Post by: KFhunter on May 19, 2014, 12:14:16 AM
Looking at a superSTOL pretty hard
Post by: washelkhunter on May 19, 2014, 12:34:03 AM
Post by: KFhunter on August 17, 2017, 07:12:52 PM
I haven't been around it, never seen it done, never flown a plane, don't have a license. I literally got no clue.
but I want to put together a bush plane. Looking at "just aircraft" and their big tired bush plane.
Post by: KFhunter on August 17, 2017, 07:14:09 PM
Post by: JKEEN33 on August 17, 2017, 07:17:03 PM
Post by: KFhunter on August 17, 2017, 07:25:03 PM
full screen it :o
Post by: Zardoz on August 19, 2017, 11:17:55 AM
looking into one
I haven't been around it, never seen it done, never flown a plane, don't have a license. I literally got no clue.
but I want to put together a bush plane. Looking at "just aircraft" and their big tired bush plane.
I did a lot of research on just this thing over the last 10 years. I had planned on going with Just Aircraft because for me it offered the best bang for the bucks and my expected needs. There is a large group of enthusiasts in the kit plane field. Before you buy anything you should at least go for a couple of flights or take an introductory flight lesson at a flight school. Definitely attend a couple of fly-ins and talk to the pilots. Research EAA for more information. Any questions, just ask. :tup:
Post by: KFhunter on August 19, 2017, 12:29:48 PM
I've been in quite a few different small airplanes and helicopters, and do go to fly-ins quite often. My favorite was a tour around Mt McKinley in AK Denali park. Well maybe not, I did a helicopter ride down into the waterfall featured in Jurassic Park - this before they restricted helicopters from going down in there, we flew almost to the bottom THAT was cool, I let my new bride ride shotgun :chuckle: :tup:
I was at the Colville fly in last weekend and sent my son up in a Cessna as he's going to CWU and going through the aviation program there on his way to .mil and commercial airlines. He hasn't flown as much as I, but he really wants to pursue this.
I want to bounce around in a bush plane hunting/camping goofing around, and when I retire I want a go fast plane to visit grandkids, and I thought he could also build time with it and perhaps teach me after his 3rd year at CWU as he'll have an instructor license.
So in 3 years I want to have a plane ready to fly and a runway in my hay field. I learned that if I build the kit plane I can do all my own annuals and work on the plane myself saving me money. Before I retire I'll do it again with something like an RV 4 seater.
Right now I'm looking at the just aircraft super STOL stretch xl with the new UL 200hp engine that burns pump gas - lot of $$ :o
Post by: Badhabit on August 19, 2017, 02:06:24 PM
Post by: KFhunter on August 19, 2017, 03:16:34 PM
Post by: Zardoz on August 19, 2017, 05:28:33 PM
Post by: Born2late on August 19, 2017, 10:36:57 PM
I would recommend making a list of what you would like the plane to do and what it must do then see if the kit fits what your looking for.Some have folding wings so you can trailer it home so you dont have to pay hanger rent.Some have a great stol capabilties but no useful load or a slow cruise speed.Some have float attach points so you can play on water.
From my experience not all kits are the same. Meaning, some companies do lousy jobs at manufacturing the parts.Which makes building them a nightmare. Others have the worst building manuals you have ever seen.Some are not properly engineered and i would never fly in them(using pop rivets on structual parts).Its was extremely fun building them if you enjoy that type of thing.
I knew a guy that built a glasair 3. which is a 300 mph low wing that you better have your abiltity match it to be able to handle it.He spent 4 years building it only to finish and realized it was way beyond his capabilities to fly and ended up selling it.If i was to build one for my self I would do a sportsman and highly modify it like my best friend did.Its easy to fly.You can set it up fixed trike,tail dragger or floats. Has a good stol and a good cruise and room to carry stuff. His plane has 35 inch tire i think,and is was built light.
Rv's are good planes but are not really a land in the bush type plane. More for cruising and aerobatics.
