Dave Calkins
Registered User
Anchorage, Alaska
boosted Apex a cool idea
https://www.wildwestaircraft.com/firewall-forward-kit/boosted Apex a cool idea
Flew Boeings with my left hand. Just prefer flying sticks with my right. To each his own...
A guy could put one stick in the middle like Paul Claus's four place supercub (or the Zenith CH 750). Then the left seater could use his right hand. Simpler setup because you don't need to link two sticks.
One stick, one throttle, and one set of rudder pedals-- all on left side.
Are dual controls really necessary, esp on something like this?
I am a converted Piper driver.
i now have a SuperStol XL
180 hp Lycoming
800+ # useful
Huge bagage area
and very tuff and forgiving with giant gas shocks
(full stall from 15’+ no big deal)
the military tested both the SS and Cub clones for some special project a few years back
at 1750# gross
cub clones couldnt complete the same manuevers or land as short
i have flown many planes over the last 40yrs, and the XL at 900 empty wt is a performer.
- dont fly the XL if you arent in the market - it will put you in the market.
Every plane has its drawbacks, I think the XL sink rate is too high at zero throttle, and takeoff could be better with bigger wing.
- put Slats on a cub and bigger flaps, and gas shocks, then maybe ...
just my 2 cents
A 206 on amphib floats does the same thing. Extending the wings with either Flint tanks or WingX extensions eliminated that characteristic. Perhaps the superstol needs more wing span?... but the thing I noticed was that after the impressive zoom climb out, when he would clean it up and get rid of the flaps, it would always lose 25-30 feet of altitude. Perhaps just poor pilot technique, but it happened every time I ever watched him take off.
Yes!A 206 on amphib floats does the same thing. Extending the wings with either Flint tanks or WingX extensions eliminated that characteristic. Perhaps the superstol needs more wing span?
doesnt everything need more wing?
I’d suggest 2 hours in the S-7 isn’t enough to really know the plane, therefore a bit of caution when commenting would be good thing. Unbelievable we still have experienced owner/pilots and wannabes still trying to compare apples and oranges. Both great planes with specific strengths and weaknesses depending on the mission.I flew Mike Olson's Ran S-7, he was always bragging how great it was, he had it Bushed up, 29" ABW tires and Baby Bushwheel. I flew it for a couple hours, then I flew his Exp. Super Cub on same day, no doubt which one I would choose. I never cared for Mikes Super Cub Cuzzom to much funky stuff but hands down I would take Mikes Cuzzom over a Rans S7. This was probably 10 years ago, I am sure the Highlander etc. have come a long way.
I have also heard that Steve Henry has had a few engine failures, that is not something I am interested in.
I went to Wild West aircraft and added up what it would cost to build Highlander and for the amount I would spend on a kit and time building it I can have Super Cub. I personally don't get it unless it is all about fuel burn. Everything else is a negative in my book.
I also don't see ever getting back the money and time you have in one (Highlander etc.), maybe I am wrong. Better investment for money and time is a Exp Super Cub or Carbon Cub I think.
I’m actually going to be nice too....no comment.I was actually being nice, I would not want to spend anymore then 2 hours in it. Did not like it at all.
I have a ton of off airport experience and for my mission that airplane would be broken in a few hours with the kind of playing I like to do.
It would be like trying to ride a Honda 70 in the same places I ride my KTM 300 XC-W. You don't need much time to figure out it is not going to fit the mission...
.... Unbelievable we still have experienced owner/pilots and wannabes still trying to compare apples and oranges.......
To that same point, the same is true with a Carbon Cub and some of the other knockoffs, and the idea that one will holdup to abuse better than another is crap....If you don’t hit something with’m they all will out live the pilot!