“1965 WITTMAN W-8 TAILWIND • $XXXXXX • FLY RIGHT NOW!! • Built by Howard Passow. Continental O-200. 150mph cruise. Call for pictures and details.”
That was the headline of the ad that caught my attention on Barnstormers on Sunday. I called my CFI and asked him to look at the ad and see what he thought about it. For the price that the seller was asking (which I have omitted above), the ad seemed too good to be true. I had never heard of a Wittman Tailwind until about a week or two ago. I’ve been in the market for a Luscombe (because Super Cubs, Cub Specials, and even J-3 Cubs are out of my price range) and recently missed out on two 8A’s that were for sale in Washington and Idaho. Since I want to fly a tail wheel with a control stick (not a yoke), my CFI told me that a Wittman Tailwind should be one of my considerations.
The ad I saw on Barnstormers certainly grabbed my attention, however it was located in Russellville, KY, a lengthy 1,600 nm (as the crow flies) away from me across the country in Yakima, WA. Up until now, my longest solo cross county flight was a 2.5 hour 200 nm jaunt around Eastern Washington in a Cessna 152.
My CFI called the seller yesterday and got all the important details (and some pix) on the bird. The good news: it flies. The bad news: it’s ugly. That’s pretty much the gist of it. I can live with that so then I called the seller and spoke with him for about 20 minutes and got all the details for myself. After hanging up the phone I began searching for the soonest one-way plane ticket to get to Kentucky which I found and it departs Thursday morning.
A couple hours ago I got online to do some Wittman Tailwind research. Naturally, the first place I went to was wittmantailwind.com and much to my surprise, it was unregistered! Heck, this domain might have some potential so I registered it a few hours ago and if I buy the Tailwind this week, I’ll be sharing more about it right here so stay tuned. :-)
Shapping for Tailwind completed or a project well on its way.
Who’s got Tailwinds in the Austin TX area?
What is it priced?
How many hours hva e the engine?
Thanks, I live in BRasil
I want to keep the price private, but I will say that it was a good price for a first airplane. Last spring I reviewed the log books and after doing some forensic calculating based on the tachometers that had been replaced over the years, the engine at present has less than 150 hours SMOH.
I live in Brazil. I need to know how much I will pay to you, bercause I need to take a plane, to go at United States to see your aircraft, understand? If the price could be good to me, too, I go, if not,…
I think you are confused. Please read this page in its entirety from top to bottom. My Tailwind is not presently for sale. It was for sale two years ago (hence the date Tuesday, Aug 9, 2011) which is when I bought it. This website is a chronology of me and my Tailwind.
Olá Sergio, vc conseguiu comprar o tailwind?
abraço
João Carlos
Sorry, but it’s not for sale. Really, it’s not. It belongs to me and I’m keeping it. :-D
I have now discovered Wittman Tailwinds and I think I want one. I currently own a 1946 Luscombe 8F that I want to sell and a super nice 1966 C-150 that I really like but I could also sell to get a good Tailwind. I have never flown a Tailwind but I like the speed for the prices I have been seeing. I would like to know what they are like in a crosswind and what the brakes are like. I am based at K-64,Vinland Kansas, near Lawrence. I will watch this site to try to learn more and maybe be ready to buy, sell, trade by spring.
I have one for sale. 125 HP. prettiest one !! 605 490 5268. leave message and I will call back. Sturgis, SD.