Troy Hamon wrote:829 mile range is not enough for an actual 800 mile trip. You need 900 mile range or more to contemplate that voyage...

robw56 wrote:180hp Glasair Sportsman taildragger. It’s a high wing, side by side, 158 mph cruise, 829 statue mile range, it has sticks. The 210hp ones are faster and still over 700 mile range. They can be found for sale well within your budget. There is one on TAP for 90k.

http://glasairaviation.com/sportsman-performance-spec/

Edit:looks like Gbflyer beat me to it

courierguy wrote:Get a Kitfox Speedster (sounds like that what's you want anyway) and enjoy 4+ GPH fuel burns on mogas. i didn't hear any interest in a certified plane from you, so that eliminates some choices mentioned. You only need two seats, so the Bearhawk is overkill. When and if you want to fly 800 miles, carry a ferry/aux tank. No need to pack big fuel tanks around for all the shorter flights, lots of ways to do that. I've flown 13 hours in one day in a Kitfox, and many 8 hr + days in my two S-7's, in comfort, the biggest deal is get the correct Temperfoam type seat cushion. We all like to plan for the big trips, but the reality for most of us is lots of local flying. You want to go up for a half hour local sunset flight and burn 10 gallons of av gas or 2 gallons of mogas? There is a HUGE difference in operating costs between the Kitfox you want and the others mentioned. You can quite easily get your 'fox burn below 4 GPH. Out of all the others, and seeing you only need a two seater, the GlasStar would be my second choice, though the Kitfox will land and get off a lot shorter then it will.

courierguy wrote:Get a Kitfox Speedster (sounds like that what's you want anyway) and enjoy 4+ GPH fuel burns on mogas. i didn't hear any interest in a certified plane from you, so that eliminates some choices mentioned. You only need two seats, so the Bearhawk is overkill. When and if you want to fly 800 miles, carry a ferry/aux tank. No need to pack big fuel tanks around for all the shorter flights, lots of ways to do that. I've flown 13 hours in one day in a Kitfox, and many 8 hr + days in my two S-7's, in comfort, the biggest deal is get the correct Temperfoam type seat cushion. We all like to plan for the big trips, but the reality for most of us is lots of local flying. You want to go up for a half hour local sunset flight and burn 10 gallons of av gas or 2 gallons of mogas? There is a HUGE difference in operating costs between the Kitfox you want and the others mentioned. You can quite easily get your 'fox burn below 4 GPH. Out of all the others, and seeing you only need a two seater, the GlasStar would be my second choice, though the Kitfox will land and get off a lot shorter then it will.

bubbrubb21 wrote:

courierguy wrote:Get a Kitfox Speedster (sounds like that what's you want anyway) and enjoy 4+ GPH fuel burns on mogas. i didn't hear any interest in a certified plane from you, so that eliminates some choices mentioned. You only need two seats, so the Bearhawk is overkill. When and if you want to fly 800 miles, carry a ferry/aux tank. No need to pack big fuel tanks around for all the shorter flights, lots of ways to do that. I've flown 13 hours in one day in a Kitfox, and many 8 hr + days in my two S-7's, in comfort, the biggest deal is get the correct Temperfoam type seat cushion. We all like to plan for the big trips, but the reality for most of us is lots of local flying. You want to go up for a half hour local sunset flight and burn 10 gallons of av gas or 2 gallons of mogas? There is a HUGE difference in operating costs between the Kitfox you want and the others mentioned. You can quite easily get your 'fox burn below 4 GPH. Out of all the others, and seeing you only need a two seater, the GlasStar would be my second choice, though the Kitfox will land and get off a lot shorter then it will.

What kind of range would the aux tank give? I like the sound of that.. everything past the KitFox seems like overkill for me.. don;t need 4 seats, don't really care for a yoke, preference for side-by-side seating, operating costs, initial costs, etc. Just need to buzz around within a 500mi radius.

Is Mogas readily available in South America?

jaudette wrote:An RV-7 does this mission all day long...

I have a 7a and love the plane. The only reason mine isn't a taildragger is x-winds...

Jim

bubbrubb21 wrote:What are your suggestions on a HW-TD that can go as fast and far as possible?

I;m not looking for STOL capabilites per se as I'll be landing at remote grass strips (3,000ft elevation max or so) rather than creek beds or high mountains. I'd like to get 800mi or so on a tank (the more the better). Going 800mi would be the rare trip, 400mi round trip max would be the much more common trip for me. I;d be flying around the plains of Southern Brazil... gaucho country

Also, I want the 2 -person sitting up front like the KitFox has, I like the idea of having the significant other by my side (dog haha). The Kitfox has caught my eye as it seems very economical.. I;m a young guy so some of the higher-end stuff is outside my price range (wants vs needs). I just need to get to point A to point B and want to enjoy doing it, hence HW-TD. Don;t have any interest in the low wing stuff. Once my days are done flying this mission profile I'd return home and head for the high mountains from which I'd then transition to the STOL stuff.. oh, and it must be a stick, no yoke! ..sorry Maulers

lets make it a budget of $150,000 (ok lets say 200,000). As I understand I could get the Speedster factory-built in or around 150k (premium), build myself for 70k or so (minus labor of course)

any suggestions outside of a KitFox? Open to both kit planes or otherwise..

thank you!