Guys, I just want you to know that I have been following this thread with great interest. I recently agreed to sell my Super Decathlon, which I have owned for 7 years, and the purchase is set to close this Friday. Part of the reason to sell was that I wanted to explore other "fun" tailwheel planes. I might wait a few months before buying something else, but I do expect to buy another taildragger of one variety or another, whether a J3 Cub or a Great Lakes or other biplane or a hauler like a 185 or maybe even a Beech 18, just because I want to experience different planes. (In case you're wondering, I have NO plans to sell my A36, and will likely have it cremated with me.) So please keep all these ideas and comments about "fun" tailwheels flowing!

warning, off topic-
last night I had one of my students out right before dark, doing some pattern work in the Husky. After (ahem) several months of lessons, finally it all clicked....made 3 beautiful greaser 3 point landings....

Said student was "higher than a kite" after that. It's fun to watch someone "get it" landing a tail dragger...

I was just thinking about the FI 210 HP Scout Denali and then I received my copy of Aviation Consumers with an article in it.
I always like the Citabria/Scout model but 210 hp must be the cats meow.

That's a great idea. I have always wanted one of everything, but since I'm no Bill Gates, the best plan is to own them one at the time. I loved my little Luscombe that I started out in, it was a great flying little plane. The Stinson was fun and nearly practical, awesome handling but a little slow and thirsty with that Franklin. If it would have had a Lycoming O-360 up front, it would have been one to keep. The Pitts was off the charts fun for a surprisingly short period of time as many single place planes tend to be. The Stearman was fun for much longer. The Broussard was kind of neat, but was the worst flying plane that I have ever flown. The cub was a blast. There's just something about cruising along at 65mph on those first crisp days of fall and smelling the bacon cooking as you fly over peoples houses just as the sun comes up. What's next....who knows, sometimes you run across something unique and it just calls your name.

I can only imagine that the 210 HP model is nice - it has a few other upgrades too I am told. However, buying a new airplane like that for my second "fun" plane is just not going to happen. I figure there will be some used ones in the future... :-)

-jason

How about the E350 ("Bigfoot")?

I would be looking hard at this:
http://www.glasairaviation.com/sportsman-specs.html
Robin

Found aircraft as folded. The Big Foot was never certified. Too bad as it would have been a great aircraft. The flight test BIgfoot sold for $100k at the liquidation auction this summer.

Flying home after a fun day (making use of my in flight Internet to post on BT!). I looked at a cherry citabria, 160hp. Also looked at a scout. About a 10k delta in price -both have comparable radios, but the citabria has a near zero time engine for a prop strike and the scout has had its wing repaired by American champion (at factory in jig) for ground loop. So, what say you folks, which would you get. The citabria has wheel pants but is very clean with 300 hours, the scout has 900.

Speak quick!

Pick the one that you think will resell easier when you are done.

Jason

If the Citabrias the one I told you about, it's a very capable plane. I've flown several Montana trips with the owner.

However, the Scout is a great plane too. I'm basically building a Scout now on a 7GCBC frame.

I've considered buying that one also if it doesn't sale soon. Good luck......

Rick

All other considerations aside... The Citabria seems like a better bet. With the prop strike you get a new prop and a new engine. With the ground loop you get the same wing with a repair, and just hope that there was no undetected damage to the rest of the plane.

And really, isn't 160 hp way more engine than you need on that airframe for anything besides showing off? It started with 65 hp as a Champ and still got out of reasonably short airfields.

Anyone know a good shop close to San Jose for a pre-buy?

Maybe reach out to the nor cal BTer's thread under trip talk. A lot of good guys up that way might be able to help. Try Adam S. as he's a fellow Citabria bro too.

You want to make sure you get someone familiar with fabric planes. Not all shops are.

Congrats
Rick

Where is it listed and what's the N-number so we can look at it?