The Cheapest 150 MPH Airplane Available - Smyth Sidewinder

Round 2 in the airplane deals series brings a 2 place, economical speed machine. The Smyth Sidewinder. In a time with Cessna 150's are selling for well over $30,000, this airplane listed for $18,000 seems to be a steal. You can find it in the Facebook group linked below.
Airplanes For Sale - bit.ly/3ux4C6F
With a 125hp Lycoming O-290 and only weighing in at 1,050 lbs, this little experimental speed machine carries enough gas to take you over 350 miles. You would run circles around the Cessna 150's of the world.
To boot, it's rated for aerobatics at +/- 9 G's.
#mytimetofly #generalaviation #experimental

[@samj1185]

I remember seeing that plane pop up on my local FMP feed. Great price for a snazzy plane. Hope whoever bought it enjoys it. My 'someday' plane is the Mustang II. Very similar to the Sidewinder but generally faster.

[@MyTimeToFly]

The Mustang 2 is a sharp plane, no doubt about that.

[@SouthJerseyPilot]

@@MyTimeToFly Time to give the Thorp T-18 a little love

[@davidtesch3205]

This is a great series of videos that you are making! Very informative and interesting, thank you so much. Blue skies!

[@MyTimeToFly]

Thank you kindly David, I'm glad you are enjoying it.

[@bobgreco3073]

Before buying a Smyth Sidewinder you should check the accident history of these airplanes. They have a very poor accident record with the stall spin on final being the major cause of accidents.

[@MyTimeToFly]

It does seem airspeed management is super critical. Even flying a Mooney I carry extra speed base to final always.

[@robertyoung8289]

Super interesting. Thank you.

[@MyTimeToFly]

My pleasure, thanks for watching.

[@richcain64]

Gerry Smyth , I had the plans for this and the preformed spars. I made about 6 steel fittings and then realized I’d be building it for the rest of my life. Built an RV 6 instead .

[@MyTimeToFly]

Sounds like a good call!

[@kurtheimerman8267]

Cool airplane. I like the floating canopy! Please make more videos. :)

[@MyTimeToFly]

That’s so much, I’ll keep working on them!!!

[@RaggedyTubes]

Cool little hotrod! Alot of haters on o290's but really it's a good engine. Especially in the experimental world. Cheap to buy, good hp to weight (for a real airplane engine), and the case can be machined by a case shop to accept o320 cylinders with high compression pistons if you want more hp. Unfortunately many of them have been cobbled back together with worn out parts. I would be cautious on what the overhaul consisted of.

[@MyTimeToFly]

Thanks for the great detail, I didn’t know you could put bigger jugs on a modified O-290 case…pretty cool.

[@1LoudCRX]

This plane actually brought me to KZbin to find more info on it.

[@MyTimeToFly]

Very cool, my interest was piqued as well.

[@47colton]

@@MyTimeToFly This design has had a couple wing spar failures i believe, my good friend persished when the wing of his sidewinder seperated...do you research...

[@MyTimeToFly]

I’m so sorry to hear that, thank you for the info.

[@bobbyrice]

I literally just saw this plane on a site and looked it up for info. And here is that very plane! Can you get your pilot license in a plane like this?

[@MyTimeToFly]

Sorry for the slow reply Bobby. You could certainly get your license in a plane like this, but it's definitely not the most common trainer...so finding an instructor might be a bit of a challenge.

[@bobbyrice]

@@MyTimeToFly Thanks for responding! I do appreciate it. I have been researching this one and it's stall speed seems a bit scary for a newcomer. But I haven't ruled it out.

[@MyTimeToFly]

It’s definitely something to consider, especially if you’re home airport is short. Higher landing speeds cause me to land a bit long in the Mooney from time to time. Luckily I’ve got 4,000 to play with.

[@cristiovanni]

Great series, please keep it going. Can you tell us more about your experience buying the mooney? How much did it cost to register, insure, ferrying prebuy... Thanks

[@MyTimeToFly]

Thank you kindly. I'm happy to share more about my experience buying the Mooney. I'll do that really soon in a video.

[@joenist]

Security and Piece of Mind are not Inexpensive. The Risk/Reward to me does not seem worth it to me. I much prefer the safety and security of a Certified Aircraft. Weather Happens.

