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trying to decide which plane to build next summer - 2/20/2008 5:52:38 AM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		i have been planning to build a plane as soon as i graduate college, well now that the time has come i can't decide on a plane.. i originally picked the pegazair, a wonderful plane that would serve my needs the best of any plane i ever read/heard about.. the only problem being the build time.. i love the simplicity of the ch701 by mr. heintz, a wonderful plane that is a quick simple build, but the cruise is low and the payload stinks as i weigh in at 290 and 6'3" so i am already putting myself close to the max payload..

what i want is a plane that will stol (max. 300').. number one most important consideration is cost! second most important being cruise speed of 115+... third, payload exceeding 600lbs... 4th most important economy, maybe do all of this with a 120hp engine.. all of this is attainable with the pegazair, but the build time is outrageous, i just don't have that much time and i am afraid i would get discouraged! if anyone can recommend a cheap plane i can scratch or kit build that will do all of this, or come the closest to the plane i have described, please send me a pm, or post here, thanks!

< Message edited by fozjared -- 2/28/2008 12:07:13 AM >
       Post #: 1

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/20/2008 2:59:35 PM   
Robinaire



Posts: 749
Joined: 9/7/2002
From: West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Hi fozjared. Have you checked into the Sonex? www,sonex.com. Also go to www.sonextalk.com and read up on many ofthe builders comments. It willexceed your cruise even with the smaller engine. Go to the 120 HP Jabiru engine ('tho not cheap) and you will see 160-170. I think TO distance is longer, but why do you need 300'?? Sounds pretty minimalistic! The Sonex is one of the lowest cost planes, in kit or scratch building, that you will find. Incidentally, there have been a number of builders on the thread with the 290/6-3 situation! Lee Robinson W. Palm Beach, FL

(in reply to fozjared)
       Post #: 2

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/20/2008 5:37:53 PM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		i weigh 285, my wife weighs 120 fuel 100lbs. no room for baggage, not the best for off airport landings, i guess i need to specify that i would like a bush type plane. looking at the murphy rebel right now, but some guys have told me that their kit is quite expensive..

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RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/20/2008 11:44:27 PM   
N1EDM



Posts: 1823
Joined: 7/19/2002
From: Brockton, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Can you try those links again? The sonex.com goes to a company selling audio equipment. The sonextalk link doesn't even come up...

Thanks,

Bob

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RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/20/2008 11:57:06 PM   
jetboy2003



Posts: 95
Joined: 12/31/2004
From: Rapid City, SD, USA
Status: offline 		http://www.sonexaircraft.com/

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RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/21/2008 1:58:04 AM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		yeah i checked the sonex out some time ago and again earlier today, it doesn't have the stol capability i am looking for, more importantly it doesn't have the payload i must have.. i weigh 285 my wife 120 fuel 100 that leaves no allowance for baggage whatsoever.. i am looking for a stol plane, the pegazair does exactly what i need to do, but the build time is too high for my schedule, it would be years before i could fly it, i wanted something i could work 60-65 hrs. a week on for the entire summer after graduation and have it flying within 2-3 months start to finish, that is why i like the ch-701 simple build, but the payload and cruise are both low. i guess i will just keep looking.. i like the murphy rebel, but the kit price is 25k!! and they do not offer plans! so i will just keep looking!

(in reply to jetboy2003)
       Post #: 6

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/21/2008 5:24:49 AM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		i am looking at the possibility of the kitfox.. it was developed as a stol plane from the very beginning! anyone operate a kitfox before? any flight characteristics or any other details someone could offer? thanks

(in reply to fozjared)
       Post #: 7

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/23/2008 2:38:23 AM   
acam37



Posts: 437
Joined: 1/12/2004
From: lufkin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Fozjared, I'm in the same mindset as you are. I want to make the leap from model planes to full scale. I have been looking for a kit plane that can get my big butt in the air without maxing out the airframe limits. I keep going back to the JDT Mini-Max, but that boxy fuselage is not very appealing to me. It looks like an easy build and I have actually seen one fly first hand. Take off was less than 100' and it landed in about 300'.

