Backcountry Pilot

[Tick offline]

Does anyone have any experience with a little LSA/Ultralight called a T-Bird II? The specs are pretty amazing.

http://www.indyaircraftltd.com/productD ... =17&cid=27

I'm on a budget but would really like something with good STOL capabilities that can atleast carry me, the girlfriend, and light camping gear. I've been leaning LSA homebuilt as the cost for a bush capable A/C in Alaska is daunting, even before you talk insurance.

Any input is welcome. If you think I could make a 140, T-Craft, or Luscombe do the job for less than 30K, I'm all ears.

Thanks![/url]

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

Welcome to the forum!

What - in your own words - is your definition of "bush-capable"? Once that is on the table we can give you are various opinions on whether a Luscombe, T-Craft or your humble but very cool LSA could satisfy your requirements.

Pilots more than aircraft tend to define what is or isn't backcountry capable. I'm sure there are those on here who could easily operate a Cessna 172 where I would not/could not take a Cub.

[RangeFlyer offline]

Hi, from sunny El Paso. I'm new to the site so bear with me. The T-Bird is a dated design, flimsy is the description that comes to mind. I have flown many types of UL's over the years, and can recommend a few. For a great handling, STOL two place, my preference would be a Kolb MK-III. A real airframe, cable of handling the Rotax 912 series engines or many auto conversions. The Kitfox is another, robust in it's performance, and easy to build/fly.
Regards,
Dave R.
C175 O-360 CS
Mosquito, XE3 (helicopter)

[svanarts offline]

Also look at the Just Highlander or Rans S6 / S7 depending on your seating configuration preference.

I'm going to be building a Rans S6 very soon.

[Tick offline]

I just got back from the CAP meeting and got to see a buddies new PA-28-160. Super cool airplane for less than 30K, except........would you land that on a sandbar? Probably not.

You asked what constituted bush capable. Ok, keeping in mind I am still finishing up my private and want to keep below 30K.......

STOL or close to it
Sandbar/tundra/unimproved capable
Enough useful load for two people and survival gear (I don't mind making multiple trips and coming back for the heavy stuff, moose quarters, etc)
Relatively easy to fly
No common huge maintenance issues
Low overall cost of maintenance

Am I just dreaming? A friend of mine who has a successful guiding business here in Alaska and uses his VERY capable Super Cub to do it is trying to get me into a T-Craft or PA-11. I'm worried the T-Craft will have maintenance gremlins and the PA-11 seems out of my price range. If you guys know or think otherwise, I'm all ears. I'm here to learn.

[WWhunter offline]

My opinion....and it is just that!! You are dreaming! LOL JK
Pretty hard to get a reasonably priced plane with the capabilities that you are wanting unless both you and your girlfriend are on the light side. As you have referenced a Taylorcraft would be a good pick also check out one of the 85+ HP Champs. There are a few converted Champs up there that have O-235's in them and the owners use them as quasi bush planes.
It all boils down to the same question already asked...What is your idea of bush flying. Really not any of the ultralight types I would even consider for doing any type of bush work. Granted there are a few guys using trikes for some backcountry hunting.
Good luck,
WW

[svanarts offline]

Sandbar/tundra/unimproved capable

That alone pushes the price over 30K. Like others have said, maybe a Champ or Chief with 100HP motor and bush tires. But it still won't get off as short and climb like a cub.

Maybe buy what you can afford and adjust your mission a bit. A Chief or T-cart is the cheapest way into the air.

[Skystrider offline]

Hey Tick, ever think of building one yourself? I am building a Zenith 701 that will come in at about $35 to $40k and will do your mission. There is another fellow on the forum that has a Savannah (similar to the 701) that he uses in a like manner.

As a matter of fact, you could probably buy a 701 for about that amount if you took a little time to look around. More fun building though.

Ours has a Jabiru 3300 (120hp) in it that will pop you right off the ground (90 - 100 ft) and put you down in less that 200 ft. Ugly little bugger but you can fix that with a good paint job! Can't beat the performance.

