Call me crazy... best bush plane? (Palmer, Beaver: for sale, real estate, insurance)

[MissingAll4Seasons]

The more I look at real estate, the more I'm liking the remote locations along the rivers and lakes better. My entire family are pilots (all the way back to WWI) and used to charter seaplanes out of Philadelphia. I've logged several "fun" hours on their Piper Cubs and seemed to have a knack for it, and was pretty handy working on them too.

So, I'm thinking that maybe getting my pilot's license for real and purchasing a bush plane might be the best way to go. Sure a plane is expensive, but I could easily purchase a used plane with the difference in property prices being outside "civilized" road access. I'm not looking to make this a professional thing or carry in massive amounts of goods. Just looking for private transportation, maybe picking up or dropping off stuff for my neighbors if I'm heading into town, etc.

So, given that I'm completely insane and assuming that money will fail from heaven to finance this dream... what plane makes the best bush plane in AK for personal use? Super Cub, Husky, Otter or Beaver, one of the Cessna's?

Edit: The area I'm looking at is Mat-Su if that makes a difference.

[warptman]

Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons

The more I look at real estate, the more I'm liking the remote locations along the rivers and lakes better. My entire family are pilots (all the way back to WWI) and used to charter seaplanes out of Philadelphia. I've logged several "fun" hours on their Piper Cubs and seemed to have a knack for it, and was pretty handy working on them too.

So, I'm thinking that maybe getting my pilot's license for real and purchasing a bush plane might be the best way to go. Sure a plane is expensive, but I could easily purchase a used plane with the difference in property prices being outside "civilized" road access. I'm not looking to make this a professional thing or carry in massive amounts of goods. Just looking for private transportation, maybe picking up or dropping off stuff for my neighbors if I'm heading into town, etc.

So, given that I'm completely insane and assuming that money will fail from heaven to finance this dream... what plane makes the best bush plane in AK for personal use? Super Cub, Husky, Otter or Beaver, one of the Cessna's?

Edit: The area I'm looking at is Mat-Su if that makes a difference.

I'm not a pilot, but I'd go small and build hours first. All the planes you mentioned are very expensive. A good otter and a beaver will run from around 150grand and up. Supercubs normally start around 40,000 and up depending on the year and how many mods it has. A Cessna isn't cheap either. Start small and build time/experience and work from there. Husky's aren't cheap either.

[ASpilot2be]

There are all sorts of good bush craft out there. Taylorcraft, Cub, Cessna 150, Husky, etc.

If you are gonna be in the Mat-Su area, drop my Mustang Air in Palmer. They have a PA-18 for sale. It is a nice little airplane.
N9829Q (http://www.northernaviation.biz/N9829Q.html - broken link)

[stiffnecked]

If you got that kind of money get a Beaver. Man-O-man, if I had the money I'd buy one.
Those things are tanks. You can haul groceries out the wahzoo with one of those plus all the in-laws....

[warptman]

Don't forget your four wheeler, too.



Gotta love those external loads.

[DannyL]

if you have the money, and can find one, get a DH Beaver. Damn things last forever (of course with a pilot who believes in proper maint, and care) and are more reliable than you are or ever will be.
The Otters are like corvette's, and they can haul a lot.

[Barkingowl]

Skywalker VTOL personal aircraft

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Originally Posted by warptman

Don't forget your four wheeler, too.



Gotta love those external loads.

SWEET! I forgot about loading your skids! My uncle used to haul his rowboat and camping gear under the belly secured to the pontoons... can't believe I forgot that

[rotorhead]

Funny how Canadian planes seem to top the list, isn't it? Although they're not easy to find, these are also a good option and more suited than the larger Beaver/Otter series for many operations.

Found Aircraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Keep in mind that while most people tend to associate Alaska exclusively with Supercubs and other taildraggers, the majority of aircraft in daily service in rural Alaska are run-of-the-mill tricycle gear Cessnas and Pipers. There are runways all over the place, and when you're talking about hauling smaller loads on the cheap it's hard to beat Cherokees and 182s and similar. The insurance is cheaper, there's way more airframes remaining out there, and the prices are much more reasonable than 185s and other iconic taildraggers.

Obviously they have their limitations for off-airport true "bush" work, but have you checked with your insurance agent to find out what coverage for THAT kind of work is gonna cost you? Better be sitting down when you open the quote.

[warptman]

Alaska Bushplanes, in the Bush.

























Casa 212


Shorts Skyvan