Ultra STOL aircraft
 

I am looking for an aircraft (not a microlight or helicopter) that could operate safely out of a field that is only 200m long...does such a plane exist?

I've got a number of hours on the Super Cub which in my opinion would be OK on take-off but landing might be a bit tight...perhaps something like an Auster or Maule? Suggestions please.

Have gone into, and out of, a 600' (3.28 feet to a metre, so just a wee bit shorter than 200m) grass strip in a clipped wing Cub with two on board. Would only do it with the right conditions and a straight forward approach/departure path.

Try a Maule 235 it is the absoltue dog's dangly's. I just test flew one in New York.

http://www.mauleairinc.com/Our_Plane..._and_235c.html

I don't suppose there are any clubs in the UK that operate them?

I am not sure if this would suit, but think this has a group A version.

http://www.mcp.com.au/sting/movie/movie.html

Looks like less than 50m take off roll, to me on the video from 6mins onwards....

What about a Husky?

The Maule 235 out performs the Husky.

It has a good MAUW
Very very short STOL ability
Decent cruise speed
Can be rigged for full IFR
Is a true 4 seat tourer

Dont get me wrong i do like the Husky (not that I have flown one) and super cub on both floats and wheels. But after my Maule 235 test flight I am convinced it is the better aircraft.

One of the larger engined Rallye's would do it. I own a 180 with a constant speed prop which I operate from a 400m strip, but I don't use half of the length available - On a good day, I can land on the apron in front of the hangar and not even use the runway! A Rallye Minerva (220) or a 235 would be even better from the takeoff performance point of view.

gcolyer

What is the cross wind performance of the Maule like - I dont mean demonstrated by real use from early days on type up to a pilot who is really current?

Did you try the 180 or the 540 version?

Always facied a Maule :).

Of course a 150 Super Cub will do it, but the question you must ask yourself is a different one. With 200m, the margin for error is very small in any aircraft. If this is your home strip 99 times successful out of 100 isn't good enough. What if you're having an off day....?

Zenair STOL 701

SS

FF

I took the Maule M6 235 (IO540) to Pottsdam New York, when landing I had an 82 degree cross wind at 21 kts. There was no issues at all with the handling of the aircraft...a tad faster than usual just because I don't have a million hours on type other than that what a machine.

Cruise at 160mph...60% power cruised at about 140, usefull MAUW, not bad fuel burn, great STOL machine, spacious for a 4 seater. Personaly it ticks all the boxes I am interested in.

The aircraft I flew reg is N55TG. During the flight in the Adirondaks I elected to land in quiet a few forset clearings and short strips to get a feel for the aircraft. With 48 degree flaps it is like a helicopter! My main trip was from NY10 to NY79 and back for the test flight, all the stops and hops I made was during this trip. Right now I am looking to buy an aircraft or a share, if a Maule 235 (i am not bothered on what M series) came along I would jump at it.

Try searching on youtube or Google for orhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZW85T_1LTA

Vis

That is the bees knees and my sort of flying fun. I need to look in to that competition.

Loads and loads of planes can operate out of 200m grass.

The question is whether you want to fly for very long in any of them ;)

An interesting one to check out is a C182 with the canard kit. It has to be N-reg though.

A C182 is good for going places for real, and being a trike undercarriage has better crosswind performance than the more obvious candidates which are mostly taildraggers.

IO540,
The 182 is a great airplane. Why do trikes have better crosswind performance than taildraggers? I always thought crosswind performance was about control power and ground clearance.

Contacttower,
200m is only part of the picture. What is at either end of the 200m? Trees or fields? Wires or a cliff?

-- IFMU

It's a field with other fields around it- some trees at either end and a standard cattle fence.

I'm scared for him! :eek:

Spru!

Another option to STOL ?
 

Buy the adjacent fields and increase the runway length ?

As someone who has just made the decision to get my PPL starting in the new year, I've been looking at the options for a STOL aircraft due to similar circumstances and am currently investigating the purchase of a slepcev storch in a kit or preferably purpose built form (apparently approx 45,000 euro's new from the factory).

This may provide you with another option to review. I prefer to buy a ready to fly version however, I understand that the registration of a purpose built may be somethinng of a challenge - but one I'm presently contemplating once I've the PPL under my belt.

See http://www.slepcevstorch.com