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#1
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Which plane for 5 small pax?
I have the opposite problem from the usual "four seats doesn't
mean four pax" problem -- I'm looking for an aircraft with typical four-place load (and price) to carry five small passengers and minimal baggage. What aircraft are out there on the used market (including hombuilts!) which can safely, legally, and economically carry two small adults (150 lbs each) three children (projected total weight in five years at ages 9,7,5: 170 lbs), 100 lbs baggage, and reasonable fuel, say 3 hrs? (570 lbs + fuel) On the certificated side, it looks like a Skyhawk or its ilk would (barely) carry the load, but I understand there's no legal way to squeeze three kids in back of the four-place Cessnas and Pipers. (Why not? Surely it's not that hard to add seatbelts!) What else is out there in the world that I haven't heard of, without moving up to a six-place plane? |
#2
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Adam Aulick wrote:
I have the opposite problem from the usual "four seats doesn't mean four pax" problem -- I'm looking for an aircraft with typical four-place load (and price) to carry five small passengers and minimal baggage. What aircraft are out there on the used market (including hombuilts!) which can safely, legally, and economically carry two small adults (150 lbs each) three children (projected total weight in five years at ages 9,7,5: 170 lbs), 100 lbs baggage, and reasonable fuel, say 3 hrs? (570 lbs + fuel) On the certificated side, it looks like a Skyhawk or its ilk would (barely) carry the load, but I understand there's no legal way to squeeze three kids in back of the four-place Cessnas and Pipers. (Why not? Surely it's not that hard to add seatbelts!) What else is out there in the world that I haven't heard of, without moving up to a six-place plane? What're you gonna do next year when those kids are all 10 pounds bigger? |
#3
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Rental.
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#4
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Dave Butler wrote: What're you gonna do next year when those kids are all 10 pounds bigger? Adam, pay attention to Dave. When I bought my Maule, my stepson weighed 40 pounds -- now he's 210. I've also put on a few pounds since then. The first year, we all piled into the plane with a week's worth of luggage and flew to Sanibel for vacation. Two years later, it wasn't possible to carry more than an overnight case for each of us anymore. Now, I can't even leave the ground with all three of us in the plane unless I leave at least 10 gallons of fuel in the truck. And Pete's still growing. We call him "Kong". George Patterson If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people he gives it to. |
#5
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G.R. Patterson III wrote:
You've been told wrong. Cessna made a "child seat" for the 150, 172, and 182 aircraft (and maybe others). This fits in the baggage compartment. Since the seat itself weighs a few pounds, you would probably want a 182. I don't know if Piper ever had the same sort of option, but it wouldn't surprise me to find out that they did. It's also worth noting that "legal" isn't the only important thing. A Warrior or 172 at maximum gross weight has truely marginal takeoff and climb abilities, and it will put a lot of additional limits on the airports you can fly into and the weather you can fly in. On a summer afternoon, for example, with my full family on board, my Warrior II cannot always outclimb the light thermals above about 6,000-7,000 ft, so I have to watch the VSI go negative for a while before the climb resumes on the next updraft. I can nurse a fully-loaded plane to 10,000 ft on a hot day, but it takes about half an hour and a lot of patience. A more powerful four-seat plane like a 182 or Pathfinder would give the original poster a lot better takeoff performance and a bigger safety reserve in case of downdrafts, icing, etc. Of course, once he's looking at the 182 or Pathfinder price range anyway, why not buy (or rent) a Cherokee Six and get the extra space and seats (up to seven seats, so the kids can bring two friends along)? All the best, David |
#6
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I would take a good look at the 4 Winds. It is a 4 door, can easily carry 4
large adults or 3 normal sized adults on a rear bench seat, carry 100 lb. plus baggage, and has the capacity for 100 gal. of fuel. As a matter of fact, the aircraft went to Oshkosh with 3 large adults, all their baggage, several thousand brochures, and had the tanks topped off at 100 gal. Moreover, it is priced right (on the ramp for 175K or less) and has excellent performance (cruise at 150 to 160 kts.). |
#7
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Navion Rangemaster
Adam Aulick wrote: I have the opposite problem from the usual "four seats doesn't mean four pax" problem -- I'm looking for an aircraft with typical four-place load (and price) to carry five small passengers and minimal baggage. What aircraft are out there on the used market (including hombuilts!) which can safely, legally, and economically carry two small adults (150 lbs each) three children (projected total weight in five years at ages 9,7,5: 170 lbs), 100 lbs baggage, and reasonable fuel, say 3 hrs? (570 lbs + fuel) On the certificated side, it looks like a Skyhawk or its ilk would (barely) carry the load, but I understand there's no legal way to squeeze three kids in back of the four-place Cessnas and Pipers. (Why not? Surely it's not that hard to add seatbelts!) What else is out there in the world that I haven't heard of, without moving up to a six-place plane? |
#8
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RobertR237 wrote:
What're you gonna do next year when those kids are all 10 pounds bigger? Read his requirements again...you will see he was projecting out 5 years. Parents of children these ages know that as the kids to be those ages, the diaper bag is replaced by individual backpacks with stuff to keep each one occupied. Parents of children these ages also know that kids can cram 20 pounds of stuff into their "bookbags". After all, that's what they haul back and forth to school each day. I have diligently trained my family to take three days of clothing when we travel on weeklong trips. We wear one set and pack another two. There is always someplace to do laundry. We can now travel with baggage for four in one large wheeled duffle. Of course, all the pilot gear goes into two medium duffles (flight gear in one, nav gear in another), which fits into a second large wheeled duffle. Then there is packing for Oskosh... |
#9
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"Adam Aulick" wrote in message
om... I have the opposite problem from the usual "four seats doesn't mean four pax" problem -- I'm looking for an aircraft with typical four-place load (and price) to carry five small passengers and minimal baggage. What aircraft are out there on the used market (including hombuilts!) which can safely, legally, and economically carry two small adults (150 lbs each) three children (projected total weight in five years at ages 9,7,5: 170 lbs), 100 lbs baggage, and reasonable fuel, say 3 hrs? (570 lbs + fuel) Flight training for the second adult and get 2 planes, C150 & C172.... ;-) |
#10
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"G. Burkhart" wrote: Flight training for the second adult and get 2 planes, C150 & C172.... ;-) Have you ever actually tried to fly a two plane flight with speeds as disparate as these two aircraft? Get two 172s. :-) George Patterson If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people he gives it to. |
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