First time poster, first time buyer questions (2024)

Tom Winter #293953 12/30/10 01:33 AM

N61°30'35" W149°53’53"

Greetings Tim(othy),

Welcome home. We're a club full of friends you haven't met yet!

There are lots of smart folks in this club who participate in this forum and they are weighing in one-by-one here. I've read all the responses and you've got a lot of good advice here. I haven't anything substantive to add, but I will reiterate a couple of thoughts: Taildraggers can be a lot of fun, and if you run across one I'd strongly recommend you give it serious consideration. The 150 HP is, in my opinion, a wonderful modification, but it is one you will come out way ahead if you buy one already accomplished.

And Gary is absolutely spot on with his advice to be dang sure the paperwork is all complete, accurate and up-to-date.

In short, the 150/150 TD is one sweet puppy, and if you find one you'll be glad you did.

Terry Dickinson #293965 12/30/10 02:01 AM

Ma. Ct. RI area

As everyone has said Welcome to the Greatest Club ever!

Don't overlook a nice C152 with a Sparrowhawk Conversion.
Not quite a 150/150 but I bet it would do nicely for what you are looking for.

Timothy_Carr #293979 12/30/10 02:40 AM

Eufaula, Aluh-bam-uh

Welcome Timothy.

Here's one ad that just expired on Barnstormers. Club member Moe Acker, in Louisiana, owns it:

CESSNA 150/160 • $35,000 • PRICE REDUCED • AMAZING!

1970 Cessna 150 taildragger with 160 hp Lycoming B3B, with Hartzell constant speed prop, Flint aux wing tip tanks. All paperwork and STC's along with all orginal prints and drawings. Annualled 8-12-10, SMOH 1245, TTAF 3402, prop SMOH 490, 46 gals useable fuel, cruise 135 mph , excellent short field performance, 8.00x6 tires, also wheel pants and 6.00x6.00 tires, Scott 3200 tailwheel. Paint and interior rate 8. Here is your chance to own a rare 150/160. This is rock bottom on the price, I don't have to sell it. Email for more info. • Contact Moe Acker, Owner - located Winnsboro, LA USA • Telephone: 318-435-7004 • Posted November 24, 2010

Perhaps, you could contact him for some photos or, look in the Club's photo section for them.

moeacker@yahoo.com

Good luck on your search!

Bengie Phillips #294005 12/30/10 04:40 AM

Parkland Estates, Erie, CO

Hi Timothy!

Like Gary said, I'm right in your neck of the woods. I work just down the hill from KBJC and live at Parkland (7CO0) just a little North and East of KEIK.

I bought a stock 1966 150F back in 1996 and flew it that way for 9 years before converting it to 150HP.

There is a huge difference in performance up here between a 150HP 150 and a stock 150. Climb rate in a stock 150 is around 200-300fpm on a good day. A 100HP 150 will take off and fly just fine but it requires more precision and patience in order to get the most out of it.

When I had my 150 with the O-200 in it, I had it over 12,500 several times and flew into Laramie, WY several times. Joel Kiester lives in Boulder and has a 1959 150 based there. He's flown his around here for years and even routinely visits Westcliffe in it. The West coast contingent flies to Clinton, IA every year, usually crossing the Rockies along I-80 with stops in Evanston and Rawlins. It can be done.

However, stepping back to 100HP after being used to 150HP would be quite a shock. You would probably be happier sticking with a 150HP plane if you can find one you can afford.

Welcome to the club! Good luck and have fun in your search. I'll send you a private message with my contact info. Look for a flashing envelope next to the "My Stuff" link near the top of the page.

Timothy_Carr #294007 12/30/10 04:59 AM

Bonners Ferry, ID

Tim,

I fly out of Denver Centennial; the 100 hp 150s are generally parked during warm weather. If they operate in warm weather they never try to launch at more than 90% of gross weight. I sold my IFR-equipped 150 before moving to Colorado from Michigan and would not consider a straight 150 or 152 here. There are too many days that you either can't use the airplane or it would be very uncomfortable.

Suggestions on your purchase from being around the market for a while - do not buy anything without a prebuy inspection by a mechanic you select. Make CERTAIN that all the paperwork on any mods as well as the installed propeller is in order and everything is correct. I've seen too many guys buy something with an unauthorized prop on it or an STC performed but no paperwork and then, at the first annual, they find out the mechanic can't sign it off. There are lots of wonderful mods for the 150/152, but if the paperwork isn't exactly right on one you are considering, it's a deal killer.

The conventional gear conversions of the 150/152 are popular and well worth considering. However, fly before you buy as the conversion may not have been well done and the airplane may not track straight; which can be expensive and/or frustrating to fix. While the 150 is pretty much without vice on the ground as a nosewheel airplane, with conventional gear it can be a handful; as a comparison, it is not as easy to handle on the ground as a Citabria or Cessna 140, to me it's on a par with the Cessna 180/185 - in my opinion. (I don't know why they are not as gentle on the ground as the Cessna 140, it's always puzzled me.) You may hear others chime in here on that issue.

Welcome to the club. Hope you enjoy it here, there are some very, very good people and a tremendous amount of knowledge about the 150/152 series.

Best regards,
Rick

Timothy_Carr #294035 12/30/10 01:18 PM

Rogers, Arkansas

Welcome aboard Tim.

Since you live where you live and are used to flying the 150/150, the first time you fly a 150 with the stock O-200, I'd predict that you're first impression will be that your flying a plane with something wrong with it.

I don't recall ever hearing an owner of a 150/150 complain about performance, not one.....anybody else??

Glad you're with us.

Jim

Jim Hillabrand #294058 12/30/10 05:00 PM

Pennsylvania

Welcome Tim!

Count yourself lucky to have found the Cessna 150-152 Club. The folks who make up this outfit are true "salt of the earth" types who always give good advice, (and the shirts off their back), if the need arises.

Believe me when I say that membership here is an invitation to collect friends.

Best of luck in your search for an airplane.

Robert Cressman #294065 12/30/10 05:16 PM

I'm lost..

Yo Tim!

C'mon in, it down, snag a cup of coffee, 'n' jump on in!

Ed Pataky #294071 12/30/10 07:17 PM

Utah

Tim: I live west of you about 300 miles in Roosevelt, Utah. I flew a 150 with the 100 hp continental engine for several years and loved it even though my home field is 5172 ft. I did have to be carefull on those hot summer days and not try to fly with two people and full tanks.
I even flew it to Alaska and back in summer of 2001 with my wife and had no problems as long as I realized my limitations and was carefull.
In 2003 I sold and then bought a 150/150 with aux tanks.
There is a world of difference. I still pay attention to density altitude situations but can pretty much fly any day, warm or not, with full tanks and two people with no problems. I have flown many times with passenger and luggage at or above 14,000 ft. (I do have an Oxygen bottle). Once when alone I got up to 16.100 ft and could have gone higher.
I have flown the 150/150 to Alaska, again with my wife and with the aux tanks I have no problems at all as to where and when I might need to stop for fuel as compared to the old 150 with the standard tanks.
My recomendation would be to try and find a 150/150 that has already been done, and preferably one with long range tanks.
Be sure you get in touch with David up north there. He isn't that far away from you and should be able to fill you in on almost any question that you have.

Dale Larsen

Dale Larsen #294082 12/30/10 10:07 PM

West Memphis, AR