So we have a 172 but looking to add something to the hangar to start getting into some more off strip flying. Trying not to break the bank or sell the 172 as its good for X-country and carrying couple extra people. Ideally id like AKtahoe's cub but my wallet disagrees. Thinking of a few different options, 170B, murphy rebel, and a kit fox 3. Does anyone have experience with flying rebel or kit fox and thought on the planes? ever flown either on floats or amphibs? I know the plane needs to fit the mission, but my main mission for this plane will be to bomb around for fun. Maybe the occasional camping trip and if on amphibs would be to go from the city to our cabin and go from lake to lake. There is a strip 20 min from our cabin and also lots of fields and gravel roads real close to our cabin so amphibs are not a must have. I have thought about maules ( a lot) but thinking for now might be best to to add a cheaper TW then to trade the 172 for a maule.


Any other options that might be better let me know!

Thanks

Highlander or Rans S-7 maybe. The Highlander Kevin had and the S-7 Swingle had for sale were both sweet looking airplanes. They are probably sold by now. 100hp T-Craft would be a possibility but no amphibians floats for that.

G44 made a good recommendations. I hate to ask, but almost always need to...what kind of budget are you looking at? The nice S7's nor the Highlanders are what I would call a budget aircraft, but they can occasionally be found for decent prices. A 90 and up HP Champ is a great little plane for bouncing around. I owned one before buying my S7. It had an O-235 and I wished I had not sold it.
Having flown in several Rebel's, I will say I really like the Rebel and would jump on one in a minute if it were a smoking deal. Kitfox's are a blast but I would look at the model IV and up, preferably the IV-1200. I actually just sold one, today as a mater of fact. Getting loaded up in the morning for it's trek to it's new home in Kansas.

Your only caveat that I realized after writing the above, you want amphibs. Champ would be nearly impossible to get on amphibs as most any of the smaller planes except maybe the 170B. I would have kept the Champ if Baumann had of stayed in business and gotten their small amphibs approved for it.

The certified planes with amphibs are going to be some serious money (in my budget). The experimental side of things gives you a lot more options and personally I think the Rebel on amphibs would be the 'cats meow'! I have seen a few S7's and Kitfoxes on amphibs and they perform great but load carrying is not huge. I have a set of Full Lotus amphibs for my S7 but have not gotten around to mounting them so I can't comment on them personally. Heck, give me an offer I can't refuse and you can come get the plane and floats!

Thanks for the suggestions. budget is around the 30-40 thousand range. The S7's are really nice but they are out of the price range! Found a rebel for a fairly good price and really been peaking my interest. Champs are in the price range and they look like a great plane to. When you flew the rebel was there cons about them? Thanks for the info, really helps narrow it done.

Here is one right in your ballpark. Link

This plane will easily outperform everything on your list and keep you in budget.

B3rt98 wrote:Thanks for the suggestions. budget is around the 30-40 thousand range. The S7's are really nice but they are out of the price range! Found a rebel for a fairly good price and really been peaking my interest. Champs are in the price range and they look like a great plane to. When you flew the rebel was there cons about them? Thanks for the info, really helps narrow it done.

If you are referring to the Rebel, I,personally don't have any cons about a Rebel other than I have one to finish building.
Flapperons are a little different from flying a plane with regular flaps. Most of my flying has been in my 172, the Champ, and the RANS, so I am use to standard set up but in the Rebels I flew I didn't notice any major cons. Due to a person situation, I would improve the seat, but again, that is due to personal issues. The Rebel is a great performing plane and will carry a good load. One thing I really like is the amount of room inside. Almost like a wide 172 with the rear seat removed. A guy could easily overload it I think.

Hopefully Timberwolf will chime in, as he has a nice Rebel.

My old Vagabond is for sale on Barnstormers.
C85, starter, wing tanks
Dave

B3rt98 wrote: I have thought about maules ( a lot) but thinking for now might be best to to add a cheaper TW then to trade the 172 for a maule.

Just curious what the reasoning is here? Surely it would be nice to have something that burns closer to 5gph than 10 for tooling around in, but I would think the extra expense of owning two planes would negate that...

I am curious why you would keep the 172 and get something small? The reason I ask is you could get into a larger tailwheel like a maule, 180, etc. that fits 4 people plus gear, flies faster carries more, is great for cross country and flies great on floats (straight or amphib) and one plane takes up a lot less space in the hanger!!

I am not trying to talk you into or out of anything just curious.

Roamer