02.
MM

Well, I guess I should "gloat".

Jgreen

Seems the earlier Stinson 108 models were great 4 seaters. Would the Maule be considered the next evolution of the Stinson?

I would.......lucky bastard!!!

In today's market the Cessna 120/140 is probably one of the best bangs for the buck if you are looking at a 2 place. Get a light one.

Robert

No, a Stinson is well built and handles very nicely.

When I was looking for a Taildragger it had to have a stick and tandem seating, but that's just me. Love the Citabria.