I have just acquired a set of Full Lotus floats with amphib gear!?!?
What would my choice be for a relative cheap (I mean inexpensive) LSA or experimental to find to put on them.
500lb useful load min.
Not really looking to go any where, or fast as Lake Roosevelt is only a mile away!
Any suggestions.
Has to have wide seat to fit mine!
GT

What about a Quad City Challenger II? They can gross out > 500 lbs. Not cheap (at least to me), but a Just Highlander would fit the bill. Or an M-Squared Sprint...

What size are the floats? Any rigging with them?
Kitfox...solo of course.
Old Avid possibly
I recently bought a set of the same type of floats for my RANS S7, they are 1260's with the amphib gear and for solo they should be fine.

M6RV6 wrote:Has to have wide seat to fit mine!
GT

Rear seat of a J-3 is fairly wide and comfy. Definitely not the front seat. So one idea is a J-3 with an 85 or 90HP engine, but stop the upgrades just short of having to solo from the front (PA-11 stuff).

L-2 T-craft front seat solo, but it is a PITA to get in and out of, so scratch that.

Modified Avid or Kitfox, made into a single seater for a large guy, would give you a large structural and comfort reserve.

I have sat in the Zenair 750 with another big guy... LOTS of room. Really big, felt bigger than my 172.

So if you want to buy turn-key and do not work on it, the J-3 can be bought for less than you might invest to build a 750. But if you enjoy building and want a knock-around airplane you are not afraid to put a scratch on, the 750 may be worth considering.

gotta be experimental if you want to stay legal.. Define cheap LOL. What size are the floats. I have used 1220, 1260 and 1450 on the Avid... For that plane the 1450s are the best so far, but with a 582 your still looking at a great solo plane, an OK two seater.

I've always heard that Edo 1320s on an C85-8 powered Taylorcraft BC12D was just about the best you can do LSA. With the Floats you got I would have to think that Avid or Kitfox IV types gotta be what you're looking for. Skyraider? Ridge Runner? HiMAX?

EB

He said "big guy" (politically correct). The T-craft is a single seat airplane for a big guy.

EZ, OK politically correct?
A Big Fat guy!!
And a T craft is OK for a short big guy, not Tall also!! BEEN THERE NOT GOING BACK!
Has to be experimental with the Full Lotus Floats
Going to go pick these up in a few days, I believe they are 1450's
Can be pretty open, as just a summertime plaything!!
Thanks Guys
GT

M6RV6 wrote:A Big Fat guy!!...... Tall also!!
Has to be experimental

Zenair 750 is a pretty darn good choice then. You can scratch-build one on the cheep-cheep, or buy a kit and save time, or find one already built. Uses a cheap, reliable and plentiful engine (O-200), can use car gas (metal tanks), float attachments have been already designed, it can live outside if necessary, has room for 2 lumberjacks, good size baggage area for fishing gear, and meets LSA. It also has incredibly good (safe) visibility, and good flight handling at low speed. I believe I read that you can put on a LIGHTENED O-320 (using electronic ignition, light starter/alternator, composite prop, etc.). With 2 big guys, on floats, high/hot/humid out of a small lake, and with your limit's worth of fish on board... a low compression car-gas O-320 might give you a little more oomph when you need it.

EZFlap wrote:

M6RV6 wrote:A Big Fat guy!!...... Tall also!!
Has to be experimental

Zenair 750 is a pretty darn good choice then. You can scratch-build one on the cheep-cheep, or buy a kit and save time, or find one already built. Uses a cheap, reliable and plentiful engine (O-200), can use car gas (metal tanks), float attachments have been already designed, it can live outside if necessary, has room for 2 lumberjacks, good size baggage area for fishing gear, and meets LSA. It also has incredibly good (safe) visibility, and good flight handling at low speed. I believe I read that you can put on a LIGHTENED O-320 (using electronic ignition, light starter/alternator, composite prop, etc.). With 2 big guys, on floats, high/hot/humid out of a small lake, and with your limit's worth of fish on board... a low compression car-gas O-320 might give you a little more oomph when you need it.

The only problem with the zenair is that they dont actually fly... They are so FN ugly the earth repels them!

You can find a Challenger II cheap as well as several other LSA / Ultralight types.. The Beaver is anther one that would fit the bill. Are you looking for enclosed cabin or an open cockpit relaxing evening cruiser?

akavidflyer wrote:

EZFlap wrote:

M6RV6 wrote:A Big Fat guy!!...... Tall also!!
Has to be experimental

Zenair 750 is a pretty darn good choice then. You can scratch-build one on the cheep-cheep, or buy a kit and save time, or find one already built. Uses a cheap, reliable and plentiful engine (O-200), can use car gas (metal tanks), float attachments have been already designed, it can live outside if necessary, has room for 2 lumberjacks, good size baggage area for fishing gear, and meets LSA. It also has incredibly good (safe) visibility, and good flight handling at low speed. I believe I read that you can put on a LIGHTENED O-320 (using electronic ignition, light starter/alternator, composite prop, etc.). With 2 big guys, on floats, high/hot/humid out of a small lake, and with your limit's worth of fish on board... a low compression car-gas O-320 might give you a little more oomph when you need it.

