Cooperdog, take a CLOSE look at weight and balance for the airplanes you're considering. I think you'll find that at least some of the ones you've mentioned so far probably could not LEGALLY carry you, those two big pups and any gas to speak of.

Just a thought to keep in mind.

The Husky looks to be a great plane, but I'm betting you can't get two of your dog in the back seat.

I was originally looking only at LSA which is why I brain farted on the Murphy so I'll add that to the list.

Thanks for the offer on the Sportsman, but I'm not in a position to buy for a bit.

W&B is something I don't want to get carried away with for sure. Like I'm pretty sure an RV6 can only do it with a O-360 up front and not an O-320.

The CH750 area behind the seats looks a little small (looking at pictures online), but then again if I could fit one there and pull the right seat for the other one that would might work.

Well, true enough. Two big Goldens will not fit in the back seat of *my* Husky. My Husky has the AmSafe airbag system so the back seat won't fold down conveniently as it does in most Huskys. With the back seat folded forward, cushions and rear stick removed (easy), there's plenty of room for two big dogs. One could even put in some baggage under the dogs and then fold in a blanket etc for a raised floor.

bumper wrote:Well, true enough. Two big Goldens will not fit in the back seat of *my* Husky. My Husky has the AmSafe airbag system so the back seat won't fold down conveniently as it does in most Huskys. With the back seat folded forward, cushions and rear stick removed (easy), there's plenty of room for two big dogs. One could even put in some baggage under the dogs and then fold in a blanket etc for a raised floor.

That sounds appealing. I wonder if that would work for some of the kit or LSA cub clones out there too.

I've had the same thing on my mind. We just adopted our puppy this Saturday! He's about 50 lbs, so not a lap dog. I'm thinking if he is to go with us, a Pacer or Clipper may be in order. Citabria would be out. I wish they made a kit like a PA-16 Clipper. I guess a Bearhawk is the closest thing, but pricier than I would want to go. I was hoping to be in the Kitfox SS kit range.

I have seen a Bearhawk up close and it was rather nice, but yes, it is a bit out of my desired price range. Ideally I would be able to find a two seater that can carry both dogs, which is why the Highlander looks to be a winner.

58Skylane wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:

Cooperd0g wrote: I need to look at the pictures more for where to put bags as it looks like the back seats go to the wall.

If you fly one of them homely 801 don't forget the bag for your head so your friends won't recognize you.


Now before anyone get their panties in a bunch I'm KIDDING!

good day

Don't be such a jerk, man!! I think about flying one of them at least once a day. Sure, ugly as hell. But great performers and great visibility....... and cheap on gas.

I can't help my self.....

Kind of like the ugly chick with the rockin body!!!

Seriously; take a look at the Jabiru j250. It has a large cargo area and a 3rd door. A Carbon Cub has a sling rear seat that allows a lot of cargo space as well.

S-12Flyer wrote:Seriously; take a look at the Jabiru j250. It has a large cargo area and a 3rd door. A Carbon Cub has a sling rear seat that allows a lot of cargo space as well.

I looked at the 230 and 250 online last night. They both look like great options for carrying the dogs. After the comment by bumper regarding his Husky it got me looking at CubCrafters again. I would have to see one up close to know if it could really have enough room for both of them with the rear seat folded/removed. There are more options than I had expected. I'm glad I asked about it!

Cooperd0g,

Take a look at one of the experimental Tri-Pacer conversions, "Bushmaster" or "Javelin" and other similar aircraft. They start with an old Tri-Pacer, add another bay in the fuselage, and put more power on it. But they are experimental aircraft. You might be able to find one of those at a reasonable price because they're not as sexy as the Bearhawk, and roughly the same category of aircraft. You may have to remove a car engine and bolt on an airplane engine, but it would be worth the effort. Plenty of room for the dogs and a pretty good basic config. for a back country airplane.

The Christavia 4 is a sleeper. I don't know much about them, but there is a 4 place version and they are not as "famous" or popular. You could find a real bargain. There's one on Barnstormers asking $59K or offer, probably get it for 10% less if he needs to sell it.

Cooperd0g wrote:

S-12Flyer wrote:Seriously; take a look at the Jabiru j250. It has a large cargo area and a 3rd door. A Carbon Cub has a sling rear seat that allows a lot of cargo space as well.

I looked at the 230 and 250 online last night. They both look like great options for carrying the dogs. After the comment by bumper regarding his Husky it got me looking at CubCrafters again. I would have to see one up close to know if it could really have enough room for both of them with the rear seat folded/removed. There are more options than I had expected. I'm glad I asked about it!

