Wolfy
Well-Known Member
A barnstorming tour I went on recently reinvigorated my love of low and slow, small airplane, tail dragger flying. Next year I'd like to be hopping rides in a Curtiss Junior, if the owner restores it by summer.
In the mean time, I want to give tail dragger instruction. There is nobody in my area right now doing it, and I know there's a market. My main business would be 2 day tail dragger courses. This would work for a few reasons. I live in Sonoma, CA which is a huge tourist town, people will be happy to come out and spend a weekend in the wine country. There are five airports within 9 miles, 2 of which are known for their crosswinds. Personally, it would work because of my corporate flying schedule. The job is actually very flexible.
I also want it to be a light sport airplane. I plan on getting my sport pilot CFI first to get it done quickly and so I don't have to deal with the Feds. There's also a large market of aspiring sport pilots out there with no airplane for them to fly. If I have a partner in the airplane, he can stay busy with them.
The airplane I'm leaning towards right now is a 7AC Champ. There are real good ones out there for under $30,000. I'd want a starter though, based on what I just saw a propeller do to somebody's thumb. I still prop airplanes, I just don't want every student pilot propping my airplane when they want to solo.
If anybody has advice on what airplane to get, on teaching tail dragger or running accelerated courses like this, I'd love to hear it.
In the mean time, I want to give tail dragger instruction. There is nobody in my area right now doing it, and I know there's a market. My main business would be 2 day tail dragger courses. This would work for a few reasons. I live in Sonoma, CA which is a huge tourist town, people will be happy to come out and spend a weekend in the wine country. There are five airports within 9 miles, 2 of which are known for their crosswinds. Personally, it would work because of my corporate flying schedule. The job is actually very flexible.
I also want it to be a light sport airplane. I plan on getting my sport pilot CFI first to get it done quickly and so I don't have to deal with the Feds. There's also a large market of aspiring sport pilots out there with no airplane for them to fly. If I have a partner in the airplane, he can stay busy with them.
The airplane I'm leaning towards right now is a 7AC Champ. There are real good ones out there for under $30,000. I'd want a starter though, based on what I just saw a propeller do to somebody's thumb. I still prop airplanes, I just don't want every student pilot propping my airplane when they want to solo.
If anybody has advice on what airplane to get, on teaching tail dragger or running accelerated courses like this, I'd love to hear it.