A Curious Beginner

[flybybardo]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Josh Baird. Alaska is where I was first introduced to the Super Cub when I began hiring an amazing bush pilot, Rich, to fly me into and drop me off deep inside of Alaskan wilderness. I have been serving our country in the United States Air Force since 2003 and have been stationed at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska for the last six years. Although I grew up in Oregon, Alaska is now my home. I absolutely love living there!

I began ground school and logged two hours of flight training summer of 2003 and then joined the Air Force shortly after beginning. Ironically, I did not continue the flight training. My Air Force career is migrating into flying duty this fall as I begin Aerial Gunner school for the HH-60G and/or the AC-130, yes I volunteered for this and I am really stoked about it! I have a renewed desire to finish the PPL over the next 6-8 months after I return from being deployed.

I am considering purchasing a CubCrafters aircraft once I have completed my PPL this fall/winter. I think CubCrafters has a very clean and sharp looking airplane that shows a lot of potential, especially for my desired use.

It only makes sense to jump in with experienced aviators, hobbyist, mechanics and locals when considering such a purchase, and lifestyle for that matter. Being the novice, beginner, newbie, inexperienced guy that I am, my question to the members of this forum is simple. I do not want to turn an experienced forum into anything other than its current members desire.

Is there anybody here willing to mentor me through the consideration process of buying and flying a CubCrafter airplane?

Thank you all for your time,

Josh

[JohnM]

Josh,

Welcome to the forum. You will probably find lots of help here and elsewhere. On this Memorial Day weekend, thanks for doing what you do today. It is always nice to know that others have come along from where some of the rest of us left off.

Your questions are many and broad. The first things that came to my mind is that you are correct - the CubCrafters product is just what you say it is. (It performs very well, too) My other thought is that as long as you are on active duty, you will subject to PCS moves as well as TDYs of all types. Managing household goods on a PCS move is tough enough but adding an airplane into the mix makes it really hard.

Honestly, you would be very happy with any CubCrafters product but your timing might not be the best for a purchase (ie, still on active duty). Why don't you continue your training and flying by utilizing any military aero clubs that you have access to and when you are not susceptable to a PCS you can then buy an airplane.

Just a few thoughts. In the mean time, ask your questions. Many of us in the dealer network are prior military so we can indentify with your "lifestyle".

Take care,

John Moreland
(USAF F4, A10)

[flybybardo]

John,

Thank you for your service as well. It is also nice meeting those who have paved the way. Also, thank you for welcoming me to the forums.

The concern of PCS'ing and owning an aircraft is legitimate for sure. I am considering the potential burden of owning an aircraft while on active duty. Fortunately in the Air Force HH-60 and AC-130 world there are only seven possible locations of assignment and only two of those are overseas. All of the stateside locations are great for flying. I have 12 years until I will be eligible for retirement and I would like to pay this off before I do. Also, I don't have as many factors to consider as most would in terms of family, kids and a lot of possesions. I'm pretty much an outdoor junkie and just collect gear. I would like to use the next 12 years gaining ample experience in my own cub before returning home to Alaska where I will more than likely spend most of my time off the beaten path.

I will continue to monitor and read others post until I have forumulated a few intelligent questions. Until then, I would appreciate any pointers that anyone would like to provide in regards to actual cost of ownership, insurance, financing, or building the EX.

Thank you and God Bless America!

Josh

[SFC Mike]

Well, I'm hoping to do this contractor thing for a few more years and then stay home and do something I love. Like a quality control man for a hammock and/or fishing pole company. But most of all, I would like to get back to flying, some how, some way. If my friend and I can make a deal and share an aircraft it would allow me to build time towards a possible position flying for an outfit. We'll see. I need to put together everything I've been learning from guys like you and articles I've read and send it to him. I guess it would be an aircraft partnership proposal.

Right now I'm scheduled to return to Colorado the first week of June. For how long before I have to come back over here I don't know yet. Then I'm going to take about a month off and split that time between catching salmon near Kenai Alaska, laying on the beach with my girl in Mexico and visiting family in ID, WA and AZ. So be careful about the demo flight offer in AZ. My sister lives in Vail and my mother lives in Apache Junction. You will be seeing me.

Michael

[couleeone]

Michael,

split ownership can work well and its an idea. Just come by here and it would be my pleasure to take you for a demo ride and show some of the AZ country. When will you be returning to the states?

[couleeone]

Josh,

Let me jump in here with a few words. there are probably several Veterans on this forum and we like to take care of our own. I am an old coasty with a year in Nam.

The S1/S2 are great trainers to learn to fly in! I purchased "my state of the art then" S1 in Feb 2007 and used it it to get my sport pilot license.

I have gone on to get a sport pilot CFI. Here is the thing with the CFI you can offset a lot of your aircraft operational costs by getting paid to fly! Those costs in the sport cub ore very low compared to other aircraft, it burns only 4-5 gallons an hour when training and flying maneuvering speed or less! Annuals and maintenance are relative inexpensive in comparison.

