Cessna Officially Junks Skycatchers

[bexrbetter]

Just another Aussie manufacturer story. The government pays "innovation nation" lip service but try getting any real help or support from them.

Nearly thirty years ago I had a workshop in Canberra. Among other things I was hand manufacturing some items for racing cars and someone said I should see if I could get some help to expand the product.

 

So I contacted the relevant AusTrade office (might not have been called that then) and some days later the New Zealand Trade Officer turns up with an offer to make them in NZ, weird.

 

I was at Austrade just recently here in China seeking help to distribute (wanted) Australian goods into China for a family member, they'll help alright, but you get to pay full price for their services as if they are a private concern.

 

Mind you, forward vision is a much-over-rated concept

That continues to kill people in taxi'ing and landing accidents.

 

It's 2016, reversing cameras are what, $50 .... it's a pretty simple solution.

 

 

[Oscar]

Gosh, Bex, who were you making parts for? 30 years ago, I had pretty much gotten out of racing, but Clever, Eaglebeak, Geoff T. and Paul G. were still in the game.

 

 

[jabiruken]

Nearly thirty years ago I had a workshop in Canberra. Among other things I was hand manufacturing some items for racing cars and someone said I should see if I could get some help to expand the product.So I contacted the relevant AusTrade office (might not have been called that then) and some days later the New Zealand Trade Officer turns up with an offer to make them in NZ, weird.

 

I was at Austrade just recently here in China seeking help to distribute (wanted) Australian goods into China for a family member, they'll help alright, but you get to pay full price for their services as if they are a private concern.

 

That continues to kill people in taxi'ing and landing accidents.

 

It's 2016, reversing cameras are what, $50 .... it's a pretty simple solution.

Not only manufacturing Bex,

The kiwi's are on the ball when it comes to strengthening there economic growth. I regularly get emails tempting us to cross the pond and set up business. The Last apprentice I put through here in Australia cost our business $22k to put through nsw tafe (as we are rural),

 

only to be poached at end of apprenticeship. A small business such as ours has given up training which peeves me somewhat knowing there will be a shortage in my field and that there are kids sitting around idle.

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Gosh, Bex, who were you making parts for?

Holden Dealer Team, Moffat, Masterton Homes, BMW, Mark Petch ....

 

.... all refused to take my calls.

 

Just another nobody making hydraulic handbrakes, adjustable pedal boxes, strut to firewall braces and adjustable lower control arms for race and rally individuals as a sideline to my main business at the time. I missed my main calling though, I wanted to and actually had a short go at setting up simple EFI units on Weber manifolds, would have been ahead of my time.

 

The kiwi's are on the ball

The "weird" part was I contacted Austrade (whatever) and the Enzed guy turned up like it was passed on to him, he came based on my enquiry.

 

 

[Kiwi]

I was lucky enough to be able to sit in a skycatcher to get a feel of the control movement (albeit static and parked) when they first came out. My impresion then and now was, what a roundabout way it was to try and make a yoke operate like a control stick. I was not very impressed with it at all.

 

I have a few hours in the Skycatcher, and when I first saw the "yoke" I thought it was a bit weird, but since I have been flying one I really like it.

 

It feels just like any other aircraft that has a "stick" and it doesn't get in the way when you get in and out of the aircraft.

 

It is a real shame that Cessna didn't succeed with the Skycatcher.

 

Kiwi

 

 

[facthunter]

It's really quite surprising it should have failed so spectacularly. Thin gauge aluminium sheet is hard to make into a long life structure. The earlier C-150 and C-152's were quite a rugged deal as it turned out, perhaps raising expectations of the latest offering. Ultra light structures are rather specialised and subject to a lot of abuse in the varied conditions they are subject to. Some Piper Commanche airframes are still good at 15,000 hours. You wont see that in U/L's and shouldn't expect it, either.

 

Steel tube is a bit easier to manage, structurally. but will never attain extreme light weight. Another reason for a weight above 544 Kg's. Nev

 

 

[cscotthendry]

It always amuses me when people talk about how much an RAAus registered J230 can carry.At an empty weight of 370kg ( without options ) you are only left with 230kg usable load.

 

Full fuel is 135 litres which weighs about 95kg.

 

If you & your passenger combined weigh any more than 135kg ( which would be a very common scenario ), you can't even fill up the tanks & that is with no baggage.

The BEW of my Legend is 313kg, that leaves 287 for payload. Fuel capacity is 130lt which translates to 93kg, that leaves 190 odd kg for pax and baggage. AND the Legend is the LSA Cessna should have built

 

 

[Marty_d]

Jeez she's a thing of beauty Scott. Must be hard to wipe the grin off your face every time you see her.

 

 

[Flying Officer Kite]

The BEW of my Legend is 313kg, that leaves 287 for payload. Fuel capacity is 130lt which translates to 93kg, that leaves 190 odd kg for pax and baggage. AND the Legend is the LSA Cessna should have built

That's a really pretty airplane, Scott. I just had a look at your website to learn more about it. Also looked at SilentWings.com website, but it seems they no longer import it. Are there many of these in Oz?

