Thinking about buying a 120/140, tips, advice?

[KKochan]

I just bought a 140 about 3 months ago and love it. If you can hanger it go for a rag wing and forget the metal wings. They fly better not only because they're lighter, but there's one metallized STC (can't recall which one) that places the metal overlap on a critical spot on the wing and slows it down. I have a cruise prop and can outrun a 150 cruising all day at 110-112mph with the stock C-85. I only had 30 t/w hours and no time in type and got insurance for a slight bit above $600, so its cheap to obtain.

The Cessna 120/140 club forum is a must for any owner. Wealth of knowledge everywhere there.

Stay away from the 150 t/w conversions unless its a David Lowe STC conversion. He essentially makes a 150 into a 140, using their gear legs which is tall enough, unlike the other conversions.

Thank you for the info, that's a really good looking 140! Any more photos?

I think I'll aim for the fabric wings, but at first I may not be able to afford to hangar it (they run around $400+/month for a T around here). If I keep it outdoors long term I'll get full covers for it.

I only have 10hrs tailwheel, but commercial and instrument, a quick check showed $1400/yr with hull coverage through AOPA, about $1000 of that being the hull coverage..

 

[Houston]

I'd second the idea of talking with an insurance agent before you purchase. It gets more and more difficult to buy insurance on a taildragger as time goes along.

 

[KKochan]

I'd second the idea of talking with an insurance agent before you purchase. It gets more and more difficult to buy insurance on a taildragger as time goes along.

Yep, I'll get a real quote rather than doing online ones soon. It's quite a bit more than a tricycle equivalent, but not outrageous, and worth it in my opinion.

 

[BEEF SUPREME]

So what is the difference between a 120 and a 140?

I did my tail wheel sign off in the 140 and I loved it. I am really excited about commuting to work in one!

 

[z987k]

I just bought a 140 about 3 months ago and love it. If you can hanger it go for a rag wing and forget the metal wings. They fly better not only because they're lighter, but there's one metallized STC (can't recall which one) that places the metal overlap on a critical spot on the wing and slows it down. I have a cruise prop and can outrun a 150 cruising all day at 110-112mph with the stock C-85. I only had 30 t/w hours and no time in type and got insurance for a slight bit above $600, so its cheap to obtain.

The Cessna 120/140 club forum is a must for any owner. Wealth of knowledge everywhere there.

Stay away from the 150 t/w conversions unless its a David Lowe STC conversion. He essentially makes a 150 into a 140, using their gear legs which is tall enough, unlike the other conversions.

Who is your insurance through, and is that just liability(I assume)?

 

[KKochan]

So what is the difference between a 120 and a 140?

I did my tail wheel sign off in the 140 and I loved it. I am really excited about commuting to work in one!

The 120 was the economy version, it didn't come with flaps, and the rear D-windows and electrical system were an option.

I don't know if flaps can be added, the 120s I've seen for sale don't mention having them.

 

[Air 1]

Who is your insurance through, and is that just liability(I assume)?

I went through a broker, James Gardner Company out of Atlanta. I looked again and I was wrong, mine was just over $700, with hull coverage also in that. For liability only, it was less than $200.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

I would stay away from that just because airplanes that weren't originally taildraggers tend to be sort of kludgy.

I have flown a Texas Taildragger 150 and some 172 conversion (maybe Bolen). Are there some conversions that are known to be kludgy?

 

[Pilot Fighter]

I just bought a 140 about 3 months ago and love it. If you can hanger it go for a rag wing and forget the metal wings. They fly better not only because they're lighter, but there's one metallized STC (can't recall which one) that places the metal overlap on a critical spot on the wing and slows it down. I have a cruise prop and can outrun a 150 cruising all day at 110-112mph with the stock C-85. I only had 30 t/w hours and no time in type and got insurance for a slight bit above $600, so its cheap to obtain.

The Cessna 120/140 club forum is a must for any owner. Wealth of knowledge everywhere there.

Stay away from the 150 t/w conversions unless its a David Lowe STC conversion. He essentially makes a 150 into a 140, using their gear legs which is tall enough, unlike the other conversions.

What do you think of the Texas Taildragger 150? That was my first tailwheel experience and I didn't think it was too squirrelly. Maybe the grass strip hid some bad manners.

 

[Corporate Pilot]

This Is What The 1966 Cessna 150 Should Have Looked Like

http://airpigz.com/blog/2010/3/9/this-is-what-the-1966-cessna-150-should-have-looked-like.html

 

[KKochan]

Okay so I've found one I'm interested in that's near Paso Robles, CA.. Anyone know of a good IA around there to have a prebuy done? The only possible issue is that the plane has been flown 0 hours since it's last Annual in 2012, it's always been hangared and has been taxi'd and run up occasionally during this time.

 

[rframe]

Okay so I've found one I'm interested in that's near Paso Robles, CA.. Anyone know of a good IA around there to have a prebuy done? The only possible issue is that the plane has been flown 0 hours since it's last Annual in 2012, it's always been hangared and has been taxi'd and run up occasionally during this time.

I bought a plane that was based at Paso Robles and I can give you the name of a local IA you should definitely NOT use there, totally incompetent. PM me if you want.