Does this plane exist

Jaybird180

Final Approach
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
9,038
Location
Near DC
Display Name
Jaybird180
Home Airfield
VKX
I'd like to find an online tool that I can use to research this myself. But I wondered if there were a such certified aiplane (I'm sure there is) that would allow a single-engine private pilot to get mutiple endorsements at once

It would be a high-performance complex taildragger.

Then later it could be retrofitted with floats.
 
Wouldn't an Amphib 185 fit the bill all in one shot?
300hp, Flaps, CS Prop, Floats, Retract Gear. . .
 
wikipedia says fixed gear

So what? Re-read the definition of complex again. Put the floats on it, and it has flaps and a constant speed prop - which is enough to qualify it as complex.

So you get your high performance and conventional gear endorsements while it has wheels. Put the floats on it, and get your complex endorsement. Of course, you'll have to get your SES rating - which is only 5hrs of training if you are any good.
 
Last edited:
The Republic Seabee fits these criteria perfectly.
 
I'd like to find an online tool that I can use to research this myself. But I wondered if there were a such certified aiplane (I'm sure there is) that would allow a single-engine private pilot to get mutiple endorsements at once

It would be a high-performance complex taildragger.

Then later it could be retrofitted with floats.

There is at least one such plane - it is called the DC-3:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...=185&ty=111&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

If you just want something to get your complex/high performance/tailwheel endorsement in one stop shopping without the floats, that can be done in a T-6/SNJ:
http://atlanticairllc.com/training.htm

Now, if you want something more realistic that you can get complex, high performance, tailwheel and seaplane rating, that can be done much cheaper in a Republic Seabee or Lake Amphibian.
 
Beech 18 may be too ambitious. I would start by flying DHC-2 Beaver. That has flaps, manually adjustable prop, and a 240 hp round engine. I think flying that qualifies one to be a real pilot. Beech 18 is for real real pilots.

{Edit: Thanks, Ed.}
 
Last edited:
Grumman Goose. Gets the following with no mods:

ME
Tailwheel
Complex
HP
Seaplane

I was thinking Widgeon, but you'd have to find one with more than 200HP per engine.
 
Are these planes in you guys' mental inventory?

Is there a book or website one could use?
 
Lots of websites. None that cover "everything". ;)

The definitive aircraft guide is probably Jane's...

http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence/air/all-the-worlds-aircraft.aspx


It's not a cheap book, but it's one of those books you buy once in a great while if you're into spotting aircraft and looking up aircraft details...

I just noticed they have an online version now, but I bet that's really spendy. Not going to click the link. Too tempting. Must. Keep. Money. In. Wallet. For. Flying. :)

I can see most of those airplanes on a ramp somewhere if I go spend the money on flying instead of Jane's books! When you see one you don't recognize, you walk over and find out what it is! :D
 
Hmmm...

I wondered if there were a such certified aiplane (I'm sure there is) that would allow a single-engine private pilot to get mutiple endorsements at once

It would be a high-performance complex taildragger.

Then later it could be retrofitted with floats.

Emphasis mine... Let's go through these:

Wouldn't an Amphib 185 fit the bill all in one shot?
300hp, Flaps, CS Prop, Floats, Retract Gear. . .

All in one shot? Nope. It's not complex unless it's on the floats, and it's not tailwheel unless it's off the floats.

A Meyer's comes to mind.

Oooh, great pick, somewhat obscure... But it won't work: The Meyers 145 doesn't have a >200hp engine so it's not high performance, the Meyers 200 is tri-gear so a no-go on the tailwheel, and same with the Meyers Interceptor 400.

BTW, it's really too bad that the Meyers Interceptor 400 didn't make it. It got certified, but only two were ever produced, one of which was pretty well trashed when it went down in shallow water off the California coast after the pilot left a fuel cap off in preflight and experienced fuel starvation.

However, what an awesome hot-rod a 4-seat, 400shp pressurized turboprop would be! :goofy: 240 knots at 31 gph, 1500 fpm climb at gross.

The Republic Seabee fits these criteria perfectly.

We have a winner - And you don't even have to add floats!

or a Seawind.

Great airplane, but not tailwheel.

There is at least one such plane - it is called the DC-3:

Not single-engine.

If you just want something to get your complex/high performance/tailwheel endorsement in one stop shopping without the floats, that can be done in a T-6/SNJ:

Winner #2! Expensive, but makes up for it in style points.

