I know this is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison, but I'm in an interesting position where I'm looking to buy a half share of a Decathlon or a Scout for about the same price. I don't know much about the hours/years or any other specifics yet, but I thought I'd ask the Beech Talk masses - which would you choose and why?

As a side note: I am slightly more interested in doing some off road flying / camping than I am with aerobatics, but both sound fun. Both airframes look excellent as well. But not focusing totally on mission - which is more fun / usable.

What do you think?

I'd take the Scout. The Decathlon is fun little aerobatic plane, but the Scout is a better bush plane and my personal opinion is a plane like this is all about a fun little taildragger, back country grass strip fun rather than wring it out aerobatics.

Wood spars?

I agree with Adam. Buy the Scout. You want the flaps. The scout will do aerobatics and STOL ops. Not so much with the Decathlon.

Scout

Is it a straight Decathlon or a Super Decathlon?

They had a Denali Scout at Osh. 210 HP and a long wing with flaps and plenty of gas to go the distance. $270 large I think.

To be fair, I spent most of my time ogling the Champ in the vintage paint scheme. Had it been less expensive by a bit, I might have flown it home...

Best,
Rich

Decathlon.

that is the QUESTION….

Unless you're doing "real" bush flying, the Decathlon will easily land on a short farm strip without issue... just like a Bonanza can, only it needs less runway length for takeoff.

If you're talking about landing/camping at remote airports, don't rule out a Decathlon. Inverted flight is too much fun to pass up.

I have owned both. Love both. The Decathlon will do 80% of what the Scout will do and cruise faster. The Scout will do what it does, short & rough field, better. The Scout has flaps, of course, and more room in the rear seat and baggage (it's wider). It also sits higher with larger tires and, I believe, more useful load.

The airplanes have completely different wings, but both fly beautifully.

Unless aerobatics are pretty important though, I would take the Scout hands down.

Jgreen

…

hmm…interesting question…

you may even want to look into an apple-orange by getting a nice Champion Explorer with flaps, let's call it a Citabria with flaps, 160HP or 180HP all for yourself, and may enjoy both worlds…

in my humble opinion nothing beats the simplicity of a fixed pitch bird for those fun flying days...

Decathlon is faster.

Ginger, or MaryAnn?

Both.