Alaska Chat III (Soldotna: to buy, vacation, sold)

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by starlite9

In time it will be like riding a bike. I started out learning to fly a C172, but couldn't afford it on CG pay, so I bought a C150, rented it to the flying club and it paid for the plane, maintance, insurance and my license... Not to mention a tax write off to boot!

Nice. A 150 would be nice. However I want a plane that would be good for going between Haines and Anchorage.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by ASpilot2be

Nice. A 150 would be nice. However I want a plane that would be good for going between Haines and Anchorage.

A 7GCBC is a good plane, you can have floats or 26" tires for beach landings, although there isn't a lot of beach, you can skip off the water with them onto the beach... Once...

If you ordered new, you can get the long range tanks too, but that is pretty pricey... or get a Sorenson belly tank to add range too.

My 7GCBC has the constant speed on a 160 HP engine, so it scoots along pretty well, and has short field takeoff. They are about half the price of a Cub, and can "Almost" match them in performance, and in some cases do.

Downside on the 160 hp engine is that I have to use Avgas, the 150 hp can be STC's for auto gas which is a lot cheaper

On floats it preforms pretty well too.

Would you be coming up the highway or along the coast? There is some really nice beaches to land on by Icy Bay area on the outside. A 206 would be really good, but cost an arm and leg for fuel.

[warptman]

There are a few Cessna 170's for sale, a perfect first plane!

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by warptman

There are a few Cessna 170's for sale, a perfect first plane!

Yeah, but they are going on some fifty five years old now...for the newer ones.

You got to check for corrosion really carefully and go over the maintance history really well, but there are some really good deals too.

[warptman]

Most of the people out here have C172's. The richer folk have C185's and C180's and a bunch of C206's on floats and wheels. There are even a few Stinson's out here.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by warptman

Most of the people out here have C172's. The richer folk have C185's and C180's and a bunch of C206's on floats and wheels. There are even a few Stinson's out here.

Almost bought a '47 Stinson once, but the Franklins were a bit harder to get parts for and the rudder wasn't very responsive in a heavy crosswind. Although they are built like a tank, and they can even have a 235 hp hung on the front if one was so inclined over the 150 or 165 HP Franklins without a really big STC process.

But they are really roomy and easy on long trips!

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by starlite9

A 7GCBC is a good plane, you can have floats or 26" tires for beach landings, although there isn't a lot of beach, you can skip off the water with them onto the beach... Once...

If you ordered new, you can get the long range tanks too, but that is pretty pricey... or get a Sorenson belly tank to add range too.

My 7GCBC has the constant speed on a 160 HP engine, so it scoots along pretty well, and has short field takeoff. They are about half the price of a Cub, and can "Almost" match them in performance, and in some cases do.

Downside on the 160 hp engine is that I have to use Avgas, the 150 hp can be STC's for auto gas which is a lot cheaper

On floats it preforms pretty well too.

Would you be coming up the highway or along the coast? There is some really nice beaches to land on by Icy Bay area on the outside. A 206 would be really good, but cost an arm and leg for fuel.

Interesting. I can find a 140 for around 25k, which seems pretty good.

If I have a plane for beaches I would like to do the coast, however I would probably file IFR and come the inland route.

[Future Trooper]

Good Morning to you guys in Alaska!

its 12:26 PM EDT here.


How is everyone?

[warptman]

Fair to middling.

[Rance]

I got snow!