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It would be nice to have $32000 laying around... I think I'd pick up this little gem if I had it. But I am NOT ready to own two airplanes. I still can't believe I own half of ONE!

https://www.barnstormers.com/listing_images.php?id=716391

Call me weird, but the Skipper is my favorite airplane. I got to fly one ONCE. It was a beat up dog that had never seen a hangar in it's life, and it still flew like a dream!!! I'd love to fly one in nice condition. I always said I'd own a Skipper. I ended up buying half of a C-150 first... (Which I don't regret. This particular 150 is more special than any Skipper could ever be.) And maybe if I get really well off one day I'll buy one. Too bad Beechcraft only built 312.

I ask me ANYTHING about a Skipper and most likely I could tell you. I've spent 2 years reading everything I could get my hands on about them!

Anybody here have any experience with Skippers? What do you think about them?

Never flown one but they're a carbon copy of the Piper Tomahawk, which had spin recovery issues. It was then nicknamed the 'traumahawk' and I think the problem was rectified by leading edge strips on the wing. When I see one I can't help but think... 'Meet George Jetson.......'.

Amy,
Before you go off buying another 2 seat plane (unless its' first name is RV ) please, please fly a 150/150. I'm betting that it will change your mind.

Amy,

Good little airplane. Looked a lot like the Piper Hatchet, but without the problems; owners I know who have them seem to like them. Great visibility. Flew like a Beech, so very nice, solid handling. Instructors I've talked with about them also liked them a lot. Downside is that the fuel system is not as simple as the 150/152, so there is the risk of fuel mismanagement.

You did get some good advice - go fly one again and see if it meets your recollections and go fly a 150/150 and see what you think.

Warmest regards,
Rick

Niall,

Go fly a Skipper and come back and tell us if you still think it's a carbon copy of a Tomahawk.

I agree that they both look like carbon copies and the speeds will be similar but that's where the similarity ends.

Beech built a substantial airframe on this little guy considering it's a 2 place trainer.

I liked your George Jetson comment...funny



Jim

Member Jessica Tidd, Fly Girl, owned one and loved it. I flew it for a half hour and thought a lot of it.
My memory is not good, but I believe the Skipper was designed by the same fellow who designed the Tomahawk, and it shares issues with the wing, as far as hours of service life. They burn more fuel, but are made to Beechcraft's high standards.

I too got a chance to fly in the Tidd's Skipper. It's a very likable airplane and theirs is a VERY nice example. I did notice the take off distance was notably greater than the 150/152's and as I own a 2400 foot grass runway with trees 300 feet beyond at the property line, that takes it off my practical list.

This is why I like this club, I keep learning. My only exposure to both (BE77 and PA38) were in my line service days. I havent flown or wrenched on either. I'm sure its a safe bet that either plane flies different than other Beech/Piper acft that I have flown. That being said I'm sure it would be best if I flew both planes to compare. Seeing how I have no access to either, I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

Rick, that sounds very accurate to everything I know about them. Great airplane. But there has been fuel problems with them.

For a side by side comparison: This is the Skipper I flew. My instructor said he was impressed with it, as was I. It had a very solid, yet fun and light feel to it.


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The first Beech Skipper prototype had a standard tail. The T-tail was adopted later.

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Maybe Beech should've kept the low-tail configuration. It probably had better qualities as a trainer.

The biggest con to me, was the sloped nose. I do like to be able to look outside and point the nose to a certain pitch attitude. When you get in the Skipper, (Unless you're taller than me) You can't see the nose.

Another con is how small the prop clearence is to the ground. And it is quite alarming! Yet, I've heard from experienced Skipper owners that it loves grass strips. (Just not too short!)

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I have no intention of ever buying a Truamahawk Tomahawk.

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I'm even kinda unsure about flying in one. Piper had some serious quality control problems with the Tomahawk. After it had been designed, tested, and recieved FAA certification, Piper changed the design by implementing fewer wing ribs, causing the wings to flex in a stall, and causing unpredictable behavior.

Amy,
I had an infatuation with the Piper Tomahawk/Skipper when I started looking at airplanes to purchase.
I knew full well the reputation as the "traumahawk", as has been pointed out. Still, I liked the bubble canopy and the looks of the t-tail.
I even had the opportunity to ask Budd Davisson at an Oshkosh seminar what his thoughts were on the Tomahawk/Skipper line of airplanes.
His answer was that he felt the Tomahawk got a "bad wrap", as far as its reputation goes. Piper designed the airplane, based on an extensive survey of flight instructors and schools. It was an unforgiving airplane in the stall, as it was designed to be. Budd considered the Tomahawk one of the more undervalued aircraft in the market place.
A hangar-neigbor, back home in Michigan, owns a Tomahawk and loves it. He reports that it handles like a bigger airplane.
The (2) biggest factors that steered me away from the Skipper was my concern for parts availability and the T-tail's performance on grass strip runways.
I wasn't so concerned about parts availability for the Piper Tomahawk, but the elevator supposedly lacks authority once airspeed drops below 35 KIAS. I also began to read about the extensive list of AD's for the Tomahawk's wing.
Despite these shortcomings, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the Tomahawk. I can identify with your fondness for the Skipper.

Dale