Post by: Zardoz on August 20, 2017, 05:16:31 PM
Post by: 724wd on August 23, 2017, 12:32:05 PM
Post by: KFhunter on August 23, 2017, 05:16:45 PM
Pretty cool, they have a centrifugal clutch so the prop is disengaged below 2700 RPM, throttle up and the prop spins. I could think of a few good things about that and I'm not even a pilot yet.
I'm also digging the Zenith air 801 SD SUPERSTOL. It'll carry a lot more stuff and 4 people, plus its all metal. I used to build boats so I can buck rivets and work sheet pretty good...but I guess it's all pulled rivets...and even in the wings :o should buy a bunch of cherry max and toss the kit's rivets?
but they spray crops with it and it works, if it'll haul around water and spray crops it'll hold up for me :tup:
The biggest turn off for the Zenith air is lack of folding wings, I can put the Just Aircraft highlander in a cargo trailer and run up to Alaska.
Post by: seakev on August 23, 2017, 06:50:08 PM
My cousin in Twisp built one and flies it regularly. Vans RV-7
This is my planned pre-retirement build. :rolleyes:
Post by: KFhunter on August 23, 2017, 07:12:13 PM
The new mako looks good too
http://lancair.com/mako/
Post by: jaymark6655 on August 24, 2017, 05:20:33 AM
I have wanted to build an RV-10 forever, about to sell my motorcycle to try and fund the first kit.
Recently I have also considered a Sling 4 and when I first discovered kit planes I liked the Zenith aircraft. Both Sling and Zenith use pull rivets, they are different than the ones at the local store so don't use those.
For the OP, I would go for a discover flight or something in any aircraft like a Cessna172 or similar to see if you like it. Flying in a small plane has all sorts of different that I can't really explain, but you will understand as soon as you start down the runway. For me the thoughts on my first take off roll ranged from "is this thing going to fly, the math and physics says it will, but I am not sure, maybe we should stop now" to "holy crap this is terrifying" and then "I am glad I kept my mouth shut, this is awesome".
Also try to find a EAA fly in (there is one in Arlington) or local chapter and try to find people building or have built aircraft. Try to fly in the ones your interested in and make sure they fit your "mission". Volunteer to help with the builds you find, I found out I suck at composite and I hate working with it. Driving rivets is easy, just time consuming with all the drilling, fitting and deburring. For some reason I have trouble with getting rivets to sit against parts right, but usually they are really easy.
Check out Jason Ellis youtube channel. He has some videos about him learning to fly and maybe the largest collection of posted videos covering his build of an RV-10.
Post by: KFhunter on August 24, 2017, 03:49:20 PM
One has a Husky, not sure the other guys. Maybe I'll entice them with a big stack of BBQ ribs :chuckle:
I've been in multiple Cessna's and twin engine planes, I've been shotgun in a twin engine Cessna crab walking in with strong cross winds in Denali AK
Post by: dmv9 on August 24, 2017, 06:42:29 PM
Learn to fly before you build :)
Post by: KFhunter on August 24, 2017, 08:00:39 PM
If I build first I don't have to rent a plane, and my son will be a cfi
Post by: bearpaw on August 24, 2017, 08:58:23 PM
Post by: Romulus1297 on August 25, 2017, 12:33:48 AM
Post by: jaymark6655 on August 25, 2017, 07:34:18 AM
Remember John Denver? :bdid:
Tragic accident, but he was flying a plane were the builder had made a dangerous deviation from the original design, he knew about the trouble he would have with switching fuel tanks and that his tanks weren't full and he chose not to refuel, and he barely had any transition training so really he was unfamiliar with the aircraft. Part of being a pilot is identifying risk, assessing them, avoidance or mitigation or acceptance based on the risk and his choices seem to be the opposite of that.