CC just use a rear sling seat that "hangs" from above. It's easy to remove and when it's out, makes for a huge cargo space. Frankly, this would be good for one dog, but 2 dogs would be positioned in their own tandem fore/aft arrangement back there. The width of a side-by-side definitely makes for more practical useable space.

Stol wrote:In 2009 the wife said either the plane goes or she does... Just before Oskosh. I flew it to OSH and I still have my plane, I gave her both dogs in the divorce since they were brother/sister and it would have been a huge shock for either one to be seperated. On the very day I took back possesion of my house she put the female St Bernard down..... Karma will deal her the hand she deserves I am sure .

Good for you in considering you plane decision based on your dogs... That speaks highly of your personality.

Ben.

Ben, that's the damnest story I ever heard. I've known a couple women like that. They spend the rest of their lives alone usually. Twisted crap. "What can I do to hurt people?"

I don't think there is an LSA solution for two Dobermans or Yellow Labs and two peoples. Maybe a Carbon Cub. We've been going back and forth about adding a dog(s) back into our lives since we lost our two 15 year olds last year. Dobies don't kennel well. By that I mean you can't just drop them off at the local barking academy and take off for two weeks. They are too family dependent. It makes them crazy. So I think that a Champ maybe, with Momma and the dog in the back would work. Not too comfortable but maybe a little discomfort will build the dog's character? Maybe find a grad student at in the Veterinary program at UNR to move in while we're away. "Please don't burn the house down or have more than a hundred kids in the house at a time?" Rambling. We had a couple cockers before we knew better. They loved to fly. Pile all the camping gear in the back seat of the Mooney, throw them on top and take off.

PilotRPI wrote:I've had the same thing on my mind. We just adopted our puppy this Saturday! He's about 50 lbs, so not a lap dog. I'm thinking if he is to go with us, a Pacer or Clipper may be in order. Citabria would be out. I wish they made a kit like a PA-16 Clipper. I guess a Bearhawk is the closest thing, but pricier than I would want to go. I was hoping to be in the Kitfox SS kit range.

Wag Aero 2+2. Call Tom at Wag Aero. He can tell you how much pre-fabbed stuff you can get. All the ribs and spars for sure. Probably gear and maybe the fuselage.

Going side bye side as Zane mentioned is the way to go for dimensions.

Actually I think the Jabaru 230/250 is a two people + two dog LSA. It really looks good. The only thing that would make me hesitate on it is that it doesn't appear to be much of a backcountry plane and I've never met a rental car company that let's you take your dogs in the car. That is why I like the idea of a backcountry type of plane. But would I really use it for that? I'm not sure how much I would right away. Several years down the road, yes, but I could get a Bearhawk then. I still think the Highlander would be a good option, but I need to see one and check the weight and balance.

For non-LSA experimentals, the Sportsman and 801 seem to be the top choices before going up to the likes of the Bearhawk.

I'm flying mine in a 180. Plenty room with rear seat removed.

I've flown in the Zenith 801 and it wld be a great plane for ya and inexpensive to operate.

Three full size guys from Valdez to Hitchenbrooke Island and back,...no problems. Has great STOL performance also.

One thing I plan to do is take my sound level meter and check the level in the cabin. I worry abt damaging their cilia etc.

Rick

RocketRick wrote:I worry abt damaging their cilia etc. Rick

Mutt muffs!

+1 for the Mutt Muffs.

They are a bit overpriced, at around $55, but I haven't found any other choices. Quite remarkably, and as their website suggests most dogs do, my very active 10 month old Golden Retriever leaves the MF's in place and doesn't try to remove them in flight. When she was 7 months, she wore them while doing co-piloting my Husky for 5 hours each way from Minden up to the Root Ranch in Idaho - - not problems.

How do you guys with the Muttmuffs get your dogs to leave them alone.



This little brat gets them off as soon as we turn our back on her.

m7flyer wrote:How do you guys with the Muttmuffs get your dogs to leave them alone.



This little brat gets them off as soon as we turn our back on her.

Have you tried duct tape?

A friend of mine takes his golden retrievers flying and I've seen him put ear plugs in and out of their ears. I'm not sure if they were a special size because I believe most dog ear canals are much larger than humans I'll have to ask him

Has anyone had luck strapping a dog into the front of a J3? I may or may not (mostly may) have recently purchased a dog harness with intent to test this.