I am a former army officer in Australia working on a project in outback Australia . As part of this project we need to be able to lift ATV's and associated trailers etc (seperated if needed) in a single engine or light twin STOL aircraft, has anyone done this or is it the opinion of the forum that I might have more chance of forming an intimate relationship with Claudia Schiffer (gives my age away that doesn't it)?

The dimensions of the ATV are LxWxH of 211.4 x 120.9 x 128.9 cm, weight approx 350KG and the vehicle needs to be able to load without a forklift to lift it on (ie drive on).

My initial thoughts were an AN-2 could do the job (Polish built to get round the experimental cat), however, the door is just a fraction to narrow and as it's a monocoque/spar construction widening the door might be an issue, though we do need upwards of 6 units.

Perhaps a Turbo Porter might do the trick, though I have a feeling the body is to narrow, ideally what I need as a rear clamshell door loading light twin or single or alternately an aircraft that has cargo doors that open both sides to allow the ATV to be moved into position.

I'm trying to avoid the C-212/medium lift aircraft as they will not be economic, the same goes for the beloved chinook of my former life.

Thanks in advance for all and any help.

Best, Flyinggibbon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_SC.7_Skyvan

It's not a single, but it will haul 3 or 4 quads depending on their size. We hauled a bunch of them this summer in Alaska.

I vote for the Kodiak, 3500lbs+ usefull load. I didn't see the dimensions of the door listed on the site but it says you can load a Polaris 600 snowmobile.

http://www.questaircraft.com/

Did a quick google search and it says the cargo door is 49.25x49.25 inches.

Caravan with a loading ramp?

I'm not sure what the door dimensions of a Caravan are though.
http://www.sustutair.com/Grand%20Carava ... sions.html

Surely there should be a couple of single otters around with the big cargo door somewhere down under

Beaver?? Or even Otter? And of course the return question of do you need any help with said project. (Sounds like way too much fun already) or perhaps I'm the one who should be looking for Claudia's phone number?

I did the math and it looks like the door on the Kodiak would be too small.

Good luck with that...

No lift, drive on only??? Only light twin I can think of with a deck height low enough is an Islander. Even then it's going to be a major hernia buster with the ATV weight at 350 KG, trying to horseshoe the thing in through the door. As long as someone with lots of money is footing the bill, you're looking at a Casa 212 or Shorts so you have the drive on ramp. Both are tried and true "bush" airplanes.

Gump

Ive seen ATVs with the wheels off go in Cessna U206s. Cheapest way to go and should have plenty around to get it done.

Contact Claudia here.
http://famous-relationships.topsynergy. ... ontact.asp

Just pull it apart. I'd make the load fit your plane not your plane fit the load.

ATV that is 770lbs and almost 7ft long. Is this more like a Gator? Then use a Caribou, should also still have some in country with guys that know how to fly them. If it is just a 4 wheel drive quad get a metric wrench set and practice tearing it down before you get out there and Im sure all the parts would fit into a Single.

I still have scars from ATV's and C206/207's. They don't fit worth a shit. An old Big Red three-wheeler takes three men and a boy to stuff into a 206. No way a "new" full size ATV into one. A 207 works if you disassemble 3/4's of the bike and stuff it in the back. Even then you're still dealing with 600+ pounds that needs manhandling. That means crew on each end of the flight to load and unload.

Gump

Ummmm, why not just sling them in with a helicopter.

Done and done.

PC-12 with forklift and or ramp. (I like the Caribou/Buffalo idea... a C-47?)

Thanks for all the help and advice so far, to answer some of your questions:

Helicopters with underslung loads are out, you're looking at a heavy twin to qualify in Australia, as well as all sorts of other limitations, net result is it's easier and probably faster to load the quad onto a Hilux and drive it out, at which point you consider whether you need a quad anyway as you have a proper 4wd.

CASA-212 and other medium twins : this has been looked at, but is too expensive for the task in hand.

The task in hand is to allow medics/teachers/other support personnel to reach the indegenous communities in the outback (charitable organisation), so speed of access is vital (people only have so much time they can give up), safety of personnel is vital (they need to be able to extract rapidly if they feel "tension", as happens a lot in situations where two vastly different cultures meet, in this case no need to lift the quad out, just get rapidly back to the strip and bug out; people will not volunteer if they assess the risk to be too great), finally, it being a charitable organisation costs need to be kept to a minimum, hence the hunt for a single or light twin STOL aircraft.

Best

Flyinggibbon

Maybe a couple of Honda 90's/110's might work for you. A lot easier to load and anyone can ride them with the automatic clutch. They have a pretty good sized rack too or you could build a sidecar or trailer to haul stuff. Just a thought.

http://motorcycles.yakaz.com/1971-honda-90-motorcycle

Ah, great minds think alike, this was my first suggestion to the powers that be; however, I was told in no uncertain terms that the average volunteer, being a 50+, middle class, professional would have issues with riding or even being pillion on such a thing, however virtually the same thing but with four wheels instead of two, fine, one can only obey one's paymaster, or to quote the age old chinese proverb "Bend like a willow, don't break like an oak".

Best

Flyinggibbon

Just hand them a bid to haul them in a Shorts Skyvan and maybe they will start seeing things your way. Good Luck!