I can’t give you a qualified answer based on thousands of hours in a make or model since I’m just starting to get back into GA. I’m considering STOL planes as a likely option. The Maules have really caught my attention. They aren’t the best at anything, but they’re pretty good at everything. They can’t carry the load, aren’t as durable, or as fast as a 180, but I don’t know that it needs to be for most people. In my search I have come to believe that if you’re running the plane in the bush as part of a business, the 180 would be the better choice. If you just want to haul personal camping gear, the Maule has enough useful for the vast majority of recreational flyers, and it will land practically anywhere a 180 can. Fairly good load, fairly good speed, fairly low maintenance, and better short field ability than most of us will ever require or be able to fully use.

The majority of commercial operators making money doing daily back country flying in piston planes are running Cessna 206’s or similar with airglas nose fork, STOL kit, VGs and 8.5 tires.

I have 2 Cessna 205s doing that type of work.

There are also several 180/185 guys, Maule, etc but the are less common than they were. I suspect passenger cabin room and hired pilot skill/training maybe the reason for the shift.

The really big tires, really high performance, super STOL planes are usually private operators having fun.

It is hard to make money with less than 4 open seats, carrying less than 1,200 lb useful load or going slower than 120 mph. Not saying it cannot be done, just not easy.

I suspect the most income is in a Cessna 206 and the most fun is a high powered Cub.

KJ

From my observations at the 1800ft grass strip where I am now the Tripacer is by far he most impressive. That thing is off in the first quarter of the runway and 50ft in the air by mid field. The early 35s are also really impressive but climb is not as good as the Pacer. My 150 will land really short and is off in 500 ft but climb out is a problem. A 150hp 150 would be a back country beast. The 150/150 can be bought all day long for 65K.

I just went through this same process of deciding on a STOL aircraft and I put down my deposit on a Rans S-21. Here’s my thought process:
[youtube]https://youtu.be/ha91HTXAPZU[/youtube]

anyone with a cub with slats? thinking of adding them to my j-3

stall speeds?
Douglas said CessnaCub stalls upper 20's.
Seems to me you need upper 20's to be able to land/stop inside 200 feet?

Zenith super duty stall test videos shows that the super duty goes into a 800 fpm sink rate and really does not break into a stall. Approaches seem to be in the 50 mph range and landing touchdown in the 30’s.

The short landing distance is easier to accomplish with the tricycle gear since you can heavy brake without picking up the tail and nosing over.

Landing distances are supposed to be below 200 feet.

KJ

Zenith CH 750 Super Duty Specs...

34 mph stall, 150 ft landing roll, 115 ft takeoff roll.

They are 20mph optimistic on the claimed cruise speed. Are the other numbers similarly adjusted?

They are 20mph optimistic on the claimed cruise speed. Are the other numbers similarly adjusted?

Hi Keith,

I’ve only been in 2
160hp with wheels was at best 85mph
200hp on floats could go maybe 80
I doubt either of those extrapolate to 100+ with 205hp but maybe they’ve cleaned up the airframe somehow

Jeff:

I plan on taking a demo flight in the super duty, will let you know how it does.

Our roads here in Texas have 75-85 mph speed limits. So I am hoping the Zenith at minimum can outpace my pickup truck in cruise flight.

KJ

All airplanes are compromises.
A tricycle gear STOL airplane

I would be FORCED to increase my airplane count to 3 (Cirrus recently sold) by keeping Citabria or some other taildragger.

this.

Tailwheel is easy and fun. If I can do it, you can do it. Seriously, it is not hard.