[@MyTimeToFly]

I don’t think it’s that easy to bucket certified vs. experimental. But I do get your point.

[@spiro5327]

Definitely aliot of performance for not alot of money. I reckon you would make a great aircraft salesman

[@MyTimeToFly]

Haha, thanks. I don't see it in my future, but you never know.

[@j.daniel2470]

The Joystick Handle also needs a Paint Job. Either Flat Black , or Gray Woudl do it .

[@MyTimeToFly]

I tend to like black, except on the outside where it gets too hot.

[@scottmiller4711]

Being that it is experimental, modifications would be inexpensive. Regarding intercom, many of the "round dial" style radios have a built in 2 person intercom so you might not see a comm panel.

[@MyTimeToFly]

Great point about the cost to upgrade Scott and thanks for the info on the "round dial" style radios. I would not have realized that one. Much appreciated!

[@stevecunningham6821]

The useful load is at the bare minimum unless you fly alone. My wife and I would easily hit the limit with full fuel. But we would not be able to take any luggage unless we flew naked.

[@MyTimeToFly]

It's your plane, do what you want...hahaha! I agree, there isn't much useful. However a Cessna 150 is only a touch over 450 lbs as well.

[@stevecunningham6821]

@@MyTimeToFly true. I was just getting my hopes up a bit on a plane with decent performance and range. Personally, I do not like the Cessnas due to their high drag from the wing supports and low performance for the engine power output.

[@MyTimeToFly]

I do agree the Cessna is not a great option for most / any cross county plans.

[@j.daniel2470]

I would think it needs a paint job on the Instrument Panel !!!!!!.

[@MyTimeToFly]

The green doesn’t do it for you?

[@j.daniel2470]

No. Klack Or light Gray would do it . the complete panel.

[@MyTimeToFly]

Right on!

[@fredschwarz9502]

A problem with airplanes as 'hot' as the Sidewinder: it gets ahead of pilots not used to such performance. Sine "pre-flying' training is in order. The best reasons to BUILD a homebuilt IMO): you know every nut and bolt and you can do your own maintenance.

[@MyTimeToFly]

Very good points, I was told the Mooney would be the same. After some solid training it has become second nature. I can’t wait to know an airplane to that level of detail!!!

[@fredschwarz9502]

Soon after learning to fly in a 150, many years ago, the first 'hot rod' checkout was in a nearly new AA-1 Yankee Clipper. The Flying Club's Chief Instructor wouldn't let me fly it solo until he felt I could safely do so. It wasn't any more complex than the Cessna, of course, but it had a stall characteristic that demanded respect. Other than that--much fun to fly.

[@N182NS]

Buying an experimental airplane from some one that built it and You have no idea of the build quality is scary as, once it is built You cannot really see all areas of construction. In this case the engine has set a lot and not flown very much which tends to promote rust on the cam shaft and lifter bodies. You cannot inspect them with out removing some cylinders.

[@MyTimeToFly]

Definitely good watch outs. I agree it is not a process to take lightly. The engine concern is valid regardless of certified or experimental. It's an unfortunate issue which kills way too many engines. Thanks for the great comments Nick!

[@borquein]

Am in the market for a small plane

[@MyTimeToFly]

It’s a hard market to buy in right now, stay patient.

[@daszieher]

I normally wouldn't comment on the tail, because one shouldn't say anything, if there is nothing nice to say. I find swept surfaces absolutely ridiculous, if there is no aerodynamic sense. It is just a marketing ploy by people with little aerodynamic knowledge to "make" something look faster. Basically the equivalent to a fake hood scoop on an airplane. Unnecessarily swept surfaces actually make the aircraft heavier.

[@MyTimeToFly]

Interesting point, I most certainly wouldn't have thought about unneeded swept surfaces in that way, but it does make some sense now that you say it.

[@daszieher]

@@MyTimeToFly yes, thank you, but I still feel guilty. It's a free world and to each their own. 😃

[@tpsu129]

Looks like an RV12.

[@MyTimeToFly]

There are certainly some similarities.

[@daszieher]

@@MyTimeToFly also reminded me of the Midget Mustang II (the family model with seat for a passenger).

[@MyTimeToFly]

It sure does. I guess there are only so many ways to design an airplane.