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Cessna 120/140

Vintage flying doesn’t get much cheaper than this, but like any taildragger, look carefully for damage history.

Continental O-290-powered Cessna 120
Tamer Abubakr said his Continental O-290-powered 120 with the addition of some solid axles and small tundra tires, is a load of fun to fly around the desert.

Tamer Abubakr said his Continental O-290-powered 120, lead image, with the addition of some solid axles and small tundra tires, is a load of fun to fly around the desert.

For buyers wanting a taste of tailwheel flying on a budget, we think the first stop might be the Cessna 120/140. Although these little birds might lack the nostalgia of Piper Cubs, they’re a bit cheaper to buy and generally have more forgiving handling qualities. These aren’t legacy light sport planes—they’re too heavy for the existing LSA category.