The only problem with the zenair is that they dont actually fly... They are so FN ugly the earth repels them!

You can find a Challenger II cheap as well as several other LSA / Ultralight types.. The Beaver is anther one that would fit the bill. Are you looking for enclosed cabin or an open cockpit relaxing evening cruiser?

And the Challenger II is some kind of a beauty queen? Holy cow I guess great minds don't always think alike!

A Big Fat guy!!...... Tall also!!
Has to be experimental

Looking for an open cockpit relaxing evening cruiser!
GT

akavidflyer wrote:

The only problem with the zenair is that they dont actually fly... They are so FN ugly the earth repels them!

[/quote]

As a self-proclaimed Fatty myself, I have to admit that after a couple of years of trying on planes and being constantly disappointed, one's attitude about looks and mission changes pretty drastically.

I went from hoping to fly a cool looking light sport plane to the more realistic line of thinking that says "If it fits, that's all that matters."

I'm now looking at buying a 85hp T'Craft that I'll have to fly in a DPE from North Carolina to Michigan to do my check ride with me as I cant fit anyone else in the plane with me. My mission will be 99% solo, with the occasional Niece or Nephew thrown in. I'm realistic enough (sigh) to admit that the likelihood of my wife or a bone-skinny super-model wanting to fly with me in such tight quarters is minimal. But if they do, I'll have the HP to do it.

I kind of look at the Zenith 700 series LSA's as being similar to the ugly drunk girls at the bar when they make last call. I had a buddy (I SWEAR it wasn't me) that would wait for last call and then look at me and say "It's time to take out the garbage." He figured any girl still there, unattached and drunk enough to hook up with him (he was tall, lanky with horrendous acne and a nose the size of a basketball) was.....well....kind of fugly. (And they usually were). So he's start searching out the fugly ones in the hopes of hooking up with someone.

When we'd tease him about it - he'd always say that an ugly hook-up is better than no hook-up. When ugly's all you can get, you go with ugly.

Might want to try climbing in and out of the T-craft a few times before you sign on the dotted line. Also, if the T-craft does not already have one, contact me for freebie drawings on the no-welding/no-disassembly skylight upgrade. Makes an enormous difference in visibility, comfort, fun, safety. 8.50 x 6 tires are not just mucho macho, on the T-cart they allow full stall landings. There have been a couple of previous threads where I offered advice/experience on T-craft upgrades, pre-buys, etc. A few others on this forum have T-craft experience, some far more than I.

OK finally went and looked at what I have and they are brand new never mounted FL1220's with amphibgear!!
Also has anyone had any experience with a Titan Tornado II ??
Can pick one up with a brand new wing( the old flew off the top of a van??), had a Jabaru on it but also has a new MM for a 912?
Asking $5000 for the Titan. Good? Bad?

Thanks GT

EZFlap wrote:Might want to try climbing in and out of the T-craft a few times before you sign on the dotted line. Also, if the T-craft does not already have one, contact me for freebie drawings on the no-welding/no-disassembly skylight upgrade. Makes an enormous difference in visibility, comfort, fun, safety. 8.50 x 6 tires are not just mucho macho, on the T-cart they allow full stall landings. There have been a couple of previous threads where I offered advice/experience on T-craft upgrades, pre-buys, etc. A few others on this forum have T-craft experience, some far more than I.

Yep - definitely dont look at the T'Craft without putting some hours into one (I've got 30) before you buy - and make sure you do it WITH THE DOORS ON and CLOSED.

But you cant mount those floats on a T'Craft. Check Barnstormers RIGHT NOW for Peter Cowan's Rans S7S - it appears as though he's having a fire sale - he's got all of his airplanes for sale. It's currently on Floats, but Methinks he's got other plans for the floats. That'd fit your bill perfectly.

M6RV6 wrote:OK finally went and looked at what I have and they are brand new never mounted FL1220's with amphibgear!!
Also has anyone had any experience with a Titan Tornado II ??
Can pick one up with a brand new wing( the old flew off the top of a van??), had a Jabaru on it but also has a new MM for a 912?
Asking $5000 for the Titan. Good? Bad?

