Backcountry Pilot • Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

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Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:02 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

I purchased a Tundra in late fall of 09, paid the extra for the fast build kit, and still have 100 or so hours left to finish it. I flew the demo after a factory tour and fell in love with the performance and handling, took my wife on the demo flight, she is 5'10" and she was not to cramped in the back.
Factory support has been great (haven't had to call on them for much), have had 6 holes that did not line up and had to re-drill, but the CNC pre-punched holes has made the project easy and fun to build, bucked rivets are the way to go. I have not had to ask very hard to get either my son (10) or my daughter (12) to crawl inside tail section to hold the bucking bar during final assembly.
Their manual is a little vague in some spots, but if you read ahead and read about related parts I have been able to figure out what they were trying to accomplish.
I am using an Aerosport IO-375 with Light Speed ignition, and a constant speed MT 3 blade prop. I should be getting about 205-210 HP on mogas
My plan (work allowing) is to get it finished in the next 2 months.
I will be into it for about $110k when it makes the maiden flight, if I were to do it again, (start over) I would go the same way.

tundrabldr
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Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:10 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Zane, just buy shortfielders $30K 182 and get back in the game. all the plane you'll ever need and big enough to practice baby making and breastfeeding in the back seat :lol: . Try that in one of the kit builds.
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Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:27 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Rhyppa wrote:Zane, just buy shortfielders $30K 182 and get back in the game. all the plane you'll ever need and big enough to practice baby making and breastfeeding in the back seat :lol: . Try that in one of the kit builds.


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Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:02 pm

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Rhyppa wrote:Zane, just buy shortfielders $30K 182 and get back in the game. all the plane you'll ever need and big enough to practice baby making and breastfeeding in the back seat :lol: . Try that in one of the kit builds.


Now that's some solid advice there. I had to check Zane, and the backseatbabymakingpilot.org domain is available... :-k
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Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:52 pm

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

tundrabldr wrote:I purchased a Tundra in late fall of 09, paid the extra for the fast build kit, and still have 100 or so hours left to finish it. I flew the demo after a factory tour and fell in love with the performance and handling, took my wife on the demo flight, she is 5'10" and she was not to cramped in the back.
Factory support has been great (haven't had to call on them for much), have had 6 holes that did not line up and had to re-drill, but the CNC pre-punched holes has made the project easy and fun to build, bucked rivets are the way to go. I have not had to ask very hard to get either my son (10) or my daughter (12) to crawl inside tail section to hold the bucking bar during final assembly.
Their manual is a little vague in some spots, but if you read ahead and read about related parts I have been able to figure out what they were trying to accomplish.
I am using an Aerosport IO-375 with Light Speed ignition, and a constant speed MT 3 blade prop. I should be getting about 205-210 HP on mogas
My plan (work allowing) is to get it finished in the next 2 months.
I will be into it for about $110k when it makes the maiden flight, if I were to do it again, (start over) I would go the same way.

tundrabldr


I didn't recognize your handle and just now noticed you joined BCP yesterday. I had been wondering if all the english speaking Tundra builders were already on board and now I know they weren't. Welcome, and keep us posted on the progress.
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Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:23 pm

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Zane wrote:
Rhyppa wrote:Zane, just buy shortfielders $30K 182 and get back in the game. all the plane you'll ever need and big enough to practice baby making and breastfeeding in the back seat :lol: . Try that in one of the kit builds.


Image


Im on my eighth beer and in a trance watching this and it's starting to look a little weird
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Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:09 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

tundrabldr wrote:....I am using an Aerosport IO-375 with Light Speed ignition, and a constant speed MT 3 blade prop. I should be getting about 205-210 HP on mogas.....


If the new drivers license medical proposal passes, your airplane might be more useful & have better resale value if it was rated at only 180hp. What does the data plate on that engine say? I wonder if Bart would provide a new, lower-rated data plate, or if you could provide one yourself? It is an "experimental" engine , eh?
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Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:57 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Oregon180 wrote:Now that's some solid advice there. I had to check Zane, and the backseatbabymakingpilot.org domain is available... :-k


It would make for an interesting wiki... :) I'm going to have to practice some of the techniques so I can speak authoritatively on them.
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Sat Mar 24, 2012 2:51 pm

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

hotrod150 wrote:
tundrabldr wrote:....I am using an Aerosport IO-375 with Light Speed ignition, and a constant speed MT 3 blade prop. I should be getting about 205-210 HP on mogas.....


