More advise please

[oscardeuce]

Still running with my Dad's estate, and the Firelands Museum of Military History. We have 3 UH1-H which I don't have the time or money to bring back up to speed (AD's annuals, etc). 2 are solid and 1 for parts.

I was thinking of a O-1, but my mind has wandered to a PT-17 Stearman. I have little tailwheel time, but have access to exellent instructors and a former Red Baron pilot to help me build up the needed time and experience.

So..

Assuming I can get a decent price for the 3 Hueys, which way would you all go? O-1 or PT-17?

[mustangdriver]

The Bird dog is cool, but the Stearman is one of my dream airplanes.

[bluehawk15]

The O-1 wouldn't need to have it's fabric redone from time to time, and would be much warmer during cold weather. It's also better to be in if you are flying in rainy weather. There are probably more A&P mechanics (and IA's) around that could work on the O-1. Much more comfortable as a cross country plane in general.

That all being said, the PT-17 is much more fun to fly! You can't take the O-1 upside down or loop it! The PT-17 will draw a lot of attention when you take it somewhere, and you are more likely to get invites to air shows with it than the O-1.

I'd look at the cost of operation as well. Time between overhaul of the engine and how much it will cost. Compare the hourly fuel burn and oil consumption. What do you want to be spending to fly? Then there's hangar costs. The O-1 would fit nicely in a T-hangar, I'm not sure a PT-17 would.

Just my random thoughts, but I'm sure you have already thought them yourself. What would I get, given the choice between the two? Two wings look sooooo cool!!!!!

[Airplanejunkie]

I've flown both and both are fun. Hands down, given a choice between the two, I'd take the PT-17. Open cockpit, extra wings and a round engine...that's living. The only real drawback is you can fly the O-1 in colder weather.

Steve

[sdennison]

I have an hour in the front seat of a Stearman and if you love to fly for the old school meaning of flying, Dude, no options exist. Good luck with your choice but go take a stearman ride and then make up your mind.

[Bill Greenwood]

If you are buying for fun and to learn to fly, then the O-1 is a nice Cessna . The PT-17 is a classic and represents not only the military trainers of WWII, but the primary airshow airplane of the post war era, and the foundation of the ag plane at that time.

The O-1 has more style than a lot of Cessnas, and is of the 50s, the Stearman is cooler than 90% of planes and comes from the classic age of aviation on up to the present. With all the fancy, high powered, high tech plastic,airplanes on the scene , the finest example of real airshow piloting is still Walt Orh sp.?, in the stock 225 hp Stearman. That it my opinion and many others share it.

You can learn from scratch to fly a Stearman. I" d start with a 225 and get the best instructor I could find. It is easy to fly in the air, the only plane I have flown that has a good of stall behavior as a Merlin Spitfire: BUT it can be a handful on the ground if you make a bad landing or get overconfident and think the wind does not matter.

[LadyO2Pilot]

O-1 would be great to go with your O-2 for the museum sake. With the increasing emphasis on the Vietnam era at airshows, you could take either one or both if you had another pilot for either.

That being said......the Stearman is fun to fly and ride in too except when it's cold... And people do like looking at them when you land at their airport.

[sdennison]

O-1 would be great to go with your O-2 for the museum sake. With the increasing emphasis on the Vietnam era at airshows, you could take either one or both if you had another pilot for either.

That being said......the Stearman is fun to fly and ride in too except when it's cold... And people do like looking at them when you land at their airport.

Have to define cold! Here in Wisconsin, there are varying degrees. I flew in the varying degrees of 20 or so but you know, once that stick is in your hand, it's all good. Open cockpit is amazing, no matter what the temp. Guess you could always roll the windows done in your O-2 eh?

[LadyO2Pilot]

I have South Texas thin blood.......my "cold", I suspect, would be balmy, even warm, to y'all

But you are correct....it's all relative and I suspect Oscardeuce is better suited for Yankee temps than I

[tom d. friedman]

tom, if you choose the stearman i can put you in contact with a lorain county stearman owner / retired airline pilot for advice. if interested just let me know & i'll get in touch with him. heck!! you may know him!! happy holidays!

[Bill Greenwood]

Summer in Wisconsin is some beautiful flying, and a Stearman is doing it in style.

As part of my training to become a tailwheel and warbird pilot I was able to get some Stearman time, and I hope to get more as I certainly have not mastered it.
I had a O-1 ride once , can't recall too much about it except that that it was loud and there were intercom problems. I recall lots about my Stearman training and rides in a few. One nice one was over the beach in California at sunset.

[Django]

Do non-pilots get a vote? The Stearman sounds cool for sure. What about a T-6/SNJ? Enclosed canopy and vintage charm?

[EDowning]

Do you have all (any of) the specs and info on the Hueys? PM me some details if you get a chance.
Thanks

Eric

[Bill Greenwood]

Django, if I may offer an opinion, (gosh, who on WIX would ever believe that I had an opinion?).
The T-6 is still perhaps the finest warbird trainer, BUT it is an ADVANCED trainer, hence AT-6. It is more complex, perhaps harder to master, and potentially more dangerous. So the best route for training may be the Stearman first, then the T-6.

Also, just a guess without looking at Trade a Plane, but the T-6 will be 2 or 3 times more expensive than the equivalent Stearman.

But hey,get one of each!

[Lynn Allen]

If you go for the the O-1, get one with a C/S prop. Great A/C and are really a good photo ship with the back seat and open windows...