My 1950 Cessna 140A
One magical night while I slumbered a listing for the perfect Cessna 140 silently slid into my inbox. As I wiped the sleep from my eyes early that morning I couldn’t believe what I was reading: for sale, 1950 Cessna 140A with C-90 engine, patroller doors ADS-b compliant and GPS. It was just before 6am, would I be too late? I emailed and texted the owner. Was I too aggressive, would he respond? But this was the plane! I had to act. To my relief I was one of the first! They do not last longer than a day so I knew I was lucky from the start — thanks barnstormers.com for your email alerts!
This was the exact plane I had been searching for months to find with little luck. I had come to the conclusion with the advice of friend and author Jason McDowell that the Cessna 120/240 was the right plane for my mission: training/education and some fun. Jason wrote a definitive article, Approachable Aircraft: The Cessna 120/140, for Flying magazine that had only added to my enthusiasm. I had whittled my choice set down to a Piper Cub or the Cessna 120/140. While the Cub has a stick, my preference, the side by side seating of the Cessna 120/140’s couldn’t be beat for training. The yokes would just have to be learned to be loved.
Long story short, that “perfect plane” is now my plane! Saying those words will never seem real. But the monthly costs of airplane ownership remind me daily, yup, it’s mine. But so do the joys! Seeing someone experience flight or a pilot nail a tailwheel landing for the first time is what it’s all about. Tailwheel aircraft have a special place in my heart, it’s just what I enjoy most and I want to share that joy with you. So, whether you’re seeking a new license or to add a tailwheel endorsement come fly my 1950 Cessna 140A and experience it for yourself.
