other bushplane kits

[Coastflyer]

This might seem blasphemous, but it would be fun to have more of a discussion on other kits. We were talking about the Just Super Stol, which I think is really neat. Another one I've been watching for a while, and really like, is the Australian Aircraft Kits series. The most recent of which being the Hornet Cub. Seems like they haven't broken into the US market yet, but maybe some of you commonwealth folks have seen them around. What about Biggus? You must know about it. I just think It's really cool to see some innovation in the off airport, stol bushplane area. I've always loved the Wilga, so that thing is very appealing. Looks really fun with great vis.

[Rebel541]

This might seem blasphemous, but it would be fun to have more of a discussion on other kits. We were talking about the Just Super Stol, which I think is really neat. Another one I've been watching for a while, and really like, is the Australian Aircraft Kits series. The most recent of which being the Hornet Cub. Seems like they haven't broken into the US market yet, but maybe some of you commonwealth folks have seen them around. What about Biggus? You must know about it. I just think It's really cool to see some innovation in the off airport, stol bushplane area. I've always loved the Wilga, so that thing is very appealing. Looks really fun with great vis.

G'day Jesse !

JUST got home ................... working my way through a few hundred emails ..........

Yep - Oli ( who MAKES the Hornet and other designs) - is based at Taree - the nearest BIG town to Farcombe Hall ( our property with the grass strip) ......

I've cast more than "a casual eye" over some of his designs ...... and they are GOOD ...................... and I can see quite a few "borrowed design features" that have come from a Rebel I can assure you ! :thumbup:

The Wilga is one that I like also ! ................ but it's way bigger than a Rebel when you get right up next to it ....... and stands VERY tall too !

Oli is a very quite type - who keeps his cards close to his chest ....... but seems a nice bloke all the same
He used to work with Nestor - who made the STORCH STOL aeroplane - which had AMAZING flight characteristics ! ..... but never seemed to "take off" (no pun intended) - either !?!?!

I haven't seen an "inundation" of his planes about at various Fly-Ins etc ...... but then our economy is STUFFED right now ( and for a long while yet I fear :thumbdown: ) so NOBODY is buying ANYTHING at present anyway !

[Coastflyer]

Interesting! I would have thought they would be all over OZ. That's neat that he's close to you. My comment about the Wilga was mostly meant as a comparison to Oli's designs. It seems like he admires it too. The Hornet Cub is neat because it's a lightweight version of his other designs. The stol performance looks really good, and the visibility looks amazing due to tandem seating and a tall cockpit with lots of windows. The video footage from in the cockpit is very impressive. I would love to fly one. Maybe I'll come to OZ for my next vacation.

[Rebel541]

G'day Jesse !


C'MON DOWN son ! :thumbup:

You know you've always got a place to stay at Farcombe Hall !!! :wave:


Oli's workshop is a mere 15Kms ( 10ish miles ) away .......

[Ahewko]

The Bearhawk looks like a useful plane similar to a Rebel. I see they have hydraulically dampened die spring gear. Does anyone have any experience with those?

Allen H

[Jerry Folkerts]

A year ago, I tried to buy a Russian I-1L Miglet. Sort of a Wilga type aircraft. The M-14P company in Kingman AZ imported several, the purpose was to can the 3 cylinder engines and use the jugs for their M-14s. They sold a couple of them, and one came up for resale on Barnstormers as he purchased it. A Russian Mig factory built aircraft minus the engine/instruments. He was asking 19K. I convinced my wife and called him by noon, but someone had just beat me to it. Here's a link to one of the originals, still for sale for somewhere around 30K -- http://m14pengines.com/product/i-1l-russian-miglet/.
Jerry Folkerts

[Coastflyer]

Thanks for the invite Biggus! That would be an adventure for sure. Maybe I could box up my rebel and bring it down. That would be a great way to tour the country.
Jerry, I remember seeing some of those miglets on barnstormers a couple years ago. It does look like a really cool airplane. Too bad you didn't get one. It sounds like it would have been a deal at 19 grand for the airframe. What engine were you thinking about?
Allen, I like the Bearhawk too. The new lsa version looks like it has great performance. I think I remember reading in a kitplanes article that they came up with a new airfoil that gives it good stol without flaps, and good cruise too.