Easy Raider
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Easy Raider
Genghis,
I see you have made a few positive comments on the Easy Raider - do you have any experience of the pros/cons of the various engine options?
Or does anyone else out there have any views on the Easy Raider?
Or does anyone else out there have any views on the Easy Raider?
I see you have made a few positive comments on the Easy Raider - do you have any experience of the pros/cons of the various engine options?
Or does anyone else out there have any views on the Easy Raider?
Or does anyone else out there have any views on the Easy Raider?
Well I've flown the 503 and Jabiru engine fits, and enjoyed both. If there are any other engines available, I'm afraid I've not flown them so can't offer any opinion.
But, frankly if I had an even choice of a 503 or Jabiru version, that's no choice. The Jabiru (once it's working properly) may give you almost 30kg less payload, but it's quiter, smoother, less thirsty, about doubles the climb performance and shaves a fair bit off the take-off distance.
And you've still got enough for 2 large adults and full fuel anyway - so that would be my choice every time.
The one thing is I really don't like about the type is the electronic pitch trim, if you are building one I'd go for the mechanical cable trimmer, which I find much easier to fine-trim with, although it can take a bit of mucking about to setup right at the start. (One other building hint, put the compass bracket exactly where they recommend, it puts it exactly on the horizon line for a perfect 3-pointer every time.)
Incidentally the data sheet for the aeroplane is online here (about 400k).
G
But, frankly if I had an even choice of a 503 or Jabiru version, that's no choice. The Jabiru (once it's working properly) may give you almost 30kg less payload, but it's quiter, smoother, less thirsty, about doubles the climb performance and shaves a fair bit off the take-off distance.
And you've still got enough for 2 large adults and full fuel anyway - so that would be my choice every time.
The one thing is I really don't like about the type is the electronic pitch trim, if you are building one I'd go for the mechanical cable trimmer, which I find much easier to fine-trim with, although it can take a bit of mucking about to setup right at the start. (One other building hint, put the compass bracket exactly where they recommend, it puts it exactly on the horizon line for a perfect 3-pointer every time.)
Incidentally the data sheet for the aeroplane is online here (about 400k).
G
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Genghis,
you are a gentleman!
That confirms what I'd been thinking.
The other option I was interested in was the BMW - but I suspect the only real advantage over the Jab is cost.
Thanks!
you are a gentleman!
That confirms what I'd been thinking.
The other option I was interested in was the BMW - but I suspect the only real advantage over the Jab is cost.
Thanks!
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Genghis,
you are a gentleman!
That confirms what I'd been thinking.
The other option I was interested in was the BMW - but I suspect the only real advantage over the Jab is cost.
Thanks!
you are a gentleman!
That confirms what I'd been thinking.
The other option I was interested in was the BMW - but I suspect the only real advantage over the Jab is cost.
Thanks!
Most people I know who have converted BMWs did so because they wanted a BMW. By the time you've bought a gearbox, made-up adaptor plates, designed and got approved engine mounts, got the cooling right, written a maintenance schedule....
The off the shelf option is usually cheapest !
G
The off the shelf option is usually cheapest !
G
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Thanks for the steer, Genghis.
What did you mean by (once it's working properly) re the Jab???
Are there common gremlins to overcome??
Also, any comment on the wooden prop vs the composite ??
What did you mean by (once it's working properly) re the Jab???
Are there common gremlins to overcome??
Also, any comment on the wooden prop vs the composite ??
I test flew one homebuilt Easy Raider for BMAA which generated a fraction of the power that it should and kept overheating - I think it was a reconditioned early model Jabiru that probably should have been consigned to a scrapyard. I also know somebody else who had an oil cooler develop a tiny high-pressure leak and spread the underside of the aircraft with oil - rather messily.
Basically I think that the Jabiru is a rather installation dependent engine - get it right and it's stunning, get it wrong and much goes wrong. G-OESY, which was Reality's first Jabiru aircraft simply put the front end of a Jabiru aircraft on it, which worked very well (and saves a lot of mental effort too).
Wood versus composite? Frankly I'm not sure that I could ever tell the difference, but the wooden looks more appropriate and is cheaper.
G
Basically I think that the Jabiru is a rather installation dependent engine - get it right and it's stunning, get it wrong and much goes wrong. G-OESY, which was Reality's first Jabiru aircraft simply put the front end of a Jabiru aircraft on it, which worked very well (and saves a lot of mental effort too).
