In the start of looking for a plane that is capable of hauling a my Kite board and gear from Virginia to the Outer Banks for weekend surf trips.

Paying attention to the CG it may be possible to place the boards, 5-6 feet in length, pointing back into the tail. I am sure other members have done similar things with fishing poles. Looking for recommendations on a plane that would be suitable to move this type of object for weekend flights to the outer banks. Preferably a plane that does not cost a fortune to purchase.

A plane that doesn’t cost a fortune ? That’s funny right there .

Lots of planes are sub 40k for sale that seems plenty affordable to me, less than what most people pay for their shinny F150s and what nots.

I like your positivity .

The length won't be a problem for any Cessna 170 and up. How wide are they?

I'd belly carry it, better not go certified though?

The length won't be a problem for any Cessna 170 and up. How wide are they?

The width can very depending on the board, but in general we are talking 5' long and under 20" wide.



That o-300 in the C170 sounds thirsty.

courierguy wrote:I'd belly carry it, better not go certified though?

I already have an experimental kind of looking to just buy the next plane not build. Plus some of the prices on Exp are higher, depending on model, than cert planes.

KiteBum wrote:

The length won't be a problem for any Cessna 170 and up. How wide are they?

The width can very depending on the board, but in general we are talking 5' long and under 20" wide.



That o-300 in the C170 sounds thirsty.

7-8GPH is too thirsty? Then you basically have to go experimental. But an experimental long enough to fit the surf board won't be cheap either. A sub 40k aircraft, long enough to fit the surfboard, and burn less then 7GPH is a unicorn. A 172 would be close, but the fuel burn is 0-300 burn. As per usual with aircraft, you'll most likely have to give 1 of your 3 demands up.

A 170/172 with rear fold up bush seats and an extended baggage area would at least satisfy the space requirements

I think I will have to give up on the fuel economy. The 170 is a compelling option if I can find one for the right price more than likely north of 40k.

So what Exp exist that fit the bill of hauling a surfboard.

172 would fit the bill as well, and are much more affordable then a 170. Though not quite as cool, still very functional.

A1Skinner wrote:172 would fit the bill as well, and are much more affordable then a 170. Though not quite as cool, still very functional.

I have so much time in 172 I was trying to avoid it, but it is a good plane.

I was hoping I could maybe strap the board to the ceiling in the plane over my head opening up some more aircraft options. Might pan out on tandem plane but not sure really.

The other Idea I had was to jam the board between the left and right seat so it could be more in the cabin and let the rest go into the tail structure.

Maybe a belly pod on the right aircraft could work as well.

KiteBum wrote:

A1Skinner wrote:172 would fit the bill as well, and are much more affordable then a 170. Though not quite as cool, still very functional.

I have so much time in 172 I was trying to avoid it, but it is a good plane.

I was hoping I could maybe strap the board to the ceiling in the plane over my head opening up some more aircraft options. Might pan out on tandem plane but not sure really.

The other Idea I had was to jam the board between the left and right seat so it could be more in the cabin and let the rest go into the tail structure.

Maybe a belly pod on the right aircraft could work as well.

You might be able to fit it in length wise, but getting it in through the door is another issue in itself. Just because the fuselage is long enough does not mean you'll get it in the door. Especially with a narrower plane like a tandem.

Good point it may not make it past the door frame.

Well I might have to go with option B. Buy a Champ or something similar and just rent the board from a local shop on trips.

Or might just get lucky and find a 170 that needs a bit of tlc for a decent price. Maybe that A&P ticket will finally come in handy.

172 for sure. I surf about 250 days per year and that was a big part of my decision process. I went with a 182 with Atlee Dodge rear seats and extended baggage and have about 6.5 feet or a bit more in the back. A 172 would be your best bet although everything is pricey right now.

I kite right out of my 185 amphib, I can fit any of my kite boards and easily fit my 7’1 fun board....it’s a great surf machine.

KiteBum wrote:Good point it may not make it past the door frame.

Well I might have to go with option B. Buy a Champ or something similar and just rent the board from a local shop on trips.

Or might just get lucky and find a 170 that needs a bit of tlc for a decent price. Maybe that A&P ticket will finally come in handy.

Here it is, at less than $40K.......

https://www.barnstormers.com/classified ... atid=17384

Minus the fact that the engine is shoot and I do not live in Miami. Who knows what other things are up with that plane. I would have to give a good look over in person.

electricsnail wrote:I kite right out of my 185 amphib, I can fit any of my kite boards and easily fit my 7’1 fun board....it’s a great surf machine.

A 185 is nice but that is a 6 figure plane on average, more than I want to be in it for. Ideally I would prefer to be sub 40k but would go up to 60k for the right plane.