I sold my Cessna 150 on 9 July 2009, and immediately began searching for a replacement.
18 July 2009 -- looked at a Falcon 103 ultralight. Good price, but it was in easy to carry pieces -- I'd have to assembly it, hook up the Rotax 227 engine, etc.
30 July 2009 -- put a $500 deposit on a two seat, registered (tail number) Falcon. The owner, within a month, was to get it running (it had been sitting for a while) and make a demonstration flight. He installed new carbs, new fuel lines, did a lot of work, but never could get it air worthy.
22 Sep 2009 bought into a Ercoupe partnership (four members.) Not entirely satisfied with this arrangement, but nice to have a two seat aircraft. Still looking.
5 Mar 2010 Drove to Mt. Sterling KY to look at a Ragwing Ultra Piet (a single seat version of the Petenpol.) The left rudder pedal broke while I was taxing it. If that had happened in the air, Jeanene would have been shipping my body home in a box.
8 Mar 2010 Checked out a High Max. It had no N# and was not legal as a 103 ultralight. Essentially could not be legally flown, and no way to make it legal.
9 Mar 2010 Drove to New Madrid, MO to look at a Weedhopper. The fellow only flew it if the wind was below 5 mph. It lacked the ability to handle a crosswind.
5 Jun 2010 Drove to Jerseyville, IL to look at a Fly Baby. Although very rough, it had a tail number, electric start, and the engine did start immediately. Sounded good. I did buy this plane, although it was not in a condition to fly (the price was right.) I had it moved to Sullivan on a car hauler.
Fall 2010: Flew the Ercoupe while working off-and-on on the Fly Baby. Late in 2010, the partners decided upon a complete stem to stern repair of the Ercoupe.
Spring and Summer 2011: Took tail wheel training and Soaring lessons while waiting for the Ercoupe rebuild. Continued to work on the Fly Baby.
22 Oct 2011 Fly Baby passed condition inspection, compression good, no major squawks, taxied ok;
22 Oct 2011 (same day) Ercoupe back up after extensive repairs.
And for the last two years, I've been a part of the 9-member Scrounge Dawgs building a Pietenpol. It should fly this summer (which is what we said last summer.)
So finding a plane that meets even the most basic criteria is difficult.
