MARCH 27, 2024 - AFTON, WY

https://aviataircraft.com/husky-aircraft-lightweight-stol-package/

Aviat Aircraft, crafters of America’s Favorite Taildraggers line of sport and adventure aircraft Husky, Pitts and Eagle announces today the release of our Lightweight Options Package “STOL+”.

The STOL+ Package consists of Alaska Gear Company’s Aluminum Husky Lift Struts, ACME Aero’s Stinger Tailwheel and the EarthX Lithium Battery. The installation of the STOL+ package provides a +/- 25 pound savings and is approved on all new and legacy Husky models: A-1, A-1A, A-1B, A-1C-180 and A-1C-200.



“We are excited about two new partnerships with the innovative companies: Alaska Gear Company of Palmer, AK and ACME Aero of Maiden, NC. We have answered the request of many longstanding Husky pilots concerned with saving weight while flying into the backcountry. All while adhering to our strict standards of being the industry’s most robust, capable and safe STOL aircraft.”

—Steve Anderson, President Aviat Aircraft, since January 2020.

“This is a substantial achievement. A Husky pilot with a 2018 later model can achieve a +/- 50 pound weight savings when the STOL+ package is installed and the rear seat is removed.”

—Matt Hofeldt, Vice President of Brand.







Learn more about Aviat Aircraft Inc., aircraft manufacturing and the STOL+ package at aviataircraft.com.

A complete set of Super Cub struts and Maule struts are 3,300 to 4,500 bucks. A complete set of Husky struts on the Aviat site are over 10 grand! You go to Alaska Gear website and it looks like they wont sell Husky struts directly, I think they used to if I am not mistaken but I could be wrong, you have to buy them thru Aviat. Really Aviat? Steve, I know you have to keep the lights on but your parts pricing is beyond reasonable. I can only imagine how much the rest of the stuff in this light weight STOL package costs? And to Alaska Gear company, how many of these struts do you anticipate selling at this price? How can they be so much cheaper for the other airplanes and a fortune for the Husky? Those who know me realize I am a huge Husky fan, have had 2 over the years and still have and love the one I have, I’m just astounded with the prices of their parts. Ya ya, I know, at least you can get parts, heard it all before but this doing nothing but hurting the company in my opinion.

G44 wrote:..... I can only imagine how much the rest of the stuff in this light weight STOL package costs?......

Follow the link-- $16,513 for the whole kit (aluminum struts, acme t/w assembly, earth-x battery).

At 7.3 lbs I would not call the tailwheel stinger "lightweight"

The Earth X Battery is going to account for the majority of their + or - 25 pound weight loss in that "kit". Struts will be a bit lighter, but that stinger is going to be pretty close to the weight of the spring it replaces.

Years ago, my employer purchased Serial number 1 A-1B, with bare minimum required equipment. It came with one of the small, 2 1/4 inch comm radios, and not much else. I added a Garmin portable GPS. At that, on 8.50 x 6 tires, it weighed ~ 1260 pounds empty. It went on Baumann floats and 29 inch Bushwheels, and was a wonderful machine. I think it'd be very difficult to get ANY Husky much lighter than that.

I asked Stu Horn once why Aviat didn't work hard to develop lighter Huskys. His answer was simply that, every time they try to make a Husky lighter, the customers order every possible option, and the airplane turns out heavy. His point: Customers really didn't want "light".

The Husky can't be compared to the Super Cub as to empty weights fairly. The Husky has a fair bit of additional structure in both the fuselage and wings, plus the base O-360 engine.

But, kept even fairly light, they are a great performer, especially on floats and skis. I'm glad Aviat is at least THINKING about "lighter".

MTV

I flew a friend's A1-C 180 on 26" goodyear and skis and amphibs. I don't remember for sure, but I think the empty weight on the goodyears was mid 1400's. I did not do a side by side comparison, but it sure seemed like my 180 accelerated and got off the ground much quicker. My 180 is not exactly light, comes in at 1750 on 29's.

StillLearning wrote:I flew a friend's A1-C 180 on 26" goodyear and skis and amphibs. I don't remember for sure, but I think the empty weight on the goodyears was mid 1400's. I did not do a side by side comparison, but it sure seemed like my 180 accelerated and got off the ground much quicker. My 180 is not exactly light, comes in at 1750 on 29's.

1400s would be likely on amphibious floats, for sure, though some of the 200 hp Huskys are likely in that range.

Most of the Huskys I've flown were in the mid 1300s empty weight.

MTV

Like I said, I don’t recall for certain, but I don’t think it was under 1400.
On floats, 2 people and full fuel it was over gross. Again, my recollection. It’s been a few years since I saw the official w&b.

mtv wrote:Most of the Huskys I've flown...

Hey now! (excuse the thread drift,) but welcome back Mike!

With the new high dollar low weight bush planes coming out, I’m surprised no one has tried carbon struts?

I’d think that would be a good application for carbon fiber

Bigrenna wrote:

mtv wrote:Most of the Huskys I've flown...

Hey now! (excuse the thread drift,) but welcome back Mike!

X2. Welcome back MTV!

Scolopax wrote:

Bigrenna wrote:

mtv wrote:Most of the Huskys I've flown...

Hey now! (excuse the thread drift,) but welcome back Mike!

X2. Welcome back MTV!

Thanks, gang......I handed off some of my "organizational responsibilities" recently, so have a bit more time to read and comment on one of my favorite web forums.

Mike