I’m using this video as inspiration to buy a plane once I am done with my lessons/ratings. My wife is going to be so pissed when I send her a selfie with a plane I purchased! Thanks for giving us an idea of the costs behind owning a cub. Huge fan of these planes and I love watching your flight videos early in the morning while drinking some coffee!
I've owned a 1946 J3-65 now for over 14 years. It truly is a blast to fly. Operating costs are well below that of the 150's and similar. The Cub is just about as iconic as you'll find. Go to a number of fly-in's, big and small town airports. It is an eye-catcher on the static display ramp. It is extremely fun to fly and you are not going to go anywhere fast in it. Just a 10 MPH headwind puts you 60 MPH +/- a little. Because of that you do need to properly flight plan fuel if you do want to go more than 100 miles away. Early on I had some issues with it (but I bought it right). Since, I've done lower end rebuild, then a few years later, just got tired of the worn out cylinders and went with Millenium cylinders and doesn't burn anything but maybe 1/2 qt in 25 hours. When I got it, it was based in the N.E. and after 9/11 the owner had no option but to put a wind driven alternator and transponder. I am based w/in a Mode C vail so, as the mandate for ADSB came around, I put ADSB in (even though I was aware I could be exempt), but it makes it nice not to have to call anybody and can operate anywhere I want. Use a tablet for ADSB-IN and couple that with my Navigation EFB. Total added weight was < 10 lbs. What amazes me is the engineering of simplicity on a nearly 80 year old airplane that has never failed to start each and every time. Highly recommend one.
I quit thinking about how much I've spent on my Champ. Its been in my family since 1961. I live in Indiana and fly out of a private strip. My costs are a little less than some of yours but I think its a regional thing. Hangar rent in some areas is crazy compared to where I choose to live. Bottom line is we want these airplanes and we will pay for them.
Viewed with interest. I own an L-4 here in Norway. Surprised to hear that prices are fairly similar to here, I would expect things to be cheaper stateside since aviation is so much more common over there. Fuel here is crazy: 12 USD/gallon. However, hangar rental is less (I rent out a spot for 300/month, which is on the high side here). Other expenses are fairly similar. But what the hell, it's a Cub and it's legendary. Love your videos man, wish you could do one where you talk about filming, operation with drone/aircraft etc. Thanks and hope you have a great 2023 season, bro!
Pretty accurate assessment of costs, I would take a fabric class, I think you would enjoy the process when it comes time to recover the wings and fuselage
Thanks for the video Joe! Been following you on instagram for a while now, love the content. After finishing A&P school, I plan on buying a cub myself so the video was very insightful.
Hey Joe, love work work been following for awhile…..I have a question though as you’re an airline pilot and cub owner…..I’m a PPL holder as well as instrument rated and planning on commercial next…..I work for the airlines as an A&P and make a good wage but airlines are expensive as we know, I have been looking into Aeronca and Cub style aircraft mainly for the price tag…..if I ever wanted to fly for an airline how would a company view my 1500 hours assuming maybe a good chunk, but not all of it was in something like a tail wheel and simple VFR flying…..thanks
Just a selfie huh? Risking it for the biscuit. 🤣 Glad it worked out in the end. Not sure I'd be so lucky but maybe I'll give it a shot. Guess I'll get to practicing my selfie skills.
An annual with nothing major? After 40 years of cub ownership I'm still waiting for that nothing major annual. Would I give up my plane? Only when I get too old, which is fast approaching.
50k budget. Divorced. Cash in hand lol. My worry is insurance. 52. Have 65 hours, but never finished my license. No current medical. So, going light sport, sport license. Mainly, just want to fly around 50 mile radius. Hoping this is going to be doable.
@@Bananasssssssss Actually, the insurance wasn't bad at all! I actually had time in J3 already logged. So, I can pick back up there. I was thinking like thousands. More like maybe 2k or less pending plane, equipment, ME, were kept, on an on an on. Just found out Cub Crafter has a UL version of carbon cub coming in 2025! Most likely will be stupid pricing. But, INTERESTING that they will have a light sport specific with the new 916 Rotax! Pretty cool. Will be watching.
Thanks man! I really appreciate this video. A lot of great info for someone like myself who is trying to navigate the weeds entering aviation! Keep it up! 🫡🇺🇸