If the new drivers license medical proposal passes, your airplane might be more useful & have better resale value if it was rated at only 180hp. What does the data plate on that engine say? I wonder if Bart would provide a new, lower-rated data plate, or if you could provide one yourself? It is an "experimental" engine , eh?


tundrabldr is located in Canada so the value in downrating would only be on the US side while giving up value on the Canadian side because of listing it for sale as 180. The Tundra should have the big Hp four to achieve potential and it helps to be able to advertise it as such.

Of course if I knew someone with a data plate already that said 180 but had increased the hp on the engine I would not encourage them to change it. :wink:
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Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:32 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Zane, have you checked out one of these?

Image


more info at http://hopeonwings.org/plane.html

BushKing engine info at http://bushkingperformance.com/products
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Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:23 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

WingsOverPalawan wrote:Zane, have you checked out one of these?



Wow... looks like an episode of "Junkyard Wars" is being shot somewhere. The vertical tail and rudder looks a little small, as if someone measured the area of the Zenith full flying rudder and built a conventional fin/rudder of the same area (error IMHO).

They need to take that airplane and bring it over here to one of our Hollywood plastic surgeons. It'll look like a Lancair in no time :roll:
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Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:29 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

hotrod150 wrote:
tundrabldr wrote:....I am using an Aerosport IO-375 with Light Speed ignition, and a constant speed MT 3 blade prop. I should be getting about 205-210 HP on mogas.....


If the new drivers license medical proposal passes, your airplane might be more useful & have better resale value if it was rated at only 180hp. What does the data plate on that engine say? I wonder if Bart would provide a new, lower-rated data plate, or if you could provide one yourself? It is an "experimental" engine , eh?


Resale??? whats that?
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Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:30 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

EZFlap wrote:
WingsOverPalawan wrote:Zane, have you checked out one of these?



Wow... looks like an episode of "Junkyard Wars" is being shot somewhere.


I miss that show... one of my all-time favorites.

Mike, if the lesser known, limited run options aren't in the 3-seat ballpark (think Murphy Rebel), I'd much rather opt for a well known, well supported, large run 2-seater kit.
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Sat May 05, 2012 11:36 pm

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Well I'm back to this school of thought again. I miss having a project, and well, no freaking plane to fly either. :( Going back to the school I was at before to get checked out in a couple weeks in the nosedragging spam cans that are only allowed on pavement just so I have something to fly.

Anyway, even though I have a family of 4, realistically I doubt I'd ever need a plane for all of us. So I'm thinking 2 seater, and just rent a 182RG when a family trip might come up. I'm leaning towards the rebel this time, 2 seat, but I can toss in a little jump seat in case both my kids would like to go fly with me. The plane seems like a good all around utility plane, nothing fancy. With 160hp acceptable cruise to get me from here to Idaho or elsewhere, and decent horsepower for flying at this altitude...though I'd be tempted to looking into sticking 180hp on it.

I'd like to check out the Tundra as well, forgot the cost of that one already, but seemed like it was more than the Rebel. I have Bearhawk plans, CDs, manuals and all...but the kit cost is higher and it's really more airplane than I need. Though building it with 180hp and 2 seats in mind it would perform amazingly. Too bad I don't know how to weld, maybe I'd just scratch build it.

Looking for Rebels around the area to go sit in, never seen one in person. Still keeping an eye out for Stinsons, Pacers, and maybe 170s though....including projects. I love Stinsons, period. I love Pacers, but get mixed feelings about the shortwing at this altitude. I don't know enough about 170s, have heard the 145hp would be pretty weak with that weight here. I like the idea of building an experimental, well because I like to build and restore, and to get away from the certified crap....not to save paying an A&P cuz I are one.

Just babbling and keeping this thread going. There are lots of bush plane kits, most seem pretty decent. I'd like to see some more in person and maybe fly some. But right now the 2+1 Rebel and it's cost is pretty appealing....
Last edited by Tadpole on Sun May 06, 2012 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Sun May 06, 2012 5:22 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Tadpole,
The Rebel is a great flying plane. The one I flew had an O-320 and was pure delight to fly. Felt more like a sportscar than a typical plane as far as handling. Taking off in it felt like I had a rocket strapped to my a$$ after getting out of my Champ. Bugger seemed to go straight up with nary a struggle. Very roomy plane also.
I have two Rebels albeit not flying. One kit I have starter but lifes other issues have interceded and my building has come to a stop for the time being. The other one I purchased damaged and was going to rebuild it but never got around to it either. My wife seems to think getting the house finished has priority...darn women....need to get their priorities straight!!

