Buying an Aircraft "Howto"

[Big Pistons Forever]

When you are flying a Provost jet you are flying an airplane that uses a Guinness glass full's worth of Jet fuel every two seconds the engine is running.......

[F4TCT]

Its meant to be the one with the efficient engine or summet.... £150 p/h providing you keep the revs down

looks entertaining like.

[Piper.Classique]

My ideal aircraft would ideally be able to use my IR (in time) and my night qual. So I guess we are looking at something with C of A. My next requirement would be something relatively fast, be it a complex or simple, but able to get into farm strips (sort of 700meters or so). The last thing would be it must have a hand brake that allows safe and reliable breaking, like in the PA28.

Some, not all DR 400 have a hand brake. Either the 160 or 180 hp versions would fit the profile. Need to hangar them, though.

[F4TCT]

thanks!

Say i wanted such and such an aircraft. What routes need to be traveled down in order to firstly modify the aircraft with a handbrake, and then to have it passed by the CAA?

Dan

[chrisN]

Fattony – also, make sure you have a good agreement BEFORE starting a group. There are model agreements about. Email me if you want some example clauses (from glider agreements, but the principle – and possible pitfalls if you don’t cover all the angles – are similar).

Chris N.

[Piper.Classique]

thanks!

Say i wanted such and such an aircraft. What routes need to be traveled down in order to firstly modify the aircraft with a handbrake, and then to have it passed by the CAA?

Dan

Has to be approved first by the CAA, For which they charge serious money, THEN you do the work to modify the aircraft.

[F4TCT]

are there any particular companies out there who would be able to help me in both design and CAA approval?

[Dan the weegie]

That's the kind of thing that's only done when someone wants to commercially sell a modification, expensive isn't just the problem, there's documentation and permission from the holder of the type certificate - seriously it's so expensive you would be better buying a large twin and hiring a pilot to fly with you for the sole purpose of applying the toe brakes smoothly.

With the LAA on the other hand it's very easy - albeit irritatingly lengthy (minimum 6 weeks just to get the ball rolling and have someone LOOK at the mod application never mind go through the process!). You come up with the idea, put it down on paper, do the work, have it inspected, test it, job done.

There's a few good machines out there that have hand brakes existing but without knowing what you actually want to do with the plane it's hard to give you any advice. I don't really think you should let having a hand brake be your mission - have a look at my rather lengthy explanation of how to buy a plane, I think your requirement falls under step 3 or 4. I would strongly suggest starting at Step 1 .

[F4TCT]

Cheers!

[India Four Two]

you are flying an airplane that uses a Guinness glass full's worth of Jet fuel every second the engine is running.......

BPF, I had the pleasure of flying a Vampire T11 earlier this year and the owner told me the Goblin engine is aptly named, because it gobbles fuel! He said about 1000 litres per hour, which is about half-a-pint per second, but still damned expensive.

Good taste in beer by the way.

[piperboy84]

that uses a Guinness glass full's worth of Jet fuel every second

I used to have one like that, it was called an EXWife Mark2 but used spirits instead of jet fuel, same result though, fiery as all hell and cost a packet to run

[Big Pistons Forever]

Originally Posted by India Four Two

BPF, I had the pleasure of flying a Vampire T11 earlier this year and the owner told me the Goblin engine is aptly named, because it gobbles fuel! He said about 1000 litres per hour, which is about half-a-pint per second, but still damned expensive.

Original post suitably amended.