PiperSport/Czech Sport Cruiser at Wellesbourne
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PiperSport/Czech Sport Cruiser at Wellesbourne
At the weekend I noticed that there was a PiperSport/Czech Sport Cruiser at Wellsebourne with a reg that I believe is G-KJBS. I was wondering if anyone has any info on this aircraft, i.e. is it private/owned by a group/available for hire.
Thanks
Thanks
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Sportcruiser
Dont know why you are looking but we are looking for one more in our Sportcruiser group based at Firs Farm Newbury. If you are interested give me a call
Pete
07976 262833
Pete
07976 262833
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There are no PiperSports in the UK yet. The factory built ones will be SportCruisers and will be on an EASA Permit to Fly and that means no hiring or training in a club environment. I think one of the AeroExpo 2009 SportCruisers finally left Booker last month for Kemble after being parked outside waiting for a buyer since last June...
There are relatively few SEP (Group A as was) machines available at the moment - TECNAM produce some like the P2002JF and P2002JR.
There are relatively few SEP (Group A as was) machines available at the moment - TECNAM produce some like the P2002JF and P2002JR.
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I noticed the Wellesbourne Sportcruiser the other day too. If anything, its even more attractive in real life than in the photos, makes the Skycatcher look like something out of the Flintstones!
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Surely nice piece to play with..
I only just read that GE bought most of Walter Aircraft Engines in 2008 or so.
Piper want competitor for SkyCatcher, 'ready to roll' out, GE want M601 tweaked and compete P&WC's PT6 engines.
The article in one older LOOP was interesting. I still find Shark Aero even nicer design, obviously, with 'sharky' features. What more, tandem seating in Shark brings some nostalgia.
I only just read that GE bought most of Walter Aircraft Engines in 2008 or so.
Piper want competitor for SkyCatcher, 'ready to roll' out, GE want M601 tweaked and compete P&WC's PT6 engines.
The article in one older LOOP was interesting. I still find Shark Aero even nicer design, obviously, with 'sharky' features. What more, tandem seating in Shark brings some nostalgia.
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Sport cruiser...........first impresions
I have now flown a few hours in the aircraft and think it is a little light in pitch by the standards of most GA aircraft but I am told that this is normal for a microlight, the aircraft falls between these two types so I guess this is OK but I would recomend any one who is low time and has only flown Cessna's or Pipers to do an hour or so with an instructor untill they are happy with the pitch control.
The aircraft is comfortable to sit in so two or three hour flights should not leave you feeling half dead unless it is turbulent, the low wing loading makes the ride a bit interesting on a good gliding day!
The construction shows that it is realy built down to a weight! This I see as the main weakness of the aircraft, in the hands of a carefull owner this would not be a problem but I doubt if the aircraft is robust enough to take the "club enviroment" without a few problems.
The aircraft is comfortable to sit in so two or three hour flights should not leave you feeling half dead unless it is turbulent, the low wing loading makes the ride a bit interesting on a good gliding day!
The construction shows that it is realy built down to a weight! This I see as the main weakness of the aircraft, in the hands of a carefull owner this would not be a problem but I doubt if the aircraft is robust enough to take the "club enviroment" without a few problems.
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The PiperSport / Sport Cruiser is effectively a Zodiac 601xl wearing some nice grp 'clothes' with some admittedly good engineering refinements.
Like all Chris Heinz designs it has very powerful elevators and somewhat low longitudinal stability. There are advantages in terms of being able to 'protect' the nosewheel - possibly a real need given the very long lever the PS/SC has - but it does mean you have to be careful with pitch.
Given a C152 is about 500kg empty and PS/CS is 340 ish, but has a better payload, the general 'lightness' would be pretty obvious.
In a teaching enviroment perhaps students will be taught to land properly before being let loose?
Like all Chris Heinz designs it has very powerful elevators and somewhat low longitudinal stability. There are advantages in terms of being able to 'protect' the nosewheel - possibly a real need given the very long lever the PS/SC has - but it does mean you have to be careful with pitch.
Given a C152 is about 500kg empty and PS/CS is 340 ish, but has a better payload, the general 'lightness' would be pretty obvious.
In a teaching enviroment perhaps students will be taught to land properly before being let loose?
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Kemble to Denmark in one day, 3 hour legs in comfort, 58kg of baggage, 16 litres/hour of MOGAS, 100 kt cruise, 38kt stall, looks lovely....not sure what anyone else would need from a VFR "sport" aircraft! 
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Gasax
Quote In a teaching enviroment perhaps students will be taught to land properly before being let loose?
On the whole not a very helpful statement, it is clear that the cost of these aircraft will attract a lot of low time pilots who have flown the likes of the C152 or PA28 and will no doubt be expecting the same sort of control responce.
It is only when people have a lot of flying time that they can gauge control responce instantly and act accordingly, no doubt this talent comes easy to a sky god sutch as yourself but for the average low time PPL holder an hour with an instructor is a good idea. Flying the Sportcruiser is not hard....... just a little different, they can land an aircraft properly, they just need a little practice to be safe in a more responsive type.
On the whole not a very helpful statement, it is clear that the cost of these aircraft will attract a lot of low time pilots who have flown the likes of the C152 or PA28 and will no doubt be expecting the same sort of control responce.
It is only when people have a lot of flying time that they can gauge control responce instantly and act accordingly, no doubt this talent comes easy to a sky god sutch as yourself but for the average low time PPL holder an hour with an instructor is a good idea. Flying the Sportcruiser is not hard....... just a little different, they can land an aircraft properly, they just need a little practice to be safe in a more responsive type.
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For those of us who learn't on 450kg microlights the S/C is positively heavy to handle...
It was drummed into us on the micros to anticipate, protect airspeed, protect the nosewheel etc... just like when you learn on a 152.... but.... the response of a "light" machine will bite you if your not careful.
I have a 50% share in an S/C, I came from light machines & my partner came from 152 /PA28 old school aircraft. He did struggle with the S/C for a few hours but that was also linked to dropping from a 1000m tarmac to 400m grass with hazards on most of the approaches.
Not a hard plane to master at all, just takes a bit of delicacy that you don't need (as a rule) on a 152. At the risk of being very politically incorrect.... when you take the stick for control.... control it like you touch a lady in your life ... delicately but with a gentle firmness & be prepared to hold on tight if things get lively
Always worth getting a few hours on a new aircraft with someone in the P2 seat who has experience on type. Minimise the risk...
Hope this helps.
Mal
It was drummed into us on the micros to anticipate, protect airspeed, protect the nosewheel etc... just like when you learn on a 152.... but.... the response of a "light" machine will bite you if your not careful.
I have a 50% share in an S/C, I came from light machines & my partner came from 152 /PA28 old school aircraft. He did struggle with the S/C for a few hours but that was also linked to dropping from a 1000m tarmac to 400m grass with hazards on most of the approaches.
Not a hard plane to master at all, just takes a bit of delicacy that you don't need (as a rule) on a 152. At the risk of being very politically incorrect.... when you take the stick for control.... control it like you touch a lady in your life ... delicately but with a gentle firmness & be prepared to hold on tight if things get lively
Always worth getting a few hours on a new aircraft with someone in the P2 seat who has experience on type. Minimise the risk...
Hope this helps.
Mal
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One thing I hadn't considered (please forgive my ignorance). Are you 'allowed' to fly these aircraft in IMC? I plan on getting my IMCr some time in the near future, but in the mean time I am looking at the possibilities of moving away from club flying. The SportCruiser does seem like something I'm interested in though I guess it depends on the IMC thing.