Simviation Forums

whats the best little one for bush flying???

The stock J3 Cub is good, the Bellanca Scout (8GCBC) does pretty good, Helio Courier (haven't downloaded any though), Pilatus Porter PC6 for a little larger, any PA-18, or for that matter, any Cub variant, PAC 750 (again, bigger), PA-32 Cherokee Six (if there are any made, also remove fuel and excess loads, the aircraft can carry its own weight in payload), anything made by DeHavilland (Beaver, Otter and even the big stuff), Zenith Air stuff, Cessna 120-140-170-180-185-206-207, any Aeronca, Maule (though I don't like them), Brittain-Norman Islander.

I'm in Alaska, and this is what I see doing bush work. I even see 150/152's doing short field operations.

One of the most common things to see here are 172's with 180 or more horse, droop tips, 8.50x6 tires (or bigger), climb props and non-electric flaps. I personally know a guy who has a 172 with the Franklin 220 HP motor on it, and it works really good.

What I do is edit the 172 with the older aircraft editor in 2002 (I think), give it 220 horse, adjust the prop a bit, and use less fuel, it really gets up and goes.

Oh, most Alaskan's put 180 horse engines on their PA-18's. The Super Cub is a $120,000 tube and fabric airplane for a reason, they are bush masters.

Then again, a few years ago, A Cessna 206 won the shortest take-off contest over heavily modified Cubs, so there are things that can be done....