There was a guy in Durango that had a Rebel but I believe he sold it. He posts on this site so hopefully he will chime in.Do a search on this site and ask if anyone is in your area.
www.murphybuilders.net/

There was a nearly completed kit in Prescott, Az I looked at last year for sale. Not sure if the guy still has it or not. They come up occassionally on various websites for sale also.

Good Luck,
Keith
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Sun May 06, 2012 8:11 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

WWhunter wrote:My wife seems to think getting the house finished has priority...darn women....need to get their priorities straight!!


We bought a new house when we got back to Colorado this year. I had a nice chunk of cash saved up for an airplane, but when a previous deal didn't work out, I decided to use my airplane money to get the fence, landscaping, window blinds, ceiling fans, central air, and so on done to the house. My wife has told me over and over that I didn't need to do that, I think she wants me to get a plane so I can stop annoying her about it...haha :mrgreen: I'd like to have a kit or wreck in my garage to work on.

WWhunter wrote:There was a nearly completed kit in Prescott, Az I looked at last year for sale. Not sure if the guy still has it or not. They come up occassionally on various websites for sale also.


There are two listed, one of which is in Prescott. Looks like it was built by students. I've contacted both for further info, price seems decent. $10k. I talked to Bob in Canada the other day and he said new kit from the factory is $25k.
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Sun May 06, 2012 8:44 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Even if you can put in 40 hrs a week on a project, a homebuilt from square one is gonna take a while (even a quick build). You can get a lot of Stinson for not too much money these days & be flying immediately. Plenty of them on barnstormers-- 4 pages of airplanes & parts but surprisingly no stinson button to click, you have to do a search.
Didn't chazdevil mention that his old 108/220 was for sale in Washington?
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Sun May 06, 2012 8:54 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

hotrod150 wrote:Even if you can put in 40 hrs a week on a project, a homebuilt from square one is gonna take a while (even a quick build). You can get a lot of Stinson for not too much money these days & be flying immediately. Plenty of them on barnstormers-- 4 pages of airplanes & parts but surprisingly no stinson button to click, you have to do a search.
Didn't chazdevil mention that his old 108/220 was for sale in Washington?


Building is part of the fun! I had a Stinson before but it was a project as well. They're good planes, I like them a lot and I still may get one. Though I do like experimental. BTW, there is a Stinson button on barnstormers...click taildraggers, then there is a list on the left side for Stinson. I don't use that though, I have preprogrammed searches for Stinsons and Pacers there already...and I look at them often. There was a metalized 108-3 w/220 at my local airport, project, been sitting for years. I went and looked at it but the guy wanted too much for it.

Either way this thread is about bush plane kits, and I'm shopping those as well. The Rebel looks decent. Basically since I came to the realization that I don't really need to own a 4 seater and can rent for that, it adds some more options to my list beyond Stinson, Pacer, 170.
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Sun May 06, 2012 11:57 am

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

Couple months ago I almost bought a rebel that was 75% done. I don't remember exactly what is was about the rebel that turned me off; seems like it was the empty weight was heavier than I wanted, wet wings and flaperons. I did like the +1 option though; the factory said there are a few flying what are set up as a 4 place.

I've pretty much decided on a Frontier; I'm just waiting for the factory to get one together so I can fly one before I buy. The original demo plane was a little different than the production model so they are building a new demo.
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Sun May 06, 2012 12:01 pm

Re: Which bush plane kit? Stuck in no-man's land.

whee wrote:Couple months ago I almost bought a rebel that was 75% done. I don't remember exactly what is was about the rebel that turned me off; seems like it was the empty weight was heavier than I wanted, wet wings and flaperons. I did like the +1 option though; the factory said there are a few flying what are set up as a 4 place.

I've pretty much decided on a Frontier; I'm just waiting for the factory to get one together so I can fly one before I buy. The original demo plane was a little different than the production model so they are building a new demo.


Ya the +1 is an attractive deal. The Rebel order sheet has an option to split the flaps and ailerons. I've not heard of the Frontier that I recall. What's the company?
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