If ANY, what other options are out there ? Champ ? Taylorcraft ?
C-150 or Eurcoupe sound too fast.
Educate me.

Second airplane has to have a cheap entry fee !

My slow is 140 knots @ 13.5 gph, I'm getting the hankering for something little as a second airplane. Hopefully with a partner or two.

I'm sure it's fine but something about wings with wood in them doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling either. May have to get over that one.

Doors removable sounds great.

I've been flying 20 years and I believe I am missing out on another great aspect of aviation.

Anyone within a couple hundred miles of Chattanooga giving rides, low and slow ?

Your mooney has distorted your ability to judge "slow" (lucky you)! A C150 couldn't ever come close to a 140 knots, Vne is 141. Much closer to 105 knots, however only about 6-7 GPH.

Anyway, take a look at Super Decathlons. I don't have any experience with them myself, but from what I've heard/seen, it might just fit your needs. Gives you more flexibility than something so slow and restrictive, like a 150 yet still keeps the cool low and slow feel. Not quite sure about the cheap entry fee though.

I would honestly take a look at a Piper Pacer. The biggest advantage is low, slow, and cheap but the biggest plus is four seats. Many of the converted pacers have 150hp or 160hp. Auto fuel stc on most.

On the wood thing. I would fly a wood airplane all day. Wood, unlike aluminum, doesn't have a memory. You stress aluminum too many cycles, it will eventually fail. Their only pitfall is making sure they don't rot, but with an aluminum airplane you'll be trying to keep corrosion out.

Why not ask Budd Davisson? http://airbum.com/pireps.html.

Many wasted hours there. You're welcome.

My hangar neighbor has an Aeronca Champ. It is slow-cruise is 65 kts. Top off is 13 gallons. It is fabric and I do not know if doors come off. But it is definitely slow and he flies low. Short field performance is also great. He can land about anywhere.

Luscombe and Ercoupe. We have one of each. Both are great cruising around airplanes. Ercoupe values are up because most of them are light sport. Luscombe values are down a bit (but rising recently) because most of them are not light sport. J-3s are way over-priced for the airframe you get; you are paying a premium for the Cub aura, which is worth something, I suppose.

The Ercoupe can be flown with the canopy open or closed (and you can open or close it inflight) and is a comfortable aircraft flown topless. The doors can be removed from the Luscombe with four bolts and it flies great that way (cue the "it ain't legal, need approved data, STC, yada, yada" crowd). Both aircraft are easier to enter and exit than a Cub. The Ercoupe is easier than a Bo or Mooney - step on wing, step on seat, sit down. Both will fly formation on a Cub all day long at 70 mph burning about the same fuel as a Cub - a little over 4 gph. Or you can "push it up" to 5.5 to 6 gph and leave the Cub in the dust (relatively speaking) at 100 mph! The Luscombe is the better plane for sightseeing with the high wing; the Ercoupe is more comfortable for longer flights due to the wide cockpit and no rudder pedals and has much better all-round visibility (bubble canopy, just like and F-15!)

Get the 85 hp in either aircraft and do a good inspection for corrosion (as you would in any old aircraft). 60+ year-old aircraft are highly variable in their condition. In the end, I would by the airplane, regardless of make and model, with a clean airframe, no corrosion, good logs, recent overhaul and neat appearance that sells for a fair price and tugs at your heartstrings. Good luck and enjoy.

An R 22 is as slow and low as you want. Plus it can stop whilst still flying. Good for your brain to learn new things too, will keep you young. When you are training there is nothing like mastering the hover to forward flight.

I'll vote for the Champ but I'm biased. Best flying airplane with good room for both pilot and passenger. Given the choice I'd opt for an 85 but my 65 has never failed me. I'm well over 1000 hrs in it; early morning and late evening are the best!

<self promotion alert>

Look at a vintage 150. 2200 RPM, flaps 20, 65 KIAS, elbow out the window. Will make Warp 9.5 (aka 95 kts) when you want. I have one for sale.

Happy to give rides too. KHKS

I think this checks most, if not all, of your boxes:

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=112836

J-3, PA-18, Champ, L-19, and Stearman are my favorites. Second tier choices (mostly due to flying qualities that don't quite match the first group) would include any of the Citabria line and the Husky. Sealed cabins and yokes go against the grain of the "low and slow" mentality, so avoid them if you want the real thing.

Someone earlier mentioned the Luscombe. They are great flying little planes and when I had mine, I'm almost sure that I remember the POH allowing flying with the doors removed. Unlike Cubs, the performance really suffers when you pull the doors off.

You only mentioned certified aircraft. Open up the choices to experimental and there is a huge pile of options. Most of them cheaper than any certified flavor.

My personal choice would be a Bowers Flybaby. Its a single seater, though. A Pietenpol Aircamper is also great, but the ones I've been in require gymnastics moves to get into (especially the front pit).

I have 50ish hours in a Champ, so I'm biased towards them. The 7AC 65 hp models cruise around 75 mph on ~ 4.25 gph. There are later models with electrical systems and wing tanks.

I'm on the big side (6'2" and 255 these days), and can squeeze myself into a Champ with minor effort.

Good ones are available way under $30k, and it seems like a teal to me.

The Avid Flyer is perfect!

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=111684&view=unread#unread

Tony, I've been entertaining the same thoughts and keep coming to Citabria. I get the low & slow plus light aerobatics. Not a bad combination for me. Shame you're on the " other side of the hill", I'd suggest a partnership in one.