(in reply to fozjared)
       Post #: 8

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/23/2008 9:00:31 AM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		get your butt in the air is all that thing will do, even when it does it might leave you "deadstick" with the recommended 2 stroke.. that plane is not for me!! besides i need a 2 place that will get my wife and i into colorado back country and then out with some extra baggage (elk).. so i think the kitfox is the plane for me.. good to see you looking for one too though arlie.. maybe if i could get you interested in the kitfox we could do a double order and hopefully get a discount, and if i could get my brother in law to order his at the same time we probably would get a nice discount on 3 kits!

(in reply to acam37)
       Post #: 9

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/23/2008 11:44:11 AM   
acam37



Posts: 437
Joined: 1/12/2004
From: lufkin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I think you just need to get a Cessna. My friend bought a 1966 172 in mint condition last summer and used it to get his license. He only paid $26,000 for the plane. I go flying with him every chance I get. My house and bankruptcy will be paid off in 3 years so that will free up almost $1400 a month. I am then going to get serious about getting a plane. In the meantime I think I will work on my license and get all the stick time I can.

(in reply to fozjared)
       Post #: 10

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/24/2008 3:38:06 AM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		a cessna is not the workhorse i need.. nor is it a bush type plane.. i need something with a high payload that is stol capable as well as reasonable cruise speed without consuming so much fuel that i dread going flying! the kitfox answers all of those needs, plus it has a reasonable assembly time.

(in reply to acam37)
       Post #: 11

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/24/2008 3:53:27 AM   
Flyfalcons



Posts: 6076
Joined: 7/27/2002
From: Bonney Lake, WA, USA
Status: online 		The Kitfox is kind of a small airplane. If you have the chance to check one out in person I would recommend it. The Rebel is much larger in terms of interior volume and baggage space but as stated earlier, the kit is expensive. 20K+ for a sheet metal airplane is on the high side of costs, and you will want a 160hp Lycoming for best performance. Believe it or not, Cessnas are pretty capable machines. I used to fly a 182, 206, and 207 into some bush strips in the Pacific Northwest, and there was another operator that would fly 172s in and out of those fields as well. Unless you're looking into operating off sub-1000' runways the Cessnas do pretty well.

< Message edited by Flyfalcons -- 2/24/2008 3:55:27 AM >

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Cub flying - the new EXTREME SPORT!!! (evarrr)

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RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/24/2008 4:12:31 PM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		i am definitely looking to operate in sub 1000' conditions.. i will rarely land at an airport, 85% of my flying will be in and out of large fields, i have a runway back home that is 600' but i plan to land in a few mountain fields in colorado.. that is the main reason i want this plane to get into some back country places such as the black canyon of the gunnison nat'l forest. places that few people see, and only the people that pack in for days get to see!

btw flyfalcons, the early kitfox is a tiny plane, they have made 7 different ones.. the first ones i believe were classed as ultralights, i will be building kitfox 7 unless i buy one already built, the kitfox 4 was smaller, but still has a high payload and a 110mph cruise with 100' takeoff's and incredible climb out at gross while sipping 5-7gph!

(in reply to Flyfalcons)
       Post #: 13

RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/24/2008 6:53:14 PM   
Flyfalcons



Posts: 6076
Joined: 7/27/2002
From: Bonney Lake, WA, USA
Status: online 		Even the Kitfox Super Sport, based on the Series 7, isn't a very large airplane. I was seriously considering one but seeing it in person, it was smaller than I expected. At 6'3 and 290 it would be a squeeze. The Series 4 and older are the same width across as a Cessna 150, so getting yourself and a passenger in there would be difficult. Have you considered a Rans S-7 tandem airplane? That would give you more room per person and it runs on the same 912S as the Kitfox. It's going to be tough to find a plane that will do everything.

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< Message edited by Flyfalcons -- 2/24/2008 6:56:43 PM >

_____________________________

Ryan Winslow

Cub flying - the new EXTREME SPORT!!! (evarrr)

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RE: trying to decide which plane to build this summer - 2/25/2008 1:47:04 AM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		thanks for the pics falcons.. i really would like to see the ss in person, but the pictures are great, if you have any more please post them!

(in reply to Flyfalcons)
       Post #: 15