Admit it. Despite your protestations to the contrary, you’ve lusted in your heart for an old airplane. It may be a classic such as a postwar Piper J-3 Cub—we’ll use EAA’s “classic” definition of aircraft built from September 1, 1945, through the end of 1955—an antique such as a Beech 18 or one of the many Wacos, or—yes, you know you want it—a warbird.
Believe it or not, ownership of a classic, antique or warbird (CAW) isn’t as esoteric or unreachable as you may think. While keeping a warbird powered by a twin-row radial or one of the hot-water 12s—an Allison or Merlin—fed and watered requires having and being willing to spend cubic money, Aeronca, Piper and Stinson built honest to goodness warbirds in World War II. Chances are, if you can afford at least one part of a joint ownership of a Cessna 150 and you’re willing to get your hands dirty caring for it and pay attention to the specialized needs of older airplanes, making your dream come true may not be as difficult as you’d imagined.