I'm looking for advice here..

I've got a PZL 104 Wilga 35.

I want to do big ole' bush tires on my aircraft.. The problem is, everything is metric.

Has anyone seen a Wilga with bushwheels on it?

Any advice on who can do a wheel/brake/axle conversion for me?

Finally, any suggestions for the tires? (my Wilga gross weight is right around 3000 lbs)

I think your Wilga 35 needs some 35" bushwheels to go with it! There has been a red Wilga in Canada that's been for sale off and on for a while on barnstormers, it might still be there. He had 31" bushwheels on it. I'd call and talk to Wup at AKBW and I'm sure he could answer some questions for you.

robw56 wrote:I think your Wilga 35 needs some 35" bushwheels to go with it! There has been a red Wilga in Canada that's been for sale off and on for a while on barnstormers, it might still be there. He had 31" bushwheels on it. I'd call and talk to Wup at AKBW and I'm sure he could answer some questions for you.

Here it is...
http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... +2000.html

robw56 wrote:I think your Wilga 35 needs some 35" bushwheels to go with it! There has been a red Wilga in Canada that's been for sale off and on for a while on barnstormers, it might still be there. He had 31" bushwheels on it. I'd call and talk to Wup at AKBW and I'm sure he could answer some questions for you.

Looks like I need to have some new axels made, but everything else should be pretty straightforward!

One more season (this) on the smallies, then I'll BUSH it up over winter!

This one used to be in Flagstaff...
Nicest looking Wilga I ever saw... I have never heard of anyone who actually used their BW's say they wish'd they were smaller ...

Rob wrote:I have never heard of anyone who actually used their BW's say they wish'd they were smaller ...

Really? I wonder why? Is it because they operate out of paved mostly? Anyone else have any thoughts here? I'd really love to get into this with my EYES WIDE OPEN so to speak..

Cory.

Rob wrote:This one used to be in Flagstaff...
Nicest looking Wilga I ever saw...

Mine is UGLY so I don't feel bad about knicks and bumps from bushflying.

Aviation Specialties at KVCB. California Nut Tree Airport.
They maintain three of the things, one certified and two Experimental.
They have put the 29 by someting by 10's on a couple of 'em.
Not the cushie bushwheels but the ones they shave that wear like iron.

Pretty cool planes, but they aren't fast, don't have any range, and bleed oil.
I'm surprised Obama's EPA hasn't started legislation to ban the %#*€''in things
Just sayin

I can't help with ABW pictures on a Wilga but I rode in one of those airplanes in the early '90's at Cable Airport in Ontario, CA and loved it. Think I will add one to my bucket list.

WilgaBeast wrote:Really? I wonder why? Is it because they operate out of paved mostly? Anyone else have any thoughts here? I'd really love to get into this with my EYES WIDE OPEN so to speak..

Cory.

Because if you really need BW's to land there, bigger is going to be better...

Cory, perhaps I didn't word that too clearly. My point was if you are going places you actually need Bushwheels, there is not a lot of sense in handicapping yourself with a smaller set... You are flying a round engine Wilga, after all, so clearly losing a couple MPH is not going to be a deal breaker

WilgaBeast wrote:Mine is UGLY so I don't feel bad about knicks and bumps from bushflying.

I think your Wilga looks like a blast!... But I wouldn't feel bad at all about taking that white one out for a good thrashing

Take care, Rob

Kevin wrote:I can't help with ABW pictures on a Wilga but I rode in one of those airplanes in the early '90's at Cable Airport in Ontario, CA and loved it. Think I will add one to my bucket list.

I'll gladly give you or anyone a ride in my Wilga. Farthest east I'll be this year is AirVenture.. If you happen to be there, I'll be parked in warbird parking - if I'm not around, leave a note and I'd love to fly you either before or after the airshow.

That goes for any of you wing nuts!

Do you fly much pavement? If so do you like to pay $20.00 per landing for tires? If you land pavement and don't want to chew up real expensive tires do what I did. Airhawks 29X11X10 Alaskan Bushwheels sells them.

G'Day

I have always loved the 'ugliness' of the Wilga. I nearly bought one a couple of years ago. It was based in Iowa City, Iowa. Not sure where it ended up. If I hadn't let my common sense talk me out of it I would be flying around sucking huge amounts of fossil fuels at a slow pace!! LOL Awesome plane but sure not a speed demon. Would be great for hauling a good load into those shorter strips. Kids are all gone so I no longer need a station wagon to haul all THEIR crap.
If I make Osh this year I will definitely be checking your Wilga out.
Keith

I'm loving all the feedback.

Perhaps I should look into tires that are 'bigger' but not quite the big softies. Since I do a majority percentage of my landings on pavement.

Unfortunately, to get gas in the west, pavement is where it's at.. (and my home airport doesn't have a dirt/turf option, although I'm really working on the airport manager to 'let me' land in the dirt along the runway)

Cory.

Correct me if I am wrong, but this argument the bush wheels wear out at a certain rate on pavement is usually put forward by those who chose a lesser tire. Or to look at it a nother way, there doesn't seem to be a constant stream of bushwheel equipped. pilots crying the blues over tire wear on pavement. There is a vocal majority however who rave about tbeir performance! Sure, they won't wear like tires meant for pavement, but overall that is a minor when compared to what they will allow you to do.

All of this talk about $ per landing.... Wear on the tires is relative to TAXI TIME ..... If you have a 5 mile taxi then you will need to make sure you have good gear alignment as close to 0* toe in as you can, just like your car or pickup pressure is also important. I have well over 1500 landings on my 31's so that averages out to $2.39 per landing.... that is less than many other time life parts on any aircraft......

Rob if you had only gotten 178 landings @ $20 per landing there is something wrong with you plane not the tires.....

Yes the tires wear on asphalt they are called Alaskan "Bushwheels" not Alaskan "Asphalt-wheels" But that does give me an Idea......


Just thinking out loud.

I ran a set of 31" Bushwheels for seven years. Most of that time I was based on asphalt. Mine wore more from the sun than they did asphalt. If the gear is well aligned, there should not be a serious wear problem. If you really spend time off airport, if you ever land stuff and feel the gear bottom out, or you find yourself surprised by how rough something felt, or if you just want an extra margin of safety in the off airport environment, I would buy some big, soft Bushwheels.

It is a lot of money, but if you operate off airport, you will not regret it.

Hey Chet I am out of here this afternoon and headed your way we need to do dinner again while we are up! See ya soon!

Cory,
We're you at the Ogden, UT airport this afternoon? I was in my hangar and heard a radial engine taking off on runway 3. Stepped outside and there was a Wilga. Made me think it might be you.

SkySteve wrote:Cory,
We're you at the Ogden, UT airport this afternoon? I was in my hangar and heard a radial engine taking off on runway 3. Stepped outside and there was a Wilga. Made me think it might be you.

It was me! I used borrowing a friends power washer as an excuse to visit Ogden. Gave a friend a quick ride as well.. I'm just hoping you didn't see his landing! yeeeehaw! Smoked the right tire a bit!