TxKiger wrote:mtv wrote:The Beaver and the Cessna 206 are orders of magnitude different airplanes.
At one pint in my career, I operated an amphib Beaver for work. This was on Kodiak Island, with a few excursions to the AK Peninsula. That airplane was a workhorse.
And, this was before all the GW mods came out for the Beaver.
So, our aircraft management (idiots) decided they wanted to be rid of all the “old, high maintenance” equipment. Mind you, that Beaver almost never needed much in the way of maintenance……but “old” airplanes……so gauche!
My boss was totally on board with them….he was also an idiot, BTW.
So, one day I flew that beautiful old Beaver to Anchorage, said goodbye and flew a brand new amphib 206 back home.
I had cautioned my boss that a 206 would require two trips to do the same work the Beaver dis with one. I was wrong…..it was more like three trips to do the same loads.
And, that 206 was NOT built to operate in salt water. Nuff said on that.
Finally, for the OP: What exactly do you mean by “off airport” Ops in your first post? Are you actually saying you want to land either of these big planes off airport in lower 48? Or is Johnson Creek “off airport” in your perspective? I’m not being smart ass here, just trying to better understand your ACTUAL mission.
The loads you described are BIG loads, and you MAY be able to find a 206 that’ll carry that, but you’re going to have to leave a lot of fuel at home, thus lots of stops, and no fuel to play once you’re in the back country.
IF you’re actually thinking of “backcountry airstrips” when you posted “off airport”, I’d seriously consider an early short Caravan, with the engine upgrade. Or maybe a Grand Caravan if you can find the right deal.
Buy one of those in good shape, and you’ll have a load hauling, ass kicking machine that can carry the loads you describe AND get there fast. AND, your pax will thank you….if you’ve ever had to sit in third row of a 206…..it sucks, big time.
Always fun to spend other people’s money.
MTV
Thanks MTV, I always enjoy reading your thoughts throughout the forum! When I say off airport I'm referring to gravel bars, non maintained areas, etc. Don't get me wrong, Johnson Creek and other backcountry strips are awesome and fun to visit as well. I appreciate your insight
Thanks for clarifying. So, here’s the bad news: A big airplane stuck is orders of magnitude harder to unstick than a smaller airplane. The Beaver is as good as they come on a gravel bar, but if it gets stuck…….
But, if you define your loads as in your first post, something Beaver sized or bigger is what you’re looking at, I think. That’s just a very big order.
The 206 works fine on appropriate gravel bars, and I’ve done some of that. But I don’t think it’ll carry the load AND enough gas to be practical.
I’ve never heard of folks doing much off airport stuff with the Caravan, but the short Caravan with the Grand engine is a pretty capable plane.
Good luck.
MTV
