Fun Aircraft?

[wildhorsesracing]

So... I am thinking about building a "fun" aircraft - I want one that is:

[ ] at least two seats
[ ] open cockpit or doors come off
[ ] comfortable for two adults ~6ft 200+ lbs.
[ ] could add floats someday
[ ] preferably plans built w/builder support

I have a few ideas:

Breezy
Woody Pusher
Wag Aero Sport Trainer
Volmer VJ 22


Any others?

PS. Anyone with one of these planes within 500 miles of Charlotte, NC - I'd love to come see yours.

[Chris In Marshfield]

Bakeng Deuce, maybe?

http://www.bakengdeuce.com/

Or Bearhawk Patrol?

http://www.bearhawkaircraft.com/

Both available from plans. Bearhawk support is stellar. Bakeng Deuce, not entirely sure, but they do have a forum at their web site.

~Chris

[Kyle Boatright]

Hatz.

[cluttonfred]

Pober Junior Ace

2918

Wag-Aero (various Piper clones)

2917

[wildhorsesracing]

Where can I find more info for the Pober Junior Ace and Hatz? Cockpit sizes?

[cluttonfred]

For the Junior Ace...

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/kitspages/poberCorben.php
http://www.eaa.org/experimenter/articles/2010-05_jaks.asp
http://www.rotecradialengines.com/customers/TimG.htm
http://aircraftproducts.wicksaircraft.com/viewitems/aircraft-kits/pober-junior-ace-aircraft-kit

There are also many Junior Ace articles (and related articles on building the single-seat Baby Ace) available in the back issues of SPORT AVIATION. These include articles by EAA founder Paul Poberezny who "modernized" the original 1930s Corben plans in the 1950s. If you are an EAA member you can access them for free at www.oshkosh365.org (http://www.oshkosh365.org). I have attached a recent article from the same magazine on an award-winning Rotec radial-powered example completed just a few years ago.

Cheers,

Matthew


Where can I find more info for the Pober Junior Ace and Hatz? Cockpit sizes?

[wildhorsesracing]

I like the Pober - how wide is the cockpit?

[MADean]

Here's a stupid question... (And Paul, please don't rag on me for asking. I have a reason.) Has anyone ever built a Junoir Ace with tricycle landing gear?

The reason I ask is because I've always liked the JA. However, I'm crippled and none of the insunace compaines (I can think of anyway. And I think I hit 'em all.) will cover me in a taildragger.

[cluttonfred]

I have never seen a tricycle Junior Ace, but there are other designs that might work. If you don't mind my asking, what sort limitations does your handicap put on you?

[MADean]

Hi Fred,

I had polio as kid back in '57. Then later (late 70's) was diagnosed with Post Polio. Over the next 25, or so years, I gradually lost the ability to walk. I have movement in my legs. Just very little strength, and pratically zero endurance. Meaning I can stand for about 2 seconds before the knees kick out and I drop to the ground. So I've been full time chair now, since about '06.

I passed the Sport Pilot check-ride in June of 2011... in a rented Ercoupe. Which is a great airplane. And I've enjoyed flying it. But I've always like an open cockpit. And while you can fly the 'coupe windows down... it isn't quite the same thing.

The insurance weenies are scared of the idea of hand rudder controls in a taildragger.

[Anymouse]

So... I am thinking about building a "fun" aircraft - I want one that is:

[ ] at least two seats
[ ] open cockpit or doors come off
[ ] comfortable for two adults ~6ft 200+ lbs.
[ ] could add floats someday
[ ] preferably plans built w/builder support

I have a few ideas:

Breezy
Woody Pusher
Wag Aero Sport Trainer
Volmer VJ 22


Any others?

PS. Anyone with one of these planes within 500 miles of Charlotte, NC - I'd love to come see yours.

Not sure if you can fly with the canopy off, but you may want to look at the Osprey2.

http://www.ospreyaircraft.com/osprey.htm

The Searey is another possibility, and you CAN fly without the doors. Unfortunately, I don't think it's a kit only deal.

http://www.searey.com/

It's not a plans aircraft, and you don't want to fly with the doors open or off, or put floats on it, however I think the Tango is a fun airplane and mine is located in North Carolina.

http://www.teamtangoaircraft.com/site/our-aircraft/tango-xr/

[Victor Bravo]

Spacewalker
Spezio Tuholer
Starduster

[Cobrajock24]

You might consider the Kitfox, as it meets each of the items on your criteria list:

http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/

I am building one right now. I am VERY pleased with the factory support and the online forum.

[martymayes]

Not sure if you can fly with the canopy off, but you may want to look at the Osprey2.


The original George Pereira Osprey was open cockpit. Enclosing the cockpit made it much more practical, but where's the fun in that?

[Anymouse]

The original George Pereira Osprey was open cockpit. Enclosing the cockpit made it much more practical, but where's the fun in that?

No arguments on either the history or the opinion.

[steveinindy]

Enclosing the cockpit made it much more practical, but where's the fun in that?

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind flossing but I do mind fishing out bug parts while doing it after returning from a flight. ;)

[cluttonfred]

I terms of accessibility, I still think a parasol-wing design with a cockpit access door is going to be your best bet, even if it will look funny with a nosewheel.

Have you considered a Mignet-type tandem wing design? There are no rudder pedals to begin with! Falconar Avia in Canada still offers English-language plans for the Lederlin HM-380L Ladybug (http://members.shaw.ca/falconark/FA/mig_380L.htm), a modified version of the original Mignet HM-380. I think you could successfully argue that it is a taildragger that is designed for hand controls only, or the the steel tube fuselage would make a nosewheel conversion relatively painless. Only the earliest Mignet designs, however, used an open cockpit, as speed and control benefit from an enclosed cockpit to smooth the airflow over the rear fuselage and rudder.

2938
2937

[wildhorsesracing]

You might consider the Kitfox, as it meets each of the items on your criteria list:

http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/

I am building one right now. I am VERY pleased with the factory support and the online forum.

the Kitfox is a great airplane with lots of support.

There are two at the local airport, I have sat in one and two adults over 200lbs would not fit comfortably with the doors on.

[Cobrajock24]

Jim,
While I do agree with your term "comfortable" I still think the Kitfox will meet his requirements. I guess it really boils down to what is "comfortable!"

My Cessna 172 had an inside cabin width of about 34" (listed as 39 1/2" width); the Kitfox IV that I am building has 38" inside (but listed as a 40" cabin width), and I think the new Model 7 Kitfox is a full three inches WIDER than mine.

[wildhorsesracing]

My wife and I tried to sit in a wittman tailwind once. She got in and closed the door, I got it and when I closed the door I bumped into her shoulder and she bumped the door and it popped open. She swore she would never fly in a plane where she had to worry about falling out...

[Anymouse]

My wife and I tried to sit in a wittman tailwind once. She got in and closed the door, I got it and when I closed the door I bumped into her shoulder and she bumped the door and it popped open. She swore she would never fly in a plane where she had to worry about falling out...

For some reason a vision of Newton's Cradle just came to mind.

[seeekandstroy]

http://www.titanaircraft.com

I've flown in one of these before, the T-51. Extremely fun and amazingly nimble.

[Floatsflyer]

Here's something that looks like it complies with "fun" and some of your criteria. It's brand new, available as an E-LSA kit(don't think that plans only available), very retro cool in appearance and appeal and has begun making the rounds at shows and coming to AV this summer.

http://www.sam-aircraft.com/#/splash-page/