I just got back from up north last week with three Interstate Cadet projects. When I purchased the projects I was told there was a lycoming engine mount and fiberglass cowling. Pretty cool I thought at the time, but the main reason I bought the projects was I needed some parts for S/N 007 which is sitting in my hanger. Yea, now I have four interstate projects. Anyway while going through the paperwork I found the STC paperwork from Arctic Aircraft, for a lycoming 0320 installation/squared wing tip, on a couple of my Cadets. Really cool. Apparently a previous owner/builder was planning on a Tern or two : ) So my question is: Has anyone of you had experience with this STC or the Arctic Tern aircraft? Does this make a good back country plane? How popular are they up north?

I love the look and the idea of Arctic Terns. There was a beautiful specimen not far from me here in Oregon that I considered for a while, but I don't own it for the same reason that I don't own any other 2-seat tandem aircraft (wife.)

Looks very Cub-like, but I believe it uses a different airfoil. You have to ask yourself why the Interstate Cadet fizzled when the Piper J3 flourished and evolved into the 65 & 90 horse PA-11's and then further into the 95,105,125,135, & 150 horse PA-18's. Not to mention the 180hp 18's, and all the J3 & PA18 knockoffs.

The Arctic Tern is a great back country aircraft and although out of production, there are still several up here flying the back country. The original STC was owned by Bill Deal and most of his production was in the 1970s and 80s at Lake Hood. I almost bought a couple, but backed of after doing a pre-buys on each. Although the plane flies quite nicely and rivals the Cub, the plane has a wooden spar and a relatively low useful load.

Bill later sold his entire operation to a guy in the lower 48 that increased the useful load, put in a metal spar, and installed an O-360 engine. He was ready to go into full production when a piece of equipment in his hangar fell and killed him. The plane is essentially a replica of the Interstate Cadet, but with updated technology. I would like to have bought one, but am quite happy with my Husky.

Barts death was very tragic.... Fortunately, there are now owners that are trying to set up production on new aircraft.... Here is a link to their web site..

http://www.interstateaircraft.com/Contact.html

I have personally talked to Mr. Nearburg,.. He is excited about getting the aircraft back into production.... Hopefully will see it happen in the next couple of years.....

Brian.

I have flown a Tern some hours. They had a lot of nice features, and were a very nice flying airplane.

As Nizina said, gross weight was fairly low, but there were some quality control issues in the late production airplanes.

Bart was very close to putting a better airplane back in production when he was killed. It would be nice to see them back in production, but that's a pretty small market, and is already wheel saturated.

MTV

I sure hope there is room for a couple more cadets out there. One is all I want for now. I like the L-6 style with 90hp, suits me just fine. Although with 160hp it would be a hoss.

My hanger-mate has a beautifully restored Cadet with a C-90, he just brought it home a couple months ago. It come from somewhere up in Oregon, I guess there's a guy up there that restores them. I think they have a T-craft wing don't they? If that's the case then flaps sure would be a nice addition with the 160HP.

I like the photo of the Tern on floats a couple post back. That makes my blood flow. Yes it is a similar airfoil to the tcraft. I undersrand that it is slightly longer in the chord. Flaps would make it really easy for short field work. I have a lot of time in the BC12D & L-2. In fact I have a L-2 in the hangar now. My plan is to fly them both for a while to decide which I like best, then probably sell the other one.

That hanger-mate I mentioned above is the guy that just bought those two projects of you. Small world.

Tern's are good airplanes, the Blue and Yellow one pictured above used to belong to me. I really liked it.