 

-Mike

 

 

[cscotthendry]

That's a really pretty airplane, Scott. I just had a look at your website to learn more about it. Also looked at SilentWings.com website, but it seems they no longer import it. Are there many of these in Oz?-Mike

Mike:

As far as I know, Silent Wings are still importing the Legend. We had ours down at OzKosh on show on the dealer's stand and there was a LOT of interest in it. Give Greg a call if you're interested in it. So far, there are two in Oz but more may be coming after the turnout at OzKosh.

 

Marty:

 

Yep, I get a thrill every time I open the hangar. I always considered the Cessnas (152-182) as what a small airplane looks like, especially when they went to the shark fin tail.

 

Edit: And it flies like it looks!

 

 

[Flying Officer Kite]

Mike:As far as I know, Silent Wings are still importing the Legend. We had ours down at OzKosh on show on the dealer's stand and there was a LOT of interest in it. Give Greg a call if you're interested in it. So far, there are two in Oz but more may be coming after the turnout at OzKosh.

Thanks Scott, I'm afraid that as I've only just started RAAus certificate training, it's something I shall have to admire from afar! But if you ever plan to drop in to YCAB with her I'd love to know so I could maybe have a closer look.

 

- Mike

 

 

[Jaba-who]

It always amuses me when people talk about how much an RAAus registered J230 can carry.At an empty weight of 370kg ( without options ) you are only left with 230kg usable load.

 

Full fuel is 135 litres which weighs about 95kg.

 

If you & your passenger combined weigh any more than 135kg ( which would be a very common scenario ), you can't even fill up the tanks & that is with no baggage.

Leave out the words "RAAus" - that's purely an admin thing. Take same J230 and register it as VH and its 700 kg MTOW. Take same J230 and register it in Sth Africa and its 760 kg.

The selection of legal weight limit is not a function of the aircrafts capability in this case.

 

 

[cscotthendry]

Thanks Scott, I'm afraid that as I've only just started RAAus certificate training, it's something I shall have to admire from afar! But if you ever plan to drop in to YCAB with her I'd love to know so I could maybe have a closer look.- Mike

Mike:

We're based at Watts Bridge, so there's every chance we'll be at YCAB at some point. I'll PM you before we come over.

 

 

[Flying Officer Kite]

Mike:We're based at Watts Bridge, so there's every chance we'll be at YCAB at some point. I'll PM you before we come over.

That'll be great. Look forward to it!

-Mike

 

 

[chevy]

Mike:We're based at Watts Bridge, so there's every chance we'll be at YCAB at some point. I'll PM you before we come over.

Hi Scott,

 

What is the cabin width on the legend?

 

Very nice looking Legend

 

 

[DWF]

Some Legend specifications here but no cabin dimensions.

 

Sat in one at OzKosh (Narromine). Plenty of room.

 

 

[chevy]

Some Legend specifications here but no cabin dimensions.Sat in one at OzKosh (Narromine). Plenty of room.

Thanks. I did find that. Just couldn't find the cabin measurement.

 

I'm at 123kg, just wondering if it would fit. Small missus but just fat pilot lol.

 

 

[cscotthendry]

Hi Scott,What is the cabin width on the legend?

 

Very nice looking Legend

The cabin width will surprise you. I ran the measurements of my cabin against the specs in the Cessna manuals. The Legend, measured at the door just aft of the instrument panel (this is where Cessna measure their cabins) is 160mm wider than the 172 and 106mm wider than the 182. I haven't verified the Cessna measurements against actual airplanes, but if their manuals are to be believed, our little "Cessna without the rivets" is roomier than the 182. I will admit that the Legend cabin is not as tall as the 182, and the Legend has no back seat, so overall volume of the 182 is more than the Legend, but for two people ...

edit

 

chevy: sorry for the late reply. For some reason I am not getting update notices on this thread, even though I have posted to it.

 

 

[Stearman]

Leave out the words "RAAus" - that's purely an admin thing. Take same J230 and register it as VH and its 700 kg MTOW. Take same J230 and register it in Sth Africa and its 760 kg.The selection of legal weight limit is not a function of the aircrafts capability in this case.

The max weight of an RAAus registered aircraft is not "purely an admin thing", it is a rule. This sort of attitude does nothing good for the RAAus movement. Also I hear plenty talk about the ability to fly at 700kg as a GA aircraft, not many mention that the increase in weight increases the stall speed. A dangerous trap for those who hear the aircraft can fly at 700kg & think they will bend the RAAus rules and load one up.

 

 

[cscotthendry]

The max weight of an RAAus registered aircraft is not "purely an admin thing", it is a rule. This sort of attitude does nothing good for the RAAus movement. Also I hear plenty talk about the ability to fly at 700kg as a GA aircraft, not many mention that the increase in weight increases the stall speed. A dangerous trap for those who hear the aircraft can fly at 700kg & think they will bend the RAAus rules and load one up.

I also hear people say something along the lines that type X is going to get a weight increase to Y and so they will be able to fly their type X at the new weight automatically. This is NOT the case as their aircraft may not have been built to the standard for the (new) higher weight class.