Autodidact
Well-Known Member
How about a homebuilt experimental Curtiss Robin? With a 300 hp v8 and airboat gearbox you would have an aircraft with the same power loading as a 450 hp DHC Beaver (about 11.6 lb/hp with a 2,000 lb useful load) and a wing loading of about 15.5 lb/ft^2 compared to the Beaver's 20.4 lb/ft^2. Since it would be a practical aircraft, it could be simplified or refined somewhat instead of trying to be a replica of a nice vintage machine; for example, maybe you could add flaps to the wing, give it a larger door for loading bulky objects, or change the wing structure to aluminum or partially aluminum as on Piper Super Cubs. I think it would make a pretty nice and practical bush plane, but not a money earner unfortunately. Build one, move to Alaska, and you'd never have to hike 4 miles to ride the railroad into Anchorage!