Advice on a good aerobatic trainer ...

txflyer

txflyer

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Fly it like you STOL it ♦
Guys, I want to learn aerobatics. I'm 55 and getting harder to teach new tricks however.

My desires started with an RV-8, then migrated to a Glasair, now I'm stymied. The RV's while good, I just don't have the 'it' factor for one after flying a couple of them. The Glasair's, my insurance man is freaking out. Pitts are not out of the question, but damn are they squirrel-y over the fence.

I can transition right into a Citabria no problems. I'm a tail wheeler, 700hr. VFR, no retract time pilot. I guess the Decathlon is my only ticket to inversion ....? Thanks in advance ... :)
 
Have you done enough to know you won't turn green? My tolerance for acro has diminished over time.

txflyer said:
Guys, I want to learn aerobatics. I'm 55 and getting harder to teach new tricks however.

My desires started with an RV-8, then migrated to a Glasair, now I'm stymied. The RV's while good, I just don't have the 'it' factor for one after flying a couple of them. The Glasair's, my insurance man is freaking out. Pitts are not out of the question, but damn are they squirrel-y over the fence.

I can transition right into a Citabria no problems. I'm a tail wheeler, 700hr. VFR, no retract time pilot. I guess the Decathlon is my only ticket to inversion ....? Thanks in advance ... :)
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wabower said:
Have you done enough to know you won't turn green? My tolerance for acro has diminished over time.
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I loved it like a little kid. Granted, I was in a Pitts. The owner had to wrench the controls away from me before we ran out of gas...
 
Why not just get a Pitts? You can't use it for XC as comfortably as a super D but you can do more in them....
Are you wanting to just dink around or start practicing for competition?
 
Hope you have a blast.

txflyer said:
I loved it like a little kid. Granted, I was in a Pitts. The owner had to wrench the controls away from me before we ran out of gas...
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Jeanie said:
Why not just get a Pitts? You can't use it for XC as comfortably as a super D but you can do more in them....
Are you wanting to just dink around or start practicing for competition?
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I could get competitive. Been that way pretty much my whole life. But understand, I don't know an Immelman from an avalanche.... yet.

What do y'all think about this new super D 'extreme'?

Overpriced?
 
PM Sent... Get a biplane. We have a Pitts S-2C and 540 Eagle in Brenham that can be had.
Jeanie, You need a biplane also :)
 
pigpenracing said:
PM Sent... Get a biplane. We have a Pitts S-2C and 540 Eagle in Brenham that can be had.
Jeanie, You need a biplane also :)
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The Pitts are a blast once you get airborne. We know each other. The S-2C you mention is the one that hooked me... it's all Bryan's fault. :wink2:
 
Jeanie said:
Why not just get a Pitts? You can't use it for XC as comfortably as a super D but you can do more in them....
Are you wanting to just dink around or start practicing for competition?
Click to expand...

The 540 Christen Eagle is faster and more comfy than the Super D. I can stretch out in mine and it cruises about 210 MPH at 25/25.
 
txflyer said:
I could get competitive. Been that way pretty much my whole life. But understand, I don't know an Immelman from an avalanche.... yet.

What do y'all think about this new super D 'extreme'?

Overpriced?
Click to expand...

The extreme Decathlon is cool. Go ahead and get one and I will pay half the insurance if I can fly it. :)
 
pigpenracing said:
The extreme Decathlon is cool. Go ahead and get one and I will pay half the insurance if I can fly it. :)
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You want one, Bryan wants one, maybe we should talk.

But I have not flown in one yet. That's pretty important.... ;)
 
Skylane81E said:
T is for trainer!
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The fuel burn .... OMG:eek: ... think of the children .... oh, the humanity ...


hindenburg.jpg
 
Henning said:
There's a Yak-52 for sale in Pearland, KLVJ, on Barnstormers for $68k
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Yepper, there's a Yak for sale at 11R also, but I think it's single seat.

Those radial engines are a cool sound.... but I don't know **** from shinola about them, or yak's for that matter....... :redface:
 
txflyer said:
Yepper, there's a Yak for sale at 11R, but I think it's single seat.

Those radial engines are a cool sound.... but I don't know **** from shinola about them, or yak's for that matter....... :redface:
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Same old same old, parts is parts, and planes is planes. You'll need some metric wrenches and the manual. Personally I somewhat prefer the CJ-6 with a upgrade horsepower engine.
 
Yak-52 is a big, loud, fun plane. High fuel flow but nearly bulletproof and lots of character. Would teach coordination and energy management well.

I would recommend a Christen Eagle II, comfy, moderately useful, and good acro performance on C-172 type fuel flows.

'Gimp
 
Henning said:
Same old same old, parts is parts, and planes is planes. You'll need some metric wrenches and the manual. Personally I somewhat prefer the CJ-6 with a upgrade horsepower engine.
Click to expand...


If we ever lost our A&E at our field, we'd be so hosed ...

Exotic or rare aircraft would be double hosed ....
 
AcroGimp said:
Yak-52 is a big, loud, fun plane. High fuel flow but nearly bulletproof and lots of character. Would teach coordination and energy management well.

I would recommend a Christen Eagle II, comfy, moderately useful, and good acro performance on C-172 type fuel flows.

'Gimp
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The eagle's are getting some good recommendations. Are they currently in production? Support? Insurance? Lycoming or Continental?

I have more questions than anyone has time .... :stirpot:
 
txflyer said:
The eagle's are getting some good recommendations. Are they currently in production? Support? Insurance? Lycoming or Continental?

I have more questions than anyone has time .... :stirpot:
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The Eagle is a homebuilt much like a Pitts S-2A. It is still in production as a kit by Aviat but I would look for a flying example, much cheaper and fly right away.

My pilot report on the Eagle II is here:
http://acrogimprwf.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/gimpy-pilot-report-christen-eagle-ii-aerobatic-biplane/

The Yak is, literally, a ton of fun, my pilot report is here: http://acrogimprwf.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/gimpy-pilot-report-yakovlev-yak-52/

'Gimp
 
Bryan's Pitts is for sale? Hmmm, I'll have to talk to him. I know Jeff S.' is for sale or was....

To the OP, don't get a yak. Get a Pitts or the eagle, but not the eagle I'm looking at :)
 
Jeanie said:
Bryan's Pitts is for sale? Hmmm, I'll have to talk to him. I know Jeff S.' is for sale or was....

To the OP, don't get a yak. Get a Pitts or the eagle, but not the eagle I'm looking at :)
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Miscommunication or something. It is Doc S. Pitts that's for sale. Not Bryans. Although Bryan told me he might like to sell his and get an extreme super-D.

You looking at pigpen's eagle? I can drive over there in five minutes, and I have shawn's cell number in my phone. How fast can you get there? :D
 
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