There are several used S1/S2s on the market at a very good buy as these folks are typically selling to move up to the "new state of the art" Carbon Cub.

I still love my serial #6 S1 sport cub and have over 500 hrs on it now. If it was possible for you to come this way it would be my pleasure to give you a demo flight. I am sure the factory in Yakima would do the same.

Check out the kind of fun flying you can do with the sport cub by going to my website at www.couleeairservices.com

Thank you for service,

Geo

[flybybardo]

Hey Geo,

Thank you for joining in this discussion. I am on a government computer that will not allow me to access your site, but I will check it out as soon as able. I will be on the road in the States for a while this fall/winter so I will stop by if I travel through the area.

The suggestion to earn a CFI and use it to offset the cost of ownership sounds like a good idea. I will definitely consider that approach as I progress. It also leads into one of my curiosities, which is the actual cost of ownership. I’m researching insurance, financing, interest rates, maintenance, parts, standard overhaul cost, airport fees, hangar use, and anything else that seems applicable. I am also going to join the AOPA to help me as it seems like a website with a lot of knowledge.

If I understand correctly it is cheaper to own/operate a LSA versus a Certified one, but one is not allowed to use an LSA aircraft to make money. Is this a correct understanding?

Does anyone have a recommendation for a book, article, or other material for beginners who want to own/operate an airplane?


Josh

[djohnson]

Hey Geo,

Thank you for joining in this discussion. I am on a government computer that will not allow me to access your site, but I will check it out as soon as able. I will be on the road in the States for a while this fall/winter so I will stop by if I travel through the area.

The suggestion to earn a CFI and use it to offset the cost of ownership sounds like a good idea. I will definitely consider that approach as I progress. It also leads into one of my curiosities, which is the actual cost of ownership. I’m researching insurance, financing, interest rates, maintenance, parts, standard overhaul cost, airport fees, hangar use, and anything else that seems applicable. I am also going to join the AOPA to help me as it seems like a website with a lot of knowledge.

If I understand correctly it is cheaper to own/operate a LSA versus a Certified one, but one is not allowed to use an LSA aircraft to make money. Is this a correct understanding?

Does anyone have a recommendation for a book, article, or other material for beginners who want to own/operate an airplane?


Josh

Hey Josh,

I'm an A&P/Avionics dude and have been for quite awhile but know I'm a beginner too! Aviation maintenance has been a challenge and there is a certain sense of accomplishment in providing an airworthy aircraft. If you consider flying for hire then it behoove's you to go to a school that will allow you to obtain an A&P along with your pilot credentials.

Fuel and maintenance are the cost of ownership. Knowing how the aircraft is to be utilized and flown is the best way to calculate the cost. I'm into the Super Cub for its performance and relaibility. Being a beginner at flying I want to balance this performance with fuel economy. I won't need to fly out of a river bank over 50ft trees but when I'm confident and proficient at flying I want my airplane to be able to fly out of a field and clear the fence and trees.

While I'm here at Ali al Salem AB I read EAA and AOPA online and search out the websites on A/C specs and there aren't many to match the Carbon Cub EX (a Helio has more payload but not that much). I'll add aux tanks for cruise range and still have room for stuff and maybe a companion. This R&R I'll ck out the engines and avionics available at Oshkosh by gosh!

Be Careful and Accurate with the gunnery. "friendly fire is not friendly"

When I fly my airplane it will be too cool!

Later
Dave

[SFC Mike]

Geo,

No worries. When I come back to the states one of the trips will be to go see a couple of sister-in-laws in Marysville north of Seattle. We will more than likely be coming up I-5. So if you're back in Tacoma, we'll stop by.

My girl is the one that does the books for the family and I will need to put together a numbers sheet for her and my buddy on what it will take to purchase and maintain the Cub. I've already been laying the ground work for that. I've had a look at the order form and added a few items to the standard Cub. A ballpark figure that I came up with was about 185K. If I could, I'd like to ask you a few questions off forum.

Before a trip to Iraq in '09, I was getting back into currency in a 182RG. Well, deploying to Iraq put a stop to that and when I returned; I was only home about 6 months and then back to Iraq. So it’s been a little hard to keep current. I would need a tail wheel endorsement as well. The two men that run Peak Aviation Center in Colorado Springs, www.cospilot.com, have been great. When I return this time I’m going to get back into it. I’ll need to make an agreement with my company that I will only make four month rotations over here with four to six months home in between. We'll have to see how that goes. Wish me luck.

Michael

[couleeone]

Hey buddy,

it will be my pleasure to share my sport cub with you but remember during the summer I will be back in the Northwest till late september. Either way and where ever I am the offer stands!

Is there anything else I/we can help you with in finding the right sport cub for you and your friend? What options do you prefer, remember we can always add certain options with the exception of the type of panel.

Are you a current pilot? if not will you need a flight review? Tailwheel endorsement?

Be safe,

Geo