Here is what it looks like.

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

In this market, a 7-series Citabria would just fit under your $30k. They used to bring mid-to-high thirties or in the forties but only sellers who are living in the past are asking that much now, unless they have a real cherry.

Real pussycat for a new pilot but a capable airplane nonetheless.

Whether a Citabria is a "STOL" aircraft is in the mind of the beholder.

[Tick offline]

Great input, thanks guys. I've been looking at the Zeniths a lot but I'm short on garage space right now. Home prices in the Anchorage area are killer when you start talking about a garage big enough to do any work in. I suppose I could always rent heated storage. I'm wary of buying someone else's project airplane as well because you never know how well he built it.

With everyone I've talked to, the Taylorcraft comes up almost every time. I'll be keeping an eye out for a cherry. Any big maintenance issues to watch out for? Any particular years good or bad?

Chickenhawk has a sweet O-235 equipped Cessna 140 that caught my eye as well.

[whee offline]

I have never flown one but I from what I have observed the T-craft will do what you want..with the right engine.

I fly a Luscombe c-85 powered. My wife and I are both pretty light but still have only 70# left over after full fuel and just us. We fly into some Idaho strips and get along fine. I have landed off airport in the sagebrush and came out ok but i wouldn't do it often...she is just too old.

Here is a trip report from when i took the luscombe elk hunting in 2007...didn't get anything. http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=18559

[TrevDog offline]

http://www.barnstormers.com/
Check out this site to see what you want and see what people are asking.

I love this site it's like my shopping mall just browsing through the taildraggers section, I love it.

[River rat offline]

the t-craft is the unit you need in my opinion ,put on a seaplane prop and a set of bushwheels and head for the backcountry. the only matinence issue is the strut attach AD. make sure that is all good and the matinence is the same as a cub or champ.

[a64pilot offline]

140's are relatively fast little airplanes, and as such seem to take a little more runway than other similar airplanes. At least mine does and I believe it's like most. Still it's 110 MPH on 85 HP.

[Zzz]

Here is a trip report from when i took the luscombe elk hunting in 2007...didn't get anything. http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=18559

Whee, I forgot how nice a job you did on that TR. Follow his lead, folks. That's fun reading/viewing.

[tcraft offline]

just my opinion, but I have owned a taylorcraft since 91 an f19 they have o 200 and obviously I understand it's not a super cub, but I think for the money it is as close as you're going to get . I believe the F. 19 is the best model to purchase if you can find one. Never had any maintenance issues outside of wear and tear and of course the damn strut A/D that in almost all cases is not an issue. i currently have an F-22 and it performs well though being heavier I believe it is more stable but roll rate is slower . also . I am a firm believer in vgs for both models. I think that is the best money a person can spend on a mod for a taylorcraft.

[Tick offline]

Sorry, maybe I'm having a brain fart. VGs?

There are a lot of T-Crafts up here in Alaska. I'm gonna keep my eye out. Gets expensive when start talking about ferrying an aircraft up here to Alaska from the lower 48.

[Tick offline]

Disregard, Vortex generators, duh

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

Sorry, maybe I'm having a brain fart. VGs?

There are a lot of T-Crafts up here in Alaska. I'm gonna keep my eye out. Gets expensive when start talking about ferrying an aircraft up here to Alaska from the lower 48.

Expensive? Yes. But a lot of fun and an adventure worth the price of fuel.

There are a lot of threads discussing the relative merits of various models...but as I was perusing my complimentary copy of Trade a Plane tonight (they send me one every once in a while to try to get me to subscribe again) I saw what appears to be a rather nice tailwheel-converted PA-22 Tripacer - commonly referred to as a PA-22/20 - for sale in Michigan for $23,500. Midtime 150hp engine and some nice updates.

[alaskadrifter offline]

This is what a 65hp Tcart is capable of....
http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/main.php?g2_itemId=3103