looking for plane under 30k -has control stick instead of yoke -polished, military, or cool paint job -fun plane to fly -has good safety record Thanks Planes I don’t want -luscombe, or zenith because they don’t have good safety record
https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/lessons-learned-aircraft-ownership-just/ https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/unnatural/
As a result of the rash of unexplained Zenith Zodiac CH601XL mid-air breakups around 2006 - 2009, the structure of the model was subjected to an unprecedented design review by a team of experts assembled by the FAA. The review represents the most thorough analysis and vetting of any model light sport aircraft since the sport pilot and LSA rules were codified in 2004. Structural upgrades to the airframe were recommended by the review team, and modification documentation was released in January, 2010 followed by the availability of an upgrade kit from Zenith sold to builders at cost, and airframes modified with the upgrades are designated as "CH601XL-B." In the nearly nine years since the upgrade parts kit became available, CH601XL-B and CH650LS-B airplanes have amassed an enviable safety record; there have been no unexplained mid-air break-ups. To be clear, accidents have happened since 2010, but the probable causes have been been for reasons other than structural failure (VMC into IMC, engine failure, etc.). I bought my 2008 AMD built 601XLi-B with the structural upgrades having been made by an FAA certified repair station, and am confident in its structural integrity. I also absolutely love the way it flies. Admittedly, it's difficult for an airplane model with a structural failure record like the Zenith CH601XL to regain the confidence of the marketplace, but the upside is that prices remain depressed nine years after the report was released, even for airframes with the "B" mods. https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/Zodiac.pdf https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/Zodiac_Appendix.pdf
Buy a 150, a polisher and a can of polish, and a fuel stick. Meets all of your requirements, plus it has a two bonus yokes in addition to the fuel stick.
It's not clear from his posts whether the OP is looking for an airplane that meets light sport requirements or is open to heavier models like 150s.
Ercoupes are great little airplanes. When I was looking for a plane that qualified as an LSA, I looked a several 415-Cs and was impressed. I was looking for one modified with rudder pedals, and the one I found was over priced and needed some serious work, so I passed.
I read once something about certain modified Ercoupes that did not qualify as LSA for some reason. Can't remember any details. Is a rudder pedal mod one of the disqualifiers?
I don't think the rudder pedal mod by itself disqualifies it. As long as it is a 415 C or 415 CD that doesn't have the gross weight increase (to 1400 pounds) STC and hasn't had an 85 hp engine installed, I believe it can still qualify for operation by a sport pilot. Certificated (CAR 3 or Part 23) airplanes meeting the requirements to be operated by a sport pilot:
An afterthought: the metallized wings STC was often done together with the gross weight increase STC, but not always. If the 415 C you're considering has metallized wings, look carefully at the logs to make sure the gross weight increase STC was never done. If it was, the airplane can never be flown by a sport pilot, even if you "undo" the gross weight increase STC. Strange rules, but they are what they are...
"She didn't feel safe" wouldn't stop me, given that one can read the safety record, and the probable cause of the accidents, and see that after the mods, it hasn't occurred.
Grumman Yankee. Lots of them painted up like warbirds. They are fun but do not have sticks. For 30k you aren't going to find anything short of a Luscombe that checks all the other boxes and isn't a total basket case. With the huge spar and bonded honeycomb structure they are really safe.
Here's a nice looking Cessna 120 : https://www.trade-a-plane.com/searc...&model=120&listing_id=2334905&s-type=aircraft . It has lots of bare aluminum so you'll have plenty of polishing to do. But if it were me, i'd go with @Grum.Man 's suggestion and get an AA1 of some variety, they're lots of fun to fly and priced right. If you really wanted four seats, you can find a Tri-Pacer for that kind of money. It's very functional but a little lacking in the style department.
There is nothing in the flight instructor curriculum regarding purchasing airplanes. I understand students think their instructors know all thing aviation, but they don't. Instructors generally also don't know anything about engine operations, just as an FYI. I'm not bashing instructors, I am one. CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP. More importantly I have personally owned 16 airplanes so I have a reasonable background in this stuff.
I’ve found lots of instructors that have never owned that know a lot less about planes than the average owner.
