Amphib T-Craft!

[MNJoe]

I flew it yesterday for the first time! Airplane will have to go through flight testing for approval, Since the airplane has the Harer STC it is not light sport. Gross weight is 1500lb

Airplane is O200 powered
Empty weight on Floats 1070
Hydralic brakes, I will show you pictures later of that installation

[perryv1]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

Does that have Ryan Exhaust on it?The Stacks come out the same place as mine.
I like the floats,a friend of mine is putting them on a PA 11.
PV

[MNJoe]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

airplane has C150 exhaust by field approval. Baumann Floats had several of the 1500A floats in production when I was there yesterday.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

Joe...You make jealous....I'm flying over to New Richmond next Tuesday for a new walk cable for my 1500's...Maybe I'll see your plane in person??? I am undecided on trading up to amphibs.....they cost more than I paid for my 90HP T-Craft.....$12K more than my whole plane....but the versatility hmmm.....We'll see I guess.

[MNJoe]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

Yeah they cost more than my airplane did, but I used pilot mentality to justify the cost. The T-craft is stored now inside with my other airplane, thus I do no have to pay to keep it outside at the seaplane base anymore. I figure it will take me twenty years to break even

Joe

[T-Rex]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

There's something to be said about not having to worry about hail storms and other bad weather. But you of all people know the saying around here; Straight Floats For Straight Folks. And I think Bruse charges like a dollar more per gallon for gas for the amphib guys. Looks real nice Joe, look foreword to checking it out.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

Yeah they cost more than my airplane did, but I used pilot mentality to justify the cost. The T-craft is stored now inside with my other airplane, thus I do no have to pay to keep it outside at the seaplane base anymore. I figure it will take me twenty years to break even

Joe

I have pilot logic in spades.....Wife....No pilot logic......I do have 3 flying T-Crafts, 1 project T-Craft, and 1 J3 Cub project.....It could be a matter of selling airplanes to buy floats.....I was trying to make sure my kids all had a plane to inherit if they took up flying....so far ...my son (19) got scared a few times and abandoned the idea of flight training...It was no big deal...just windy that day....then there are the 2 girls...(15) and (8)....I have hopes for the 8 yr old.....she already flies pretty good....she just can't reach the rudder pedals yet. I don't think the 15yr old can fly and text message at the same time.....My son is in the Army and is stationed in South Korea now....maybe when he gets out he'll give it another try. I'm trying to make aviation easily accessible to my kids since it ain't gettin any cheaper. Pilot Logic?...Now it's up to the kids.

[tim]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

wow thats nice im looking to do the same thing sum day what all did you do to get the o200 up front??

[akndrifter]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

How much punishment does it look like the gear on those take (ie unpaved/poorly paved/gravel runways)?

[Dano"T"]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

Good question. They are pretty expensive to go taking chances on unimproved landing strip IMHO. Here is a closeup of the nose gear I took at Osh last year


Here is the Main Gear

[akndrifter]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

I'm no expert, but it doesn't look like there is that much clearance from the keel to the ground. I'm excited to hear how they work over time.

[MNJoe]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

The tires on the production set of Floats (mine are serial number 7 & 8) are , 3/4" dia larger than the first set shown in the above photos. I have not meaaured the ground clearance yet but I will this week. No I have not landed on a sod runway yet, but I would not hesitate to land on a sod runway with them

Joe

[akndrifter]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

The tires on the production set of Floats (mine are serial number 7 & 8) are , 3/4" dia larger than the first set shown in the above photos. I have not meaaured the ground clearance yet but I will this week. No I have not landed on a sod runway yet, but I would not hesitate to land on a sod runway with them

Joe

Thats good to hear. I'll only have to save for 10 years to afford them

[MNJoe]

Re: Amphib T-Craft!

Clearance under the float measured at the step is over 3 1/2" doesn't sound like alot but it is when you look at it sitting in your hanger