This is the first that I have seen of this aircraft. It looks pretty interesting.

http://pragaglobal.com/aviation/praga-alfa/

It is a nice looking plane. I like that the tailwheel pots the empennage up out of harms way. The main gear doesn't look built for anything rough. The takeoff and landing distance numbers aren't too impressive either.

Is 1,600 ft takeoff distance considered STOL?

It's certainly a great looking plane. But those numbers do seem kind of high for a "stol" aircraft. I also think that when compared to the already successful aircraft of that size (Beaver) it doesn't make sense. Maybe 20 knots faster on floats but double the fuel burn. Same number of seats. Double the Tbo of the R985 but how many hundreds of thousands to overhaul the turbine? Quest Kodiak at least has two more seats. Imagine how good one of those would have looked as a talidragger....

I'll take a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter.

I agree with experimental aviator

To me it looks like 1660 is going to be over 50 obstructions...? ground roll was in the 1100 ft ball park.

The problem is: Where's the market?

I doubt there is one that's big enough to support certification and production.

MTV

mtv wrote:The problem is: Where's the market?

I agree MTV, but it is an unusual industry that is largely driven by lust for flying machines and snake oil selling executives who promise investors the proverbial small fortune return in the aviation industry .

There are at least a couple active type certification programs in the ACOs that are fully backed by Chinese or Russian investment.

Who would have ever guessed that there would be a market that would support Supercubs that cost a quarter million, Huskies for 350k and a thirteen year production run for a fleet of 3500 Cirrus SR-22s that is still going strong?

One thing is looking pretty certain, and that is that the market is not here in the US. It will be interesting to see things take shape in Brazil, China, Russia and other emerging markets.

Is this a " concept " airplane or actual production ? looks interesting - kind of like a PC 6 rounded off ( Helios Courier 500) many years ago I bid on a Platias Porter wreckage -didn't get it it.

Scolopax wrote:

mtv wrote:The problem is: Where's the market?

I agree MTV, but it is an unusual industry that is largely driven by lust for flying machines and snake oil selling executives who promise investors the proverbial small fortune return in the aviation industry .

There are at least a couple active type certification programs in the ACOs that are fully backed by Chinese or Russian investment.

Who would have ever guessed that there would be a market that would support Supercubs that cost a quarter million, Huskies for 350k and a thirteen year production run for a fleet of 3500 Cirrus SR-22s that is still going strong?

One thing is looking pretty certain, and that is that the market is not here in the US. It will be interesting to see things take shape in Brazil, China, Russia and other emerging markets.

Oh, you're absolutey correct. But there's a HUGE difference between $250 K toys and $2 Million toys. There IS a limit, though I agree it's out of my league.

I put the Cirrus in a different category. Many, if not most of those airplanes are being bought at least with the INTENT that they'll be a traveling tool, either for work or family travel. Hard to argue that for a Carbon Cub......

As to Russia or China, we'll see what happens there. Russia has been using airplanes for decades, like the AN 2, for transport. But, personal transport hasn't got any easier. Who knows what'll happen with China, but their economy isn't expanding like it was either.

The only airplane of this size that's been successful recently is the Kodiak, and the company doesn't really have to make a profit.....the primary purpose of that airplane is to supply the worldwide missionary community with new, turbine powered airplanes. That is an enviable business model.

I wish these folks luck with this, but I think they'd be far better off to use a nose gear, for a number of reasons.

MTV