Backcountry Pilot

The Piper PA-18 has long been the standard for light STOL performance, but the new age of lightweight 180hp Cubs like the CubCrafters Carbon Cub are escalating performance expectations. Patrick Romano wanted to find out how much performance could be squeezed out of a stock 150hp Super Cub without dropping money on an engine upgrade.

As an icon of STOL performance in the Experimental/Amateur-built world, the Zenith CH series have few rivals, but coupled with a NASCAR technology Ford V8, this particular CH801 truly becomes a beast of a flying machine.

Given the legend status of the Cessna 180, there's no shortage of good specimens to write about. In this case, it's the working Skywagon owned and operated by Taj Shoemaker of North River Air, based in Kodiak, Alaska.

It's been more than a year since the last update on the innovative prototype DoubleEnder. Ride along in the cockpit with designer Alec Wild as we're treated to a demo ride in this forward-thinking twin-engine bush plane.

Of all the aircraft we wish were still newly-manufactured, the Cessna 170B would be near the top of the list; this rebuilt 1955 model is truly better than new.

Ray Watson's "Bull Moose"— a very forward-thinking LS3-powered Murphy Moose kit build— has gained fawning interest and spawned its own company specializing in Moose-specific modifications.

An opportunity seized to try what many would call the ultimate 2-seat bushplane: the Aviat Husky A-1C on amphibs. This specimen bears the 500th anniversary set of Wipline 2100As to complement the impressive host of features on an aircraft that's come a long way from being considered a descendant of the Super Cub.

Upgrading to big tires can make a huge difference in backcountry performance, but with those gains come some trade-offs. What should an aircraft owner know going into it?