I am definitely not interested in building, but am considering purchasing a plane in a couple of years. This is just the research phase. The mission would be:
Trips under 400 NM
Almost always alone
Able to carry fishing equipment (waders, rod tubes, and basic fly fishing gear) plus a few days worth of clothing.
Wingspan less than 36’ to fit in my shop
Able to operate off of a 2,100’ grass strip (mowed Bermuda pasture with cattle fenced off) with room to spare on a hot day with power lines at each end. The elevation is about 1,100’ MSL.
Basic IFR to be able to punch through a layer, but I’d never fly a single with less than VFR ceilings
Aerobatics would be a plus
I’ve considered a 35 series bonanza, but the performance numbers are tighter than I want for potentially soft grass and the obstacles.
A Cessna won’t fit through the door
A 235 HP Maule is a flying truck and would easily do everything, but I really don’t need all of that cargo capacity or 4 seats, plus they are really slow.
That leaves the RV 7 or 8 as strong possibilities. I’m leaning towards the 8 for the tandem seating. Here are the questions.... Can the RV 8 comfortably operate off of my strip? Is the plane going to hold up to continuous grass field flying (no back country stuff, just grass farm strips)? Is there enough luggage capacity? Is it safe to strap a bag into the back seat for a cross country? And lastly, is an experimental a good fit for someone who has never owned or maintained a plane? I apologize for all of the questions, and thanks in advance for any advice.
Trips under 400 NM
Almost always alone
Able to carry fishing equipment (waders, rod tubes, and basic fly fishing gear) plus a few days worth of clothing.
Wingspan less than 36’ to fit in my shop
Able to operate off of a 2,100’ grass strip (mowed Bermuda pasture with cattle fenced off) with room to spare on a hot day with power lines at each end. The elevation is about 1,100’ MSL.
Basic IFR to be able to punch through a layer, but I’d never fly a single with less than VFR ceilings
Aerobatics would be a plus
I’ve considered a 35 series bonanza, but the performance numbers are tighter than I want for potentially soft grass and the obstacles.
A Cessna won’t fit through the door
A 235 HP Maule is a flying truck and would easily do everything, but I really don’t need all of that cargo capacity or 4 seats, plus they are really slow.
That leaves the RV 7 or 8 as strong possibilities. I’m leaning towards the 8 for the tandem seating. Here are the questions.... Can the RV 8 comfortably operate off of my strip? Is the plane going to hold up to continuous grass field flying (no back country stuff, just grass farm strips)? Is there enough luggage capacity? Is it safe to strap a bag into the back seat for a cross country? And lastly, is an experimental a good fit for someone who has never owned or maintained a plane? I apologize for all of the questions, and thanks in advance for any advice.
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