Hi colleagues, can anyone propose an interesting solution for the following mission profile?
Any full time/bad weather requirement?
Thanks for mentioning that. Let’s for the time being restrict it to VFR.
A cheap UL like CH601 Zenith (An anagram for Heintz, the Concorde/Robin guy).
A nice working MCR4 → 4 place 120knts/400kg load/9hours/mogas will do more than that. If you need speed, MCR01 can bring you a bit faster for the same consumption (20l/hour).
My old PA18-95 would tick the list and you could operate out of 150 yards, and meanwhile it is appreciating. Needs hangarage.
What kind of airports lay at each end of the commute? A motorcycling friend in France commutes very economically in his Long Eze, but he’s a business jet pilot and that defines the kind of places where he needs to land and switch planes. A Grumman/AA two seater would have a similar constraint (perhaps a bit less so) but I’ve known others who’ve used them as commuters.
Otherwise, more aligned with your 125 cc motorcycle analogy and for shorter fields, a Jodel D112 with A-65 engine? I’m assuming it has to be inexpensive to buy as well as “interesting”
A uninteresting but very practical answer would be a C-150 ‘Commuter’ in very average condition.
A nice working MCR4 → 4 place 120knts/400kg
Apparently aircraft craftsmanship of the highest level, but also seems to be an airplane that „bites“ when looking at the accident rate.
Piper Cub?
Maybe a bit slow at 60 kts for the J3 model. But they are cheap, mine runs on mogas, and burns just 4gph.
C150 / 152. Not sexy, but cheap and reliable. Also easy to get in and out, no need to clamber on a wing. Seeing where you are based, the fact that you can stay dry under the wing probably also helps on occasion.
