Why are 3 axis airy's so small?

[Big-D]

I watched a Jabiru 2 seater yesterday fly from AP to overhead Harties in about 1min30

I find this quite appealing and went and had a chat to the pilot (who also hanglides from AP) after he landed. This plane cost R175k and cruises 100kts TO my shock I realised that this airy is a 2 seater and I don't think 1 of me will fit in it, the cabin is so small.

I have often noted that the 3 axis airy's are quite small inside and don't cater for the larger pilot's. The Bantam is reasonable, but I still struggle to get in and out

My long last cousin whom I met on this forum (Conroy) reckons a Challenger is a nice bird for "vetgatte".

So, my question is - what is a affordable 3 axis that caters for the larger pilots? (Just asking out of interest sake of course....for a friend....who also happens to be a vetgat...)

D

[justin.schoeman]

See the current thread on '260kg MAUW'. It is very difficult to build even a small 3 axis within this weight limit. There are a couple of bigger 3 axis planes, but none (of the enclosed ones, at least) seem to meet the microlight weight requirements...

-justin

[Morph]

Cheetah XLS and the Bushbaby Explorer cater for the bigger pilot. (both width and height and door clearance(very very important). The Standard Bush Baby is 106cm at the shoulder (it is slightly wider than a Cessna 150). Gr8-dad and myself fit into a standard BB easily and I am short for my weight if you know what I mean . My wide 90 kg and his 110kg fit adequately. The Explorer has been increased by 50cm at the hips and shoulders. The roof has been lifted by 25mm and the seat has been dropped. Monty tells me he has had a number of 6ft plenty guys sitting in it without any problems

Challengers are great as pilot but not pax. Being tandem you don't have a pax to rub shoulders against and the sides are wide enough to take a really big boy but getting in and out is a bit of a mission

Newer designs like the CT and the Foxbat are fairly wide but are expensive.

[Bennie Vorster]

Yip, Morph said it all.

Cheetah XLS and the Bushbaby Explorer.

[Captain Biggles]

The Skyranger also has a roomy cabin and costs a lot less. Winner of the last 4 World Championships and many other awards Check the new Skyranger Swift out.

[Slider]

Can someone plse tell me the importer, details for the Skyranger

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Big D
I will take all the Jabi's you can get at R175K...

There are a couple nice aeries out there. Shop around. Like a trike however weight does affect performance, thus the bigger you are the bigger (read buck$) the aerie has to be. The Jabi is tight, but not much more so than a C150.

Depends what you want to do with it, more than anything. If you looking for a fast cruiser, it will be tight to aid speed. If you looking for a heavy lifter it will be slower.



PS
Once you have had a look at them all, buy an RV. It IMHO the best compromise between speed, load and performance available today.... And yes a Vetgat will fit.

[Big-D]

Howzit Big George

I will take all the Jabi's you can get at R175K...

That's what the big-moustache-hanglider-oke at AP says - He bought it (second hand) and had it converted from Taildragger to tricycle and that pushed it up to R175k.

The RV is lovely I agree - One day when I am big.... Would be lovely to have a flip in one though..... Could earn the generous pilot a couple of beers

D

[Wingless Nut]

Slider wrote;

Can someone plse tell me the importer, details for the Skyranger

I believe it's Captain Biggles himself. Big D my brother in dikness! I had the same problem with the Jabbie "Fat boy" and the Savannah. Depending on your definition of affordable; the Bantam at the bottom end of the cost scale and higher up the Zlin Savage, Cheetah and the A-22 Foxbat, to name a few, would do the job well. The Zlin is also a tandem seat (J3 CUB replica) with the added advantage that you solo from the front. On affordability, an acquaintance recently bought a brand new Cirrus SR 22 GT because it was "affordable". Yep...it's all relative to the pocket.

[The Agent]

Big D it is not that the 3 axis a/c are so small.

The sky Ranger talk to the boys in East Londen.

Big D you will fit into a Ikarus C42, I do wiff lots of spare space and an destructor.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Howzit Big George

I will take all the Jabi's you can get at R175K...

That's what the big-moustache-hanglider-oke at AP says - He bought it (second hand) and had it converted from Taildragger to tricycle and that pushed it up to R175k.

The RV is lovely I agree - One day when I am big.... Would be lovely to have a flip in one though..... Could earn the generous pilot a couple of beers

D

If he ever wants to sell it let me know . They are usually R100K more and then some. Why would he want to fit training wheels. The Jabi TD is a sexi aerie.

PS
Will do the flip thing soon. Will be tight squeeze as back of the RV is not that big, but I have managed to pour a couple 130kg'ers in there once or twice. I take no responsibility for the usual "havetohaveonealitis" afterwards....

[Big-D]

Will do the flip thing soon.

Life is good.....

Demon owes me a flip for my birthday in the GT450 and now this.... The RV....


Yippeee :D :D


D

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Bid D...
I will be at AP for the rally (2osomethingth of April) and at Harties for most weekends in April while kids are on hols from Friday PM to Monday AM. I not doing 3.45 wake up calls, but maybe at respectable hr we can make a plan. Once I am org'd I will drop you a line. t still a bit far off...

[Morph]

Can someone plse tell me the importer, details for the Skyranger

http://www.electrodynamics.co.za/skyranger/home.html

[Big-D]

Cool....