Since 2001, Canadian company Dream Aircraft has offered their 4 place homebuilt aircraft, the Tundra. Built in the semi-monocoque tradition, it features fowler flaps, double wing struts, a straight tail, and spring gear. The Tundra is a combination of tried and tested technology, designed with the backcountry in mind. Its rugged internal structure, double-floor for better durability and sound deadening, as well as a reinforced firewall make it well-suited to rough field operations.
Available in both tricycle and conventional undercarriage, it is usually mounted with either the Lycoming O-360 or IO-360 engine delivering 180 or 200 horsepower. It can be modified to accept the 210hp IO-390, O-375, or even the 235hp O-540 or O-470, although some have a cost or weight penalty. The Tundra has been designed to accept both floats and skis.
Sporting an 1,100 lb useful load, the Tundra's designed empty weight of 1,450 lbs is light by comparison to most 4-place backcountry aircraft. With 58 gallons of fuel, this equates to a payload of 720 lbs. There is a factory option for auxilliary tanks to increase range. Access to the 44" wide cabin is provided by gull-wing doors, and a port-side baggage door.
Clocking in at 115 kts with a 75% throttle setting, the cruise speed of the stock-engine Tundra isn’t breaking records, but is comparable to other 4 place aircraft of the same horsepower. This burns around 9.5 gal/hr. The flaps are reflexed to -8 degrees in the cruise. It can also fly at 55% power, lean of peak, and burn 6.8-7 gal/hr. The very slow stall speed of 26kts (indicated) makes it extremely well-suited to operating in the backcountry environment, as is the 50 kts "loitering" speed.
Factory Specifications at MAUW on wheels:
| Performance spec |
Value |
| Take-off roll |
125m / 400’ |
| Landing roll |
125m / 400’ |
| Final approach speed |
40kts |
| Stall speed |
26kts indicated |
| Cruise speed @ 65% |
110kts |
| Useful load |
500kg / 1100lbs |
Complaints about the Tundra have included the width of the stock front seats for bigger men, and the cruise speed. The cruise speed can be increased with a larger horsepower engine, speeds over 120kts are achievable with 220hp and a large CS prop.
Airframe
| Modification |
Applicability |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Baggage / cargo
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Controls
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Engine
| Modification |
Applicability |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Fuel system
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Landing gear / brakes / tires
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Propeller
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Seating and Restraints
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Skis
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Wings
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Windows
| Modification |
STC Number |
STC Holder |
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Suggest other valuable information about this aircarft, or backcountry-oriented options or mods.
- 1.22.2015 - Initial post and formatting of article
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