As for winged creatures to buy, step on over to courtesyaircraft.com for your pleasure.

Not that there is anything wrong with the gold car mind you – best money the taxpayers ever spent I say. I’m sure the DOD wastes a lot of money through inefficiencies, etc. but at least you get demonstrated capability and a little thing like freedom defended thrown in the mix. And while I love reading Lex and all you guys tell your stories (I truly do!) I’m not so wide-eyed to not appreicate just how damn scary it had to be at times and you just went out and did it anyway. We are reminded all too often that it doesn’t always work out on every mission and some guys (and gals now) don’t come back. If Lex and company have a little fun burning up a few thousand gallons of jet fuel seeing how close they can get to a canyon wall (training of course!) so be it. Sure beats the ways other parts of our guvmint can blow a wad…

As for being a salesman – I confess to spending most of my life doing that. As for selling RVs – I built one and am constantly amazed at how so little can do so much. But I’m a cheap date not to imply I want buy at least my share of the beer anytime any of you venture DFW way.

Thanks. Yeah, I am into those vintage/classics- the ones produced from 46 to 49. The Stinson was ahead of its time. I own a Taylorcraft BC-12D built in April 46. What a great little plane but I need something with more useful load.
The 108-1 answers the bill and is still a tailwheeled airplane.
geo6

So we’ll keep the unsolicted advice coming and “help” Lex spend his money. With the royalties he’s sure to rake in, there’s no need for one size fits all. He can buy several!

Note to Geo: Hope you get the Stinson. Our EAA club had worked on restoring one years ago but ran out of funds. Very cool plane.

The Decathalon is a great airplane.and a better aerobat than an RV in that it has inverted systems, etc. The RVs are great sport aerobats and the tandem ones being the better of the breeed mainly because of the center line seating and the throttle mount on the left where, by God, it oughta be.
The biggest difference with the RVs is in cross-country performance which, if you don’t have it you won’t be flying anywhere much but if you do you will. I flew half way across the country the Monday after Christmas because I could. The D’lon would have made that not nearly as possible/enjoyable. Also, and this is the biggest cost savings part, as an experimental the RV enjoys MUCH less costs for parts, etc. The D’lon enjoys the benefit of having to buy PMA parts with their associated markups.

The RVs are what I would characterize as great compromise airplanes. The taildragger tandems are great sport planes with good cross country performance and the tri-gear, side-by-side versiosn being great cross country planes with good sport plane characteristics. Of course if Lex really wants to feed the adrenaline rush he can get one of these:

http://www.teamrocketaircraft.com/

Which essentially is what you get when you take an RV and decide to nip and tuck a bit here and there and put a bigger engine in it. Now 3000 fpm climb won’t hold a candle to what Ace Lex is used to in a Hornet but then one might actually imagine owning a Rocket – the Hornet – well maybe somewhere around the 10th bestseller the dream will shed the realm of pure fantasy.

I’m enjoying fantasizing about Lex’s airplane – its always fun to imagine spending other peoples money for them.

Still trying to understand why in the world anyone would need a glass panel inside a Waco.
Instrument flying in an open cockpit??