That really is a super-sweet J3!!
Yeah, I guess I bent Scott's ear a little yesterday with my gushing about Champs, etc... I am pretty hooked.
I'm not convinced taildraggers or old ragwings in general are better overall (a silly argument), but they have an appeal that I think most pilots recognize, even if they are very happy with their newer trikes and are leery at first of handling a tailwheel or flying on fabric-covered wings.
Flying something like that is just more like aviating as opposed to flying, I guess... slower and lower, with less gadgets to play with or think about, you're more involved, in a way. The senses come more into play, and the brain can relax a little (but not completely). Only thing that does more of that for you would be soaring or hang-gliding, I figure. Or maybe flying choppers...thinking too much seems to be a bad idea flying those... but those things don't actually
fly, everybody knows that.
I think anybody who can handle a metal trike can learn to be safe on the ground and in the air in a little taildragger... the only difficulty is unlearning a few things, then it's like "why didn't I start out in one of these? This is fun! And easy!! And cheap!!"
Scott- I hope you get that seaplane add-on soon... preferably in an old ragwing...that's gotta be yet another whole world of fun. If you take that volunteer gig at the seaplane base at Oshkosh you will be champin' at the bit, I know it. Last year I saw a perfect J3 on straight floats there... it was a beautiful sight.