Lake Amphibian.

Not tailwheel - None of the Lakes are.

Forgot to add the Beech 18 meets the requirements as well.

Except the single-engine requirement.

DHC-2 Beaver

Again, big on style points, but has the same issue as the 185: It's not complex unless it's on floats, and it's not tailwheel unless it's on wheels.

Grumman Goose.

Except it's multi-engine.

So, so far, the only planes which meet ALL the requirements are the SeaBee and the AT-6. To that, I'll add that a "Super Swift" with a Conti IO-360 at 210hp also does the trick - HP, Complex, Tailwheel, single.

You can't add floats to the AT-6 or the Super Swift, though. So, I guess the SeaBee is the true winner!
 
You can't add floats to the AT-6 or the Super Swift, though. So, I guess the SeaBee is the true winner!

Guess you skipped my response to the 185 satisfying the requirements in a round-a-bout way.

Can you get your HP in it? Check
Can you get your tailwheel in it? Check
Can you get your complex in it? After putting on floats - check.
 
Guess you skipped my response to the 185 satisfying the requirements in a round-a-bout way.

Can you get your HP in it? Check
Can you get your tailwheel in it? Check
Can you get your complex in it? After putting on floats - check.

Guess you skipped my part about it not satisfying the requirements all at once as specified by the OP. :rolleyes:

All in one shot? Nope. It's not complex unless it's on the floats, and it's not tailwheel unless it's off the floats.
 
Guess you skipped my part about it not satisfying the requirements all at once as specified by the OP. :rolleyes:

He didn't say all at once. He said multiple at once. Conventional and high performance would be multiple. :D

Plus a Seabee can't later be retrofitted with floats. ;)
 
He said "It would be a high-performance complex taildragger." :P



Touché. :rofl:


I think we may agree that there is no such airplane that meets both statements. Although, plane with retractable floats would be the ultimate XC machine.
 
How about a Bellanca 14-19-2 Cruisemaster? Tailwheel, retractable, 230HP Continental O-470 with constant speed prop, and flaps. There are probably as many as there are Beech 17 Staggerwings and more than the Spartans.
My 14-19 Cruisemaster only had 190HP with its Lycoming O-435 so it wouldn't work....

Frank
 
The only HP complex tailwheel aircraft that I know of that isn't a warbird is the Micco SP26. I flew one of the new ones before the factory went tango uniform down in Florida. It's a nice sporty aerobatic airplane that is a retract tailwheel powered by an AEIO-540. And, it could be IFR certified so you could get that rating also. I wouldnt fly it for any hard acro or competition but it would be fine for looping and rolling around with the right prerequisite training.

Affordable warbirds that fit your description might be a T-28 alpha or bravo model.

Getting any of these on floats is another proposition that is unlikely to be desirable or practical.
 
There is at least one such plane - it is called the DC-3:
Forgot to add the Beech 18 meets the requirements as well.

Don't fit the criteria.

I'd like to find an online tool that I can use to research this myself. But I wondered if there were a such certified aiplane (I'm sure there is) that would allow a single-engine private pilot to get mutiple endorsements at once

It would be a high-performance complex taildragger.

Then later it could be retrofitted with floats.
 
Last edited:
Aztec. I wish they made it as a tailwheel...
 
How about a Bellanca 14-19-2 Cruisemaster? Tailwheel, retractable, 230HP Continental O-470 with constant speed prop, and flaps. There are probably as many as there are Beech 17 Staggerwings and more than the Spartans.
My 14-19 Cruisemaster only had 190HP with its Lycoming O-435 so it wouldn't work....

Good call. I had thought that there were only about a dozen or so Cardboard Connies left flying, but the FAA registry shows:

14-19: 56
14-19-2: 63
14-19-3: 123

So, I sure hope that more than 5% of those are flying!
 
The only HP complex tailwheel aircraft that I know of that isn't a warbird is the Micco SP26.

Ya musta missed the rest of the thread. ;)

So far, we've got:

Republic Seabee
AT-6/SNJ
Globe "Super Swift"
Spartan Executive
Beech Staggerwing
Bellanca Cruisemaster 14-19-2
(and now) Micco SP26.

The Swift and the Cruisemaster (and the Micco of course), at least, never saw any military service. The Seabee did see some foreign military service, but while it was ordered by the US Army and US Navy, those orders were cancelled with the end of WWII.

Affordable warbirds that fit your description might be a