Now that 16-Golf is gone, I am eagerly searching for a replacement. I have narrowed the decision process down to three categories of planes. One of the planes that I'm considering is a Texas Taildragger. As a low time pilot (200 PIC hours) without a tailwheel endorsement (yet), most insurance companies won't even offer insurance on my dream plane- a tailwheel Maule- until I:
1) Receive my tailwheel endorsement and log a couple hundred hours in a tailwheel.
2) Receive (minimal, about 20 hours) dual training in a Maule tailwheel.
(Note: As a low time pilot w/out specific training in a Maule, but with at least a tailwheel endorsement, you can purchase insurance on a Maule for the low, low annual premium of roughly $5,000-$5,500! Can you imagine?)
So...I'm strongly considering purchasing and flying a tailwheel plane for a couple years in an effort to build up enough time to be able to purchase insurance on a Maule at a reasonable rate.
I sold 16G essentially because I needed more than 500 pounds of useful load. On a hot day, with full fuel, I was limited to a passenger and a toothbrush. I have heard people suggest that a 150 h.p. Texas Taildragger might offer a greater useful load, but I have never investigated this claim. Also, because I have no desire to purchase a tandem seat taildragger, this really limits the possibilities of which taildragger to purchase.
I've heard the hype and the exaggerated stories (I was born at night, but not last night!) about the capabilities of Texas Taildraggers, but now I'm coming to this membership for the FACTS.
Guys, what can I reasonably (i.e. safely ) expect out of a Texas Tailwheel with regards to performance, capabilities, reliability and handling characteristics. I respectfully ask that the following questions be answered by those with first hand experience with Texas Taildraggers. I've already heard enough second hand opinions to last several lifetimes.
So here are a handful of specific questions for the "Taildraggers" in our membership:
1) What's a typical useful load?
2) What's a typical fuel burn/hour at say, 2,550 rpms and 3500' agl?
3) Realistic cruise speed at 2,550 rpms and 3000' agl?
4) Take off/ landing distances over the infamous 50' object?
5) Annual insurance premium for aTexas Tailwheel?
A couple other naive, but important questions: Are these planes tricky to learn how to fly? Are they durable/reliable considering the tailwheel is essentially an "aftermarket" application. As someone who has flown a Texas Tailwheel plane, in your view will a Texas Tailwheel out perform a stock C-140 and a C-170?
Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.
Mont in MI