Thanks GT

I built and flew a Titan 1. 120 hrs. In between my T-Craft and my first S-7. Fun airplane, due to some legal problems at the time, long since resolved, I called it an ultralight and flew it off the books, not part of my seizeable assets in other words. Solid company and good customer service. LESS then 20' span, and pusher viz, I have never had a plane that I was so comfortable landing on roads: single lane with fences on each side, no problem! Powerful controls with a fairly high wing loading, and I hate to say it but the trike gear, all helped here. it handled great overall.

After my 13 million dollar legal problem was solved (for $1300.00 and $300.00 legal fees ) I sold it because:

You couldn't fly it with the doors off or open.
Not a STOL/rough landing bird
NOT a tail dragger

The wing comes off in one piece, so yes if someone was transporting improperly, I could see it blowing off? No reflection on the plane, but the owner?

courierguy wrote:

M6RV6 wrote:OK finally went and looked at what I have and they are brand new never mounted FL1220's with amphibgear!!
Also has anyone had any experience with a Titan Tornado II ??
Can pick one up with a brand new wing( the old flew off the top of a van??), had a Jabaru on it but also has a new MM for a 912?
Asking $5000 for the Titan. Good? Bad?

Thanks GT

I built and flew a Titan 1. 120 hrs. In between my T-Craft and my first S-7. Fun airplane, due to some legal problems at the time, long since resolved, I called it an ultralight and flew it off the books, not part of my seizeable assets in other words. Solid company and good customer service. LESS then 20' span, and pusher viz, I have never had a plane that I was so comfortable landing on roads: single lane with fences on each side, no problem! Powerful controls with a fairly high wing loading, and I hate to say it but the trike gear, all helped here. it handled great overall.



After my 13 million dollar legal problem was solved (for $1300.00 and $300.00 legal fees ) I sold it because:

You couldn't fly it with the doors off or open.
Not a STOL/rough landing bird
NOT a tail dragger

The wing comes off in one piece, so yes if someone was transporting improperly, I could see it blowing off? No reflection on the plane, but the owner?

couirerguy
It looks like there is a bit of differance between the 1 and the 11.
Thanks for the first hand info!
So have absolutely no experience with the 582!
What should I be looking for? What should I run from?
Prop?

The Tornado II is designed to a +6g / -4g load limit capability at 1,000 pounds gross weight. When operating with the Rotax 582 engine the cruise speed is in excess of 110 mph. The stall speed in landing configuration flying solo is 35 mph.

Standard Metric
Empty Weight: 440 lbs 199.6 kg
Gross Weight: 1,000 lbs 453.6 kg
Length: 19 ft 5.79 m
Height: 6 ft 6 in 1.98 m
Wing Span: 23 ft 6 in 7.16 m
Wing Area: 108 sq ft 10.03 sq m
Cabin Width: 28.5 in 723.9 mm
Cabin Head Room: 39 in 990.6 mm
Cabin Leg Room: 42 in 1,066.8 mm
Fuel Capacity: 15 gal 56.8 l
Engine: Rotax 912 & Jabiru 2200/3300
Power: 80 - 120 hp 60 - 89 kW
VNE: 150 mph 241 kph
Cruise Speed: 110 - 125 mph 177 - 201 kph
Stall Speed: 35 mph 56 kph
Range: 275 - 500 mi 442 - 805 km
Climb Rate: 1,600 - 2,000 fpm 8.13 - 10.16 m/s
Take Off Run: 300 ft 91.44 m
Landing Roll: 250 ft 76.2 m
Ceiling: 16,000 ft 4,876.8 m

if your going with a pusher, you probably wont like the 1220s. If it is the early model amphib gear, they are barely more than a beaching gear! On a kitfox, they bowed the spreader bars pretty good when sitting on pavement. With a pusher. the weight is too far back and the tails would sink, this is why they came up with the 1260 floats. They are longer in the tails to support the weight back there.

582 is a great engine if ran properly, but you have to run a 2 stroke differently than a 4 stroke or you will burn it down. There is lots of good info on running them on www.avidfoxflyers.com

I have close to 2000 hours flying 2 stroke Rotax engines and never had an engine related failure except 2 fuel pump failures.
That being said, it is highly unlikely that I would ever go back to 2 stroke engines again. I never had the comfort level with them that I have with my 912. I flew every minute looking for possible landing sites and I was constantly worried about my cht's and egt's. In 2000 hours, I had plenty of fun times but the thought that it might suddenly get very quiet was always in my mind.
I have lots of time flying both the Challenger I and II as well as the Titan II. Titan is faster and more responsive but can't fly doors off. Also it is much more crowded unless you get the "S" model. Lots of Challengers on floats but you need the 582 or larger. There's a guy in Florida that has upgraded 670's for under $4000 exchange that pump out 90 horse. If I ever was tempted to go 2 smoke again, that would be the engine I would use.
Lots of Titans use the Jabiru engines with good results.