Cessna 150 seems to be the most affordable metal aircraft. What is the second most affordable?

Question

The Cessna 150 seems to be the most affordable all metal, single engine, electric start GA aircraft. What is the second most affordable?

Answer 1

Cherokee 140, perhaps. Or a C-140, or a Luscombe. Or an Ercoupe.

You said "affordable." That might mean just a beater, or one with a history of damage or neglect. In the long run, none of those may be cheapest. If you'd consider Experimentals, you can get much-newer machinery. Look at the LSAs (if you want ready-to-fly) or at used kit-built airplanes from Zenith or Czech Aircraft Works or Murphy Aircraft, or Monnett (Sonex). They're all good. In fact, you probably won't go wrong building a kit from one of those four, and by the time you fly it, you'll know what you're dealing with. You can build a brand-new Sonex, for instance, with an AeroVee engine, for under 25 large. Brand new. Takes about a year of weekends, if you're careful, but not too educated.

Answer 2

Trade A Plane Cessna 150

Answer 3

I have seen high time 150's for as low as 5,000. Don't get hung up on this all metal stuff. I bought a Cessna 120 a few years back, with 600 hrs and a fresh top end, for 8 grand. It was one of the most fun aircraft I ever owned, but living in Northern Minnesota I enjoy low and slow, grass strips and skis in the winter. I agree with the gentleman about the Tomahawk. I flew one about ten years ago and any cross wind landing was scary, the plane was very flimsy. Most any FBO is going to have an old Trade A Plane laying around that you can look at and get a real good idea of what aircraft are selling for. Get yourself some tail wheel time, it opens up a new arena of affordable, fun and safe aircraft.

Answer 4

Its not really about the aircraft, but how you fly.
If you flew a 150 around at 100kts, you would be pushing it reliability wise, but if you flew a 172 at 105kts, its nothing.
Both aircraft are going to use about 7-8gph at those speeds, but the 172 is going to be quite a bit more reliable, and since the larger engines have longer TBO's, its worth moving up to a 17X series.
Well, it wouldnt really be moving up, since they are available at the same price.
The Mooney M20 is also an aircraft you can acquire for under $50,000, which would be comparable.
It has the reliable O-360, and it is small and very very aerodynamic, so it gets about 120kts out of 6gph and 175kts at 9gph. The only thing is that you need to go get is a few hours of complex training to fly it.
There are so many that could compete, youre going to get all sorts of different recommendations from any pilot you talk to. Just ask around and see what everyone says.

Answer 5

When checking out the affordability of an aircraft, a person must consider what it will cost to fix if something breaks, and what will the parts availabilty be.
These questions can largely be answered by: How many examples of this craft are flying today?
Answer: 13,843 Cessna 150s, 9,973 Cherokee 140s, 150s, 151s, 160s, and 161s.
Take your pick.

Answer 6

Diamond DA 20 A1 Katana may be an inexpensive option, for 10 K more you can fly a newer plane than a Cessna 150.
But resale may be difficult.


Advantages

It can take MOGAS with out ethanol.
It may be difficult to get MOGAS with out ethanol in the future

Disadvantages

It is a composit airplane, do'nt know the life of the composit airplanes.

resale may be difficult.

Comparison between Cessna 150 & Diamond DA 20 A1 Katana


Good Cessna 150 Costs around 15,000 +-
Diamond DA 20 A1 Katana costs around 28,000+-

Cessna 150 has Continental Engine 0-200, overhaul is cheaper costs around 6,000. TBO is 1800 hrs

Diamond DA 20 A1 Katana has a Rotax engine costs about 10,000 to overhaul. TBO is 1500 hrs

New Continental 0-200 engine costs 20,000
New Certified Rotax engine costs around 25,000.

every mechanic can overhaul 0-200 continental.

difficult to find a mechanic for rotax engine.

Answer 7

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The C-150 is one of the cheapest to own. Don't just think about the cost of purchase, cost of continued ownership can be pretty high for any plane. Other potential choices are: Piper Colt, or Pacer, Grumman AA1, Beech B19, Stinson 108, Taylorcraft BC12D, Aeronca Champ, Ercoupe 415. Many of these planes are old, and out of production. That makes them fairly cheap to buy, and a bit more to maintain. Look at total cost of ownership, not just purchase price. It's a much different animal than car ownership.

Answer 8

Probably a Piper PA28, with the 140 being the cheapest. But just like you should also consider a C172 over the 150/152, you'd also want to consider the PA28-160/161, 180/181 also.

Answer 9

I would not like to see you get a Piper Tomahawk, and I'm not sure about the Beech Skipper. They are cheap, but the Tomahawk has severe CG problems and is a known killer. Last I heard, the FAA pulled it in for re-certification the problem was so bad. As for homebuilts, that's probably a Ford versus Chevrolet type thing, but I'm not comfortable with them. One man's opinion.

Answer 10

First off, I would suggest buying yourself a subscription to Plane&Pilot mag. They have tons of great articles about just what you are talking about... looking through a few old issues I found 3 issues that dealt with cheap/affordable planes... There is a list in one of the mags of 10 NEW planes under 100K... Email me if you want the list...