Funnest GA pistons to hand fly

What piston single is the funnest to fly?

Is that proper English?

I vote for a Pacer.

I’m going to say Extra 300.

I enjoy the DA20 and DA40. They are really smooth and responsive, but also stable. Lots of people agree that once you have the feel of a diamond, you can just think and the plane responds. I think the center stick combined with control rods instead of cables are a big part of that experience.

For the flying that puts a smile on your face: Super Cub on amphib floats.

For the flying that pulls your face into all kinds of different expressions: Edge 540.

Pitts or Extra, but would not want to take either on a long cross-country flight.

I vote the Marchetti SF260.
You can crank it around or take it cross country.

Single engine has to be a Sukhoi, Extra, Pitts, etc…
Multi engine would be an Aerostar, unless you can lay hands on P-38;
and I’ve always wanted to fly one of those Air Cam twin ultralight type thingies

I always thought a FW-190D-9 would have been a blast to fly. 2200hp, supercharged, pressurized and good into the low flight levels at a TAS of around 400kts. Now, coming back to reality, either a Pitts or an Extra 260 or 300 - a guy in my hangar complex has an Extra 260. THAT is fun.

Something that real people can fly and enjoy would be a Bellanca Viking, either the 260 or 300hp version - little rockets that handle like fighter planes.

I said it before, a long time ago, but the Air Cam is not an ultralight. Ultralight type, ok. :wink:

The Air Cam is not an ultralight. Gross weight is over 1600 lbs, much like a Cessna 150/152.

It is a homebuilt/kit/experimental, whichever you wish to call it. For this reason, it is legal to log flight time and imore specifically multi-engine flight time. Yep, real, honest to goodness multi-engine flight time that can be used for the purposes of ratings and resumes everywhere.

Quote:
FAA Part 103.1
This part prescribes rules governing the operation of ultralight vehicles in the United States. For the purposes of this part, an ultralight vehicle is a vehicle that:

(a) Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant;

(b) Is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only;

(c) Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and

(d) If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or

(e) If powered:

(1) Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation;

(2) Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons;

(3) Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and

(4) Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed.

I’ll take a Super Cub. My son took these photos a few days ago in AK.


Sunset over the Gulf of Alaska from the window of the Super Cub:

BTW, he’s in AK through the end of July exploring the Last Frontier in his Super Cub. He’s a great photographer and you can follow his explorings at
shaunlunt.typepad.com/shootings/

He’ll update with pix and commentary every few days.

Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing!

He’s living my dream!

BTW, is he looking for a co-pilot? :wink:

Or another father?

LOL :laughing:

N60NL - I checked out his other pictures. That looks like a great trip.

A classic Super Cub, floats, skis and tundra tires.

Doesn’t get much better.

I am lucky, almost every day I get to see brand new Boeings and brand new cubbies. Two cub specialists at my home airport:
http://www.cubcrafters.com/

http://www.ykmaerosport.com/

Yes, I think my son is living the dream that most of us have. This Friday I’m flying commercially to Anchorage and we’re taking off in the Super Cub for a week of exploring. Should be fun, and a bit worrisome too. Rugged, unforgiving, expansive country up there!

Wish us luck! :wink:

Good luck, keep us posted!

Best of luck, but remember that the grizzlies you might meet couldn’t care less how much money you’ve donated to the Audubon Society or Greenpeace!