I really think the best for your mission would be a Commander. A 500B Shrike is the ultimate cabin class/bush plane combo there is. They have higher prop clearances, bigger wheels and shorter takeoffs than most of the competition. Real load haulers, too. Well supported with "normal" engines like the O-470 and IO-540.




I had an old 520 for a few years. That thing took off like a homesick angel on crack. And although the 500B doesn't have as short a T/O, they're not far behind. You could easily be based at a sub 2000ft strip and takeoff fully loaded. No problem.


There simply aren't many twins that can compete with 500-series Commanders when it comes to bush capabilities in conjunction with cabin class. The TwinBo is probably the closest. Great prop clearance and big wheels on that too, but you're still dealing with geared engines that cost 2x as much to overhaul and have ridiculous 250hr prop AD's unless they've been modified costly.

Cessna 340 would be my guess, perhaps with RAM engines and STOL mod.

Mike C.