Wood versus composite? Frankly I'm not sure that I could ever tell the difference, but the wooden looks more appropriate and is cheaper.
G
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Yup,
great folding wings option - a single handed job to have it flight ready in <10mins from trailer.
The Jab cruise is quoted at 75mph solo vs 70 for a 503.
Don't know how realistic these are, as it's a very draggy plane, but it's a very light plane too, which gives it a great load-carrying capacity - i.e. bloody good range at least in terms of flight time.
There is also a long-range tank option (std=40 litres, brings it up to 76 litres).
It appeals to me because I mostly fly alone, and it's tandem seating (great views) high wing (good for viz and farm strip landing) big bungee-suspended wheels - very STOL.
Disadvantages seem to be cruise speed is not great, might be a bit drafty, but apart from that, not too much else from my perspective.
PS - An excellent Auster replacement I would have thought!
Then your hangarage charges will only be whatever Mrs LowNSlow charges.
great folding wings option - a single handed job to have it flight ready in <10mins from trailer.
The Jab cruise is quoted at 75mph solo vs 70 for a 503.
Don't know how realistic these are, as it's a very draggy plane, but it's a very light plane too, which gives it a great load-carrying capacity - i.e. bloody good range at least in terms of flight time.
There is also a long-range tank option (std=40 litres, brings it up to 76 litres).
It appeals to me because I mostly fly alone, and it's tandem seating (great views) high wing (good for viz and farm strip landing) big bungee-suspended wheels - very STOL.
Disadvantages seem to be cruise speed is not great, might be a bit drafty, but apart from that, not too much else from my perspective.
PS - An excellent Auster replacement I would have thought!
Then your hangarage charges will only be whatever Mrs LowNSlow charges.
Cruise speed isn't as much of an issue for me as the folding wings. How many of your English pounds does it take to fill one's garage with an Easyraider and trailer?
http://www.realityaircraft.com/
Looking at the website above, about £12.5k+VAT for a 503 kit, and about £16.5k+VAT for a Jabiru kit. Doesn't show a price for the trailer.
I'd say 70kn and 75 kn is about right for the two versions, but equally in my experience best range speed is nearer 60kn. It's not, let's be honest, an aeroplane for people in a hurry.
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 27th Nov 2003 at 03:17.
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I read somewhere that a purpose-built trailer is about £2k, but I'm sure you could get one made a lot cheaper than that if you are willing to forgo all the fancy winches and jacks.
Thanks for the link Genghis. Very interesting indeed. From what I remember of the magazine article, it is a relatively easy aircraft to build. I was surprised at how much faster the 14l/h cruise was for the Rotax 912 compared to the Jab 2200.
This is all very tempting. Anybody fancy an Auster Autocrat?
This is all very tempting. Anybody fancy an Auster Autocrat?
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LowNSlow,
unless I'm missing something, I don't think the 912 is an option - the only ones I am aware of are the 503, a BMW, or the Jab.
I think there is at least one HKS version stateside (the US version is a Sky Raider II), but none over this side of the pond.
unless I'm missing something, I don't think the 912 is an option - the only ones I am aware of are the 503, a BMW, or the Jab.
I think there is at least one HKS version stateside (the US version is a Sky Raider II), but none over this side of the pond.
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Must admit, I have looked into these types of a/c (Easy Raider, Kitfox etc.) and cannot understand why Piper Cubs are still going for such silly money with these cheap modern alternatives.
Given the choice of a 60 year old cub for £20k or a year old Kitfox for £12k I know which one I'd opt for.
I have spent hours deliberating over whether I should chop in the PA28 (which only ever has 2 seats used at most) and buying something like the Easy Raider for good old fashioned bumbling. If I did need to tour with more than two then it would be easy to go and hire a four seater as and when required.
I think I have come to a cross roads in my flying where I am getting tired of flying the old spam can at 105 kts to a different airfield at the weekend just because I haven't been there yet. I appreciate these kit planes are slow and that has put me off until now. However, my theory is as follows.
I fly for the pleasure of flying. Why do I really want a fast 4 seater as its speed only reduces my airborne time and increases the cost of doing the thing I enjoy the most.
Buying a four seater has brought me the following......
