glassywoder
Registered User
Canada
Good day folks, new member here hoping to borrow some of your expertise on a truly puzzling airplane. I currently have first dibs on a very unique experimental aircraft which closely resembles, or at one time might have been a cub. Here is what the owner knows:
- Purchased from Dale Parnell's estate, the builder, and supposedly a prolific homebuilder and experimental aircraft guy after he passed from Cancer (family knows nothing). Aircraft was assembled and needed inspection from Canada's MOT
- New owner (current) had it inspected (early 2000s) and flew the gross weight test (2200lbs) with no issues, and received airworthiness documentation
- Appears to be a 'cub' fuselage of some sort (PA-18 or PA-12, maybe PA-11?) with sheet metal riveted on
- Entire bottom of the fuselage has PK screws holding the sheet metal on for removal and inspection at annual
- Owner says he was told the wing is "Zenair inspired", has squared tips with no bows
- Comes with what looks like standard cub gear with bungees, hydraulic brakes and looks like Cessna pedals
- Cabin doors off a Cessna 150
- Engine (IO-346) off a Beechcraft Musketeer, 165hp (2/3rds of a IO-520, supposedly developed into it)
- Looks to me like a custom cowling and Stinson diffusers at the front
-Electric flaps with window motors out of a car as actuators, work pretty good
-No rear controls
-Throttle controls on the left AND right in the front seat, handle can be swapped
-Apparently fantastic performance but we are currently waiting for all the ice to go out so we can fly it. Flies regularly.
Now most people I've spoken to have told me to run far away from this airplane, mainly due to the unknown hodgepodge of parts, and the orphaned engine on the front. While they may be right, I see an opportunity for good performance at a decent price. I am hoping the Supercub.org brain trust can help me deduce the parts which make the whole so I can figure out just how much longevity is in this airplane, and if repairs will be economical/easy when something breaks. I've attached photos for review, and can take more as I coincidentally moved to the town where this airplane is located for a new flying job. Thanks in advance!
- Purchased from Dale Parnell's estate, the builder, and supposedly a prolific homebuilder and experimental aircraft guy after he passed from Cancer (family knows nothing). Aircraft was assembled and needed inspection from Canada's MOT
- New owner (current) had it inspected (early 2000s) and flew the gross weight test (2200lbs) with no issues, and received airworthiness documentation
- Appears to be a 'cub' fuselage of some sort (PA-18 or PA-12, maybe PA-11?) with sheet metal riveted on
- Entire bottom of the fuselage has PK screws holding the sheet metal on for removal and inspection at annual
- Owner says he was told the wing is "Zenair inspired", has squared tips with no bows
- Comes with what looks like standard cub gear with bungees, hydraulic brakes and looks like Cessna pedals
- Cabin doors off a Cessna 150
- Engine (IO-346) off a Beechcraft Musketeer, 165hp (2/3rds of a IO-520, supposedly developed into it)
- Looks to me like a custom cowling and Stinson diffusers at the front
-Electric flaps with window motors out of a car as actuators, work pretty good
-No rear controls
-Throttle controls on the left AND right in the front seat, handle can be swapped
-Apparently fantastic performance but we are currently waiting for all the ice to go out so we can fly it. Flies regularly.
Now most people I've spoken to have told me to run far away from this airplane, mainly due to the unknown hodgepodge of parts, and the orphaned engine on the front. While they may be right, I see an opportunity for good performance at a decent price. I am hoping the Supercub.org brain trust can help me deduce the parts which make the whole so I can figure out just how much longevity is in this airplane, and if repairs will be economical/easy when something breaks. I've attached photos for review, and can take more as I coincidentally moved to the town where this airplane is located for a new flying job. Thanks in advance!
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