Post by: Zardoz on August 25, 2017, 11:12:51 AM
Post by: Badhabit on January 09, 2018, 03:49:42 PM
Maybe not the plane you were looking for but a project plane for sure.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/all,wa/auction/view?auc=1994702
Post by: KFhunter on January 09, 2018, 04:34:45 PM
Post by: jaymark6655 on January 09, 2018, 06:34:00 PM
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on January 22, 2018, 07:07:21 PM
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on January 22, 2018, 07:09:51 PM
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on January 22, 2018, 07:13:12 PM
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/for/d/ultralights-weedhoppers/6452690005.html
Post by: The Real Sisu on January 23, 2018, 01:43:40 PM
http://rowdybarry.homestead.com/bullfighting.html
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Post by: huntnphool on January 23, 2018, 01:49:17 PM
Post by: The scout on January 23, 2018, 03:52:46 PM
Post by: KFhunter on January 23, 2018, 07:21:45 PM
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,217252.msg2891339.html#msg2891339
This link is now broken, I merged the two threads, guess it's been on my mind for a while now :chuckle:
Post by: Badhabit on June 06, 2018, 03:39:24 PM
Found a Cessna 152 still flying.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/all,or/auction/view?auc=2098389
Post by: Machias on June 08, 2018, 02:20:59 PM
Post by: Machias on June 08, 2018, 02:31:45 PM
http://www.yakimaaerosport.com/aircraft/super-breezy/
Post by: JohnVH on June 18, 2018, 09:34:34 AM
Building one would be fun, but its way cheaper to buy one flying.
Post by: Special T on June 18, 2018, 11:34:58 AM
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Post by: Machias on June 18, 2018, 01:12:55 PM
Post by: Oh Mah on June 18, 2018, 01:17:04 PM
Post by: 2MANY on June 18, 2018, 01:29:12 PM
My friend Rob in Salmon just took his final flight in his a couple weeks ago.
Post by: KFhunter on June 18, 2018, 04:08:41 PM
This guy has some interesting videos on his Kit Fox.
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Those STi kits are pretty spendy, but I do like the idea of a turbo, sure be nice for density altitude take offs...like way up in the Frank Church at cabin creek....with a load of meat.
Post by: Romulus1297 on May 08, 2019, 05:08:35 PM
Post by: KFhunter on May 08, 2019, 08:50:43 PM
On his last climb out he got about 200 feet then abruptly quit climbing and nose dived into the orchard according to witnesses.
I don't know if he experienced engine failure, or just stalled it
Post by: KFhunter on May 08, 2019, 08:51:35 PM
life keeps happening
Post by: jeffro on May 08, 2019, 11:12:38 PM
Sorry to say they are no longer with us
Both had been bush pilots in Alaska, thousands of hours, and had great stories
But their love of flying was their demise
I helped John recover the goods from his first kit crash
Radios, engine, landing gear, personals etc.
Short runway, came in too fast, not enough power to pull out. Belly flop. Broken back
He built a new one and got wind sheered into the side of Rainer on flight #2.
Great guy
Don had a performance stunt plane, nosed it into the woods while doing barrel rolls
One of the smartest men I ever met
Kit planes just don’t seem to be as structurally sound, or as well engineered, as factory ones.
I’ve been flying small planes, other peoples lol, for 30+ years and won’t get into a kit.
Ever!
Post by: Wazntme on May 09, 2019, 02:00:34 AM
Post by: KFhunter on May 10, 2019, 09:49:50 AM
He's got a great gig going.
Drone pilot professionally, his kitfox is a tax writeoff and now hes got so many subscribers hes making money there too.
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Post by: KFhunter on May 11, 2019, 02:23:49 PM
Makes me want one more, it held up very very well after a lawn dart into the turf after clipping powerlines on a short field landing.
Im assuming due to pilot error.
Broken foot and leg, few bruises but hes ok
Frames on those are beefy, gas welded chrome moly tubing.
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/ae7095f6df292ff75734205162b1eb75.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/ccfd11759fab4985fdf8a1e1a15c9859.jpg)
Post by: jaymark6655 on May 22, 2024, 07:14:03 AM
Update: I started building my RV-10 in 2020. Life keeps happening, but I am currently working on my wings and need to get my fuselage on order. Just purchased my Oshkosh tickets as well for this year, planning on driving up midweek.
Post by: Happy Gilmore on May 25, 2024, 10:51:49 PM