1. More requests from people to take them flying (some of whom I don't really like!).
2. Increased insurance costs.
3. Increased maintenance costs.
4. Increased fuel costs.
5. Increased feeling of guilt if I don't fly for two weeks as I feel I am not justifying a £40,000 toy.
Buying a four seat spammer is the "natural" way to go when one passes their PPL. This is fine if the intention of the pilot is for pure touring. I fly over 100 hrs a year and still look wistfully up in the sky when a "fun" plane like a kitfox passes overhead on a summers evening. This is because I imagine him, doors off, shorts on, taking in the view and most of all...........having fun.
Do I win an award for going completely off topic with this post?!!
Given the choice of a 60 year old cub for £20k or a year old Kitfox for £12k I know which one I'd opt for.
I have spent hours deliberating over whether I should chop in the PA28 (which only ever has 2 seats used at most) and buying something like the Easy Raider for good old fashioned bumbling. If I did need to tour with more than two then it would be easy to go and hire a four seater as and when required.
I think I have come to a cross roads in my flying where I am getting tired of flying the old spam can at 105 kts to a different airfield at the weekend just because I haven't been there yet. I appreciate these kit planes are slow and that has put me off until now. However, my theory is as follows.
I fly for the pleasure of flying. Why do I really want a fast 4 seater as its speed only reduces my airborne time and increases the cost of doing the thing I enjoy the most.
Buying a four seater has brought me the following......
1. More requests from people to take them flying (some of whom I don't really like!).
2. Increased insurance costs.
3. Increased maintenance costs.
4. Increased fuel costs.
5. Increased feeling of guilt if I don't fly for two weeks as I feel I am not justifying a £40,000 toy.
Buying a four seat spammer is the "natural" way to go when one passes their PPL. This is fine if the intention of the pilot is for pure touring. I fly over 100 hrs a year and still look wistfully up in the sky when a "fun" plane like a kitfox passes overhead on a summers evening. This is because I imagine him, doors off, shorts on, taking in the view and most of all...........having fun.
Do I win an award for going completely off topic with this post?!!
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Nah, that's exactly what this topic is all about - my conclusions are the same as yours - something like the Easy Raider gives you
- cheap flying (as cheap as it gets),
- no hangarage costs unless you want them,
- loads of fun really FLYING,
- slow enough to make the whole thing very relaxing, and give you the time to absorb all that lovely ground detail
- the ability to chuck a tent in the back if fly-ins are your bag,
- the ability to get in and out of the tiniest of farm strips, where you can meet some of the most interesting flyers,
- the ability to hop along and cover great distances if you really want to, and have the time,
- to float around on a summer's day, doors off, great view, with a big grin on your face.
I'm sure I've missed a few more, but it does it for me.
- cheap flying (as cheap as it gets),
- no hangarage costs unless you want them,
- loads of fun really FLYING,
- slow enough to make the whole thing very relaxing, and give you the time to absorb all that lovely ground detail
- the ability to chuck a tent in the back if fly-ins are your bag,
- the ability to get in and out of the tiniest of farm strips, where you can meet some of the most interesting flyers,
- the ability to hop along and cover great distances if you really want to, and have the time,
- to float around on a summer's day, doors off, great view, with a big grin on your face.
I'm sure I've missed a few more, but it does it for me.
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Given the choice of a 60 year old cub for £20k or a year old Kitfox for £12k I know which one I'd opt for.
QDM
Sink The Pink
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I have flown a Cub. A delight to fly and a great way to see the countryside. Unfortunately the one I flew was found to have frightening corrosion levels at its next annual and that has put me off slightly.
Toryboy it doesn't have to be a summer day. As the weather here is lovely right now, I just popped down to the airfield (20 mins away) pushed the old Auster out and did circuits for 30 mins. Quick wipe down with a clean rag (the Auster not me) and back home for a bit of Ppruning 
Don't let the bad experience of the Cub put you off, they really are delightful, if grossly overpriced, machines and most of them are well maintained. Austers do the same as a Cub (or even more) for a lot less dosh. The only reason I'm thinking of selling mine is the recently increased hangarage costs. However, if a certain person sells his Falcon (keep your hair on, hee hee hee) then I'll have somewhere cheaper to park the Auster.
Don't let the bad experience of the Cub put you off, they really are delightful, if grossly overpriced, machines and most of them are well maintained. Austers do the same as a Cub (or even more) for a lot less dosh. The only reason I'm thinking of selling mine is the recently increased hangarage costs. However, if a certain person sells his Falcon (keep your hair on, hee hee hee) then I'll have somewhere cheaper to park the Auster.