Can you buy a 4seater tourer and aerobatic aircraft?
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Can you buy a 4seater tourer and aerobatic aircraft?
Hi all,
i am looking to gain an understnading from experienced people on what is the best aircraft that gives you a blend of aerobatics and a good sporty tourer.
is there such a thing?
if i were to go for a decent tourer but primarily a gd aerobatic aircraft, what would be the recomendation?
if i were to want the ability to do general aerobatics and a decent tourer, trips to europe etc... which would one suggest?
any comeents would be helpful.
many thanks
Tris
i am looking to gain an understnading from experienced people on what is the best aircraft that gives you a blend of aerobatics and a good sporty tourer.
is there such a thing?
if i were to go for a decent tourer but primarily a gd aerobatic aircraft, what would be the recomendation?
if i were to want the ability to do general aerobatics and a decent tourer, trips to europe etc... which would one suggest?
any comeents would be helpful.
many thanks
Tris
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You'd struggle to find one that satisfactorily does both. Yak-18T is probably the best candidate.
You'd be better off buying the one you'd use the most and renting the other as required.
You'd be better off buying the one you'd use the most and renting the other as required.
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cheers for reply Tay -
just checked it out, i saw it the other night as well when searching. Not sure there are many fairly new ones around that are low on flyingtime though?
just checked it out, i saw it the other night as well when searching. Not sure there are many fairly new ones around that are low on flyingtime though?
E33C Bonanza is a very capable tourer and good for sportsman level aero's. Not many made though.
Tilting more to the aero's side, the SF 260 is pretty cool machine. Only 3 seats, low useful load and a bit range limited as well as big bucks though .
Yak 18T has 4 seats but and is cheap, but slow, thirsty, very short range, and not certified.
Tilting more to the aero's side, the SF 260 is pretty cool machine. Only 3 seats, low useful load and a bit range limited as well as big bucks though .
Yak 18T has 4 seats but and is cheap, but slow, thirsty, very short range, and not certified.
Two others are the Beech Musketeer Sport and Beagle Pup however I agree with Tay Cough's advice as well.
Friend has a Yak 18 but uses it for touring only as he has a Pitts plus Giles. Greedy.
Another friend has an aerobatic Bonanza, I don't agree about it being suitable for Sportsman level, much less in my opinion.
Some Fujis around but I wouldn't like to own one with the difficulty in sourcing airframe parts - my mechanic told me canopy rails was one item that can be critical - he bought a heap of fuselages.
Friend has a Yak 18 but uses it for touring only as he has a Pitts plus Giles. Greedy.
Another friend has an aerobatic Bonanza, I don't agree about it being suitable for Sportsman level, much less in my opinion.
Some Fujis around but I wouldn't like to own one with the difficulty in sourcing airframe parts - my mechanic told me canopy rails was one item that can be critical - he bought a heap of fuselages.
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Can you buy a 4seater tourer and aerobatic aircraft?
Ruschmeyer R-90 I think they're called. Fell in love with them when I saw one in Flyer magazine as a youngster. Think they only made 6. Great looking aircraft with a stick, full IFR panel, retractable gear etc. I don't know if any are still in existence.
The Robin Dr 400 is an excellent tourer, especially the 180 hp. But definitely not aerobatic. I don't think you will find anything that does both things well, two very different missions.
.... are you all similar pilots ....
I currently have a Super Decathlon which works to pay its way and a Pitts S-2A. Been a long time since I felt the need to hire a four-seater. Especially since many four-seaters become two on a trip with luggage. The Super D is a good tourer but if I'm going anywhere apart from an aerobatic contest I buy a ticket on an airline.
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djpil
A friend rebuilt a Fuji a few years ago. He needed canopy rails which weren't available so he had new ones manufactured. It was cheaper to do a production run so he has a number of spares.
A friend rebuilt a Fuji a few years ago. He needed canopy rails which weren't available so he had new ones manufactured. It was cheaper to do a production run so he has a number of spares.
Thanks fujii, I will pass the info on. The Fuji goes up in my ratings then. A nice aeroplane - Sportsman aerobatics too. A 180 hp C/S variant here had inverted oil systems. Lovely flick rolls.
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The only four-seater aerobatic aircraft I know of is the Fuji FA-200. But I think it's limited to 2 POB when flying aerobatics. And it's got a yoke instead of a stick.
All other combination tourer/basic aerobatics aircraft that I know of are two-seaters. For instance the Robin/Alpha R2160, Decathlon, General Avia F.22, Cessna 152 Aerobat (ahem - "Anemic" would be a more suitable term).
Further up the aerobatics scale, but down the touring scale, is for instance the Cap-10. And then you get the proper aerobatics aircraft, which are increasingly less suitable for leisure touring. Pitts, Extra-300 and so forth.
All other combination tourer/basic aerobatics aircraft that I know of are two-seaters. For instance the Robin/Alpha R2160, Decathlon, General Avia F.22, Cessna 152 Aerobat (ahem - "Anemic" would be a more suitable term).
Further up the aerobatics scale, but down the touring scale, is for instance the Cap-10. And then you get the proper aerobatics aircraft, which are increasingly less suitable for leisure touring. Pitts, Extra-300 and so forth.
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Here you go. Apparently with a grand piano in the back.
.... and it is a true four-seater (including fuel and bags!!), despite the caption (the Yak-18A is a two seater).
Range is up to about 1000nm with the big fuel tanks (optional extra) and I suspect the one in the video has the 400hp engine rather than the standard 360hp. It should be aerobatic enough for you, although they do come at a price.
The Hungarian register is no longer the advantage it used to be but there are a handful on UK C of A (yes C of A, you read that correctly) so if you can get your hands on one of those, you'll be laughing.
Old Pilot Mag article HERE.
Last edited by Tay Cough; 27th Mar 2014 at 11:28.
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Although quite rare, the Bölkow Bo 207 is the only other one I can think of.
Lovely wooden aeroplane, developed from the Klemm 107 but it would really need hangarage.
Lovely wooden aeroplane, developed from the Klemm 107 but it would really need hangarage.
Apparently you need a Bölkow 207 'T' model for it to be capable of aerobatics. Good post though, because I didn't think any of the 207s were aerobatic capable.
http://www.caa.co.uk/aandocs/22196/22196000000.pdf
http://www.caa.co.uk/aandocs/22196/22196000000.pdf
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Saab Safir would be an excellent candidate if you can get one; the extant airworthy examples that I am familiar with are used for just that, plus aero lessons. The later versions seated four and there are a good few flying around where I am from.