A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Home Built
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Which plane for 5 small pax?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 11th 04, 05:34 PM
Adam Aulick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old August 11th 04, 06:07 PM
Dave Butler
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old August 11th 04, 06:34 PM
C.D.Damron
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Rental.


  #4  
Old August 11th 04, 07:18 PM
G.R. Patterson III
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default



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  
Old August 11th 04, 07:50 PM
David Megginson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old August 11th 04, 08:38 PM
DJFawcett26
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old August 11th 04, 11:10 PM
rip
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old August 12th 04, 03:47 AM
Jay Smith
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old August 12th 04, 04:11 AM
G. Burkhart
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"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  
Old August 12th 04, 04:21 AM
G.R. Patterson III
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default



"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.
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cell Phone in small plane Ron Home Built 1 August 6th 04 02:10 PM
rec.aviation.aerobatics FAQ Dr. Guenther Eichhorn Aerobatics 0 May 1st 04 08:27 AM
rec.aviation.aerobatics FAQ Dr. Guenther Eichhorn Aerobatics 0 March 1st 04 08:27 AM
rec.aviation.aerobatics FAQ Dr. Guenther Eichhorn Aerobatics 0 February 1st 04 08:27 AM
A Good Story Badwater Bill Home Built 15 September 3rd 03 03:00 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.