Ok Ok it is Russian but Look at this bird. An Utva 66. Looks like a cheap version of a Cessna 180.

http://www.dougronan.com/1972%20Utva%2066.htm


I would be really interested if I could pony another 20 grand. The supercharger sounds expensive though.

Interesting enough plane to deserve its own thread! This should be Tundras.

Hello Tundra people thanks to dirtstrip for telling us about this site as we are in Australia and have the only Tundra kit here ,No 36 and have been progressing with the build over 2 years and have all tail feathers done also both wings done and the rear fuse done working on main cabin at the moment but as we are farmers and the winter time is our quiter times so can only work seriously on the kit during winter .I have built a RV-7 which has done 200hrs and also have a 57 model Cessna 180.Hopefully to start back on the Tundra after we pick our cotton etc in April-May.
Cheers Rob (bellmar)

Rob,
How did you decide on the Tundra? What other kits have you looked at and how does this build compare to the RV, just about everyone is familiar with the RV's.

And welcome to BCP, I can finally say I know someone from Austrailia!

there where not to many 4 place all metal kits to look at a couple of years ago that where ready for sale, i was keen on the cyclone kit but when i was ready to buy the company was not answering any emails so it really got down to the tundra or rv10 as we had already built a rv and the rv10 was more expensive with bigger engine and constant speed prop so we decided on the tundra.
the only difference that i have seen so far is the tundra has everything already made where as the rv you had to make a lot of the smaller parts from stock that they supplied and the rv's are all flush riveted which takes a lot more time as you have to dimple every hole.
the only trouble with the tundra i have had is the translation from french to english in the manual you have to read it a couple of times to work out what they are trying to tell you but otherwise i am very happy with the kit and the company, we meet with them at oshkosh 2010 but since both luc and martin have moved on but martin is still there when you need help .
cheers rob

dirtstrip wrote:.......
http://www.vettermanexhaust.com/
It was a little over 800 bucks at the time and only took about a week to build and ship. I doubt if you can beat that anywhere else and it is very good stainless steel work. .....

Lots of exhaust places charge close to $400 just to overhaul one muffler. $800 sounds like a steal to me! Even without all the certified airplane paperwork requirements that's a helluva low price for a custom-made exhaust system. How much more did the heat muffs cost you?

hotrod150 wrote:

dirtstrip wrote:.......
http://www.vettermanexhaust.com/
It was a little over 800 bucks at the time and only took about a week to build and ship. I doubt if you can beat that anywhere else and it is very good stainless steel work. .....

Lots of exhaust places charge close to $400 just to overhaul one muffler. $800 sounds like a steal to me! Even without all the certified airplane paperwork requirements that's a helluva low price for a custom-made exhaust system. How much more did the heat muffs cost you?

http://www.robbinswings.com/OrderINFO.htm

Note: For Lycoming style engines using Vetterman Exhausts. Check the home page.

"Seems like a great plane... But why would anyone build the tricycle gear model? Just looks dumb"

Trike is dumb ? Hey Blu--let's see you fly in 17-20 knot crosswinds, gusts to 28 knots! I've done it----I can show you a pic of a Husky that did an awful ground loop in less winds at my airport--I departed about two hours after his accident--no problem BUT--the reason I went with the trike is simply a bad lower back and a bad right ham string--sorry I'm dumb---
here's this weekend's ice runway landing in ME: ( on a trike):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K4JLF1VKfY

Long time gone TJoe. Thought you sneaked off to the Bahamas early or something.
Looks like that Husky parked in line of the run away truck ramp at the end of the runway. Did they take the trees out further in for it?

I always wondered how that castering nose wheel handled the crosswind. Must be ok with the wide gear.

RV's seem to travel in flocks.

One more thing, I talked to Larry Vetterman and he sold two sets of crossover exhaust for Tundra's. Did you get one?
I shoulda worked a percentage on the referals.

TundraJoe wrote:"Seems like a great plane... But why would anyone build the tricycle gear model? Just looks dumb"

Trike is dumb ? Hey Blu--let's see you fly in 17-20 knot crosswinds, gusts to 28 knots! I've done it----I can show you a pic of a Husky that did an awful ground loop in less winds at my airport--I departed about two hours after his accident--no problem BUT--the reason I went with the trike is simply a bad lower back and a bad right ham string--sorry I'm dumb---
here's this weekend's ice runway landing in ME: ( on a trike):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K4JLF1VKfY

Nice Joe...havent seen this bird in a while...last time was in Bromont, cheers, BCT

Dirtstrip,
There are no trees in the lake ! They plowed the snow off the lake surface about 50 ft from shore to make a runway. The Husky could have parked farther from the runway than he did--but he wasn't a problem when I took off.
I've been doing some urban flying and failed to get pictures of flying over Manhattan in perfect weather over Thanksgiving--but I figured it wasn't exactly "backcountry " , anyway
Nope--I didn't buy an exhaust--still paying off avionics and gear upgrade. The trike handles very well in crosswinds--it has been consistently windy in our area for the last 4 years--so, most flights require crosswind takeoffs/landings.
BCT--I've been following you with envy ! Glad you personally saw my Tundra--it is now N 351PW.

Here is a link to an edited video of the newly completed N133WV. First start, step taxi,ground effect hop, first takeoff, water landing touch and go and first land landing. No I didn't do all that in one day. I looked everything over carefully before each test flight. Now has 10 hrs. Changing the oil, filter and doing a full annual inspection in a heated hanger.

http://youtu.be/oprcmVctSW8

Full story at:

http://www.worldvoyagers.com/tundra/index.htm

1,800lbs empty 2,800lbs gross, Aerosport Power O-375, Whirlwind CS-200 constant speed propeller and Montana 2,800 amphibious floats. !,500 hrs in building.

Phil

Great effort - you must be so thrilled right now to finally be flying after several years of solid work!
It's great to see all you've done through your website! Congratulations.

One question please, I didn't know Whirlwind did CS propellors, do you have a web link you could share?

The Tundra is a very interesting aircraft, and one I considered carefully before selecting a kit.

TundraJoe wrote:"Seems like a great plane... But why would anyone build the tricycle gear model? Just looks dumb"

Trike is dumb ? Hey Blu--let's see you fly in 17-20 knot crosswinds, gusts to 28 knots! I've done it----I can show you a pic of a Husky that did an awful ground loop in less winds at my airport--I departed about two hours after his accident--no problem BUT--the reason I went with the trike is simply a bad lower back and a bad right ham string--sorry I'm dumb---
here's this weekend's ice runway landing in ME: ( on a trike):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K4JLF1VKfY

Didn't say you where dumb.
Sounds like you had your reasons.
I can't help that I think trike gear bush planes look funny. I say the samething every time I see a trike maule as well.

Someone mentioned the 701 and for some reason it seems about right as a trike. Not saying I think it's a pretty plane might just be how well the one at our airport performs, makes it look better to me.

As for the 28 knot crosswinds ill land in them all day long and enjoy it
Of course my rule is at 20knots there are no crosswinds only strong head winds as I just land across the runway

Now trying to taxi in those winds is another story

Battson wrote:Great effort - you must be so thrilled right now to finally be flying after several years of solid work!
It's great to see all you've done through your website! Congratulations.

One question please, I didn't know Whirlwind did CS propellors, do you have a web link you could share?

The Tundra is a very interesting aircraft, and one I considered carefully before selecting a kit.

Phil at world voyagers has the most detailed log and documentation I have ever seen on a homebuilt. I appreciate all the hard work that went into what he's done with much attention to detail. I saw photos of lowering his Tundra from the barn where he built it down the slope into the river that gave me some pause though. Glad the block and tackle held. Beautiful scenery too. It was fun just to follow along as the time got close.

Does anyone have any current information on the Tundra's? Seems most of the information I'm finding on them is from a decade ago or more. At a glance, it seems like a kit I would strongly consider. But the company seems to be silent, and I haven't found an active builder community.

coosbo wrote:Does anyone have any current information on the Tundra's? Seems most of the information I'm finding on them is from a decade ago or more. At a glance, it seems like a kit I would strongly consider. But the company seems to be silent, and I haven't found an active builder community.

The company is hard to get a hold of, and even after repeated requests they have yet to send me any info. I do like the plane though.

Looked into this real hard. Found a kit semi-locally that had a lot of very quality work done for basically half price. The gentleman selling it told us to get ahold of Paul Dye at Kitplanes Magazine before we wrote the check. Sure glad we did. The plane or kit builder isn’t under consideration for our skill set after that. If you want the full low down contact Paul.

There’s a real hole in the 4 place STOL experimental market. I look for Randy Schlitter to fill it but it takes time.