P3-05,FW149,T34,Bulldog, Calling Ollie!

[O.P.]

I was just looking at the P3 owners board, and I noticed you have a P3. I know you have a 149 from your previous post's. I am close to completing my license, and have been looking around for something that is a warbird, won't totally wipe me out financially over time, (I want to reserve cash for a million year long T28 project to occupy my impending old age).

I've flown in a T34 before, and like it, and Ive noticed a rugged looking one for sale at CJ's on controller. I like the T34, but I think it is probably out of my league financially. I've talked to a plane salesman about a Bulldog he has for sale at PAO, it seems like it is aerobatic, its within my price range, but it also seems a tad wimpy and I would prefer a tandem seated aircraft. A Decathalon would probably be a more exciting ride. The 149 looks awesome, but the one or two I've seen for sale puts it out of my price range. That leaves the Pilatus. I likeee. Some of the one's Ive seen for sale previously are within my price range(<100K), and it's got some UMPH! Your thought's are appreciated. If you know of another airplane type that suits, let me know. Some of the questions I have are,

Cost of annuals.
Outstanding AD's.
What catagory does it fly in?
Insurance.

I'm hoping you ( or any WIX bro)can talk me out of an older Decathalon. This time next year, I want to be building the 500 hours in my own rig.

[dj51d]

I can answer one of your questions. Since Pilatus never had the P-3 FAA certified, it is placed in the Experimental category.

[Ollie]

Hi O.P.

Let's do it that way :

T-34 : forget it. With all the wing ADs, it'll cost you a fortune just doing that.

P.149 : Experimental category, so you are very limited in the USA. Be prepared to burn an average of 20 gallons an hour to fly at about 135-140KIAS. Speed goes down when you put people in the back. Apart from that, it's a wonderful cross-country machine, with accpetable runway performances with two people on board. Spares can be an issue.

P-3 : Experimental, same limitations as the P.149. Very short-legged, you have 150L of fuel, so at 60L an hour, you have just over 2 hours of flight. My advice? Land every hour and a half and top it off. Flies like a dream, although underpowered during take-offs and climbs, but in cruise, it handles like a fighter. Fully aerobatic, extremely well built and designed.

No ADs on that one, save for maybe the engine and the prop. Spares are easy to find on that thing, it mostly has US accessories, like the prop and the rest, where as the P.149 is equipped with Italian stuff.

Annual cost is reasonnable, we do ours in about a day and a half, and it includes a good clean up fo the engine and the belly.

Any more questions?

Email me!

[O.P.]

Very cool. Thanks Ollie! I'll keep looking around for a P3-05. Something should come up by next year.

[Ollie]

Excellent!

Keep us posted!!

[belicia]

What should I look for in an English bulldog puppy before buying it? I have always wanted an English bulldog and finally my fiance and I have decided to get one. I understand that bulldogs have lots of health issues but I was wondering if there were any signs to look for before purchasing a puppy.
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Last edited by belicia on Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[John Cotter]

I currently fly a P-3 with a TSIO-540 conversion from a Malibu. It is a wonderful airplane. It also has an extra fuel tank added behind the rear seat, so it carries 72 gallons total, making 3 1/2 hour legs possible.

I also fly a Bulldog. It too is a great airplane, but a little under powered if you want to do serious aerobatics.

[RV8er]

Or, get an experimental Van's RV-8... granted, it doesn't have the Warbird "cool" factor like a Pilatus or a Bulldog, but it has a lot of bang for the buck.

It's a taildragger, has tandem seats, slider bubble canopy, and with the appropriate warbird wannabe paint job it looks kinda Mustang-ish, just shrunken down quite a bit. With a 180 hp Lycosaurus up front it'll show a TAS of 165-170 kts on 8-9 gph. 42 gallon tanks gives roughly 4:30 endurance. Acro? You betcha, does nice loops, rolls, and whifferdills. It's a really nice flying machine, good for long distance traveling or just farting around the local aerodrome.

Sorry John, just had to throw that out there!

John B

[needle]

I've talked to a plane salesman about a Bulldog he has for sale at PAO, it seems like it is aerobatic, its within my price range, but it also seems a tad wimpy and I would prefer a tandem seated aircraft.

O.P.

Any further details on the Scottish Aviation Bulldog?

Always liked the Bulldog, ever since putting in time on them in RAF. Good bang for the buck.
Aerobatics can be performed, but if you are looking to try and re-visit yesterdays breakfast, probably not the right choice.

Good visibility, not expensive to operate (frugal), with a US engine parts are not too difficult, and you still get that stick between your legs to play with. Also, if its important to you, you can genuinely have a military scheme and call it a warbird. (Bit like having a low-wing spam-can, but with a military heritage).

I have been looking for one for a while......nearly bought one just before Christmas last year, however its FI (fatigue index) was higher than I would have been happy with, and a few other things came up as well, which meant I didn't go through with the purchase.

Julian

[Enemy Ace]

You really should investigate the CJ-6A and Yak 52's. From what you are describing in your wish list they would fit the bill perfectly. Call somebody that owns one and go for a flight in a CJ at least.

[airnutz]

You really should investigate the CJ-6A and Yak 52's. From what you are describing in your wish list they would fit the bill perfectly. Call somebody that owns one and go for a flight in a CJ at least.

I was kinda wondering the same thing. The fella at the following link seems to be going thru
a similar thought process as OP...Good Luck OP!!!
http://cj6.scitechsys.com/

[John Cotter]

I also fly a Yak 52. Another great airplane. Easy to work on...Reliable....Awesome at Acro...Great horsepower/weight (360hp)...low fuel burn at cruise (13gph).... Great airplane for formation work. There are only a couple drawbacks....short legs 1 1/2 hour and not much room for an overnight bag. Other than that it is great.

[Ollie]

As a heads up, our Pilatus P-3-05 is being offered for sale. Details to come soon...

[Michel Lemieux]

It's pretty interesting this thingy about resurecting threads fron the graves

I like Bulldogs, but my wife prefer muts HEHE

Sorry to hear Olivier.

Can we all blame the economy !

[Ollie]

Not at all Michel. When you have more airplanes than pilots, some birds do not get to fly much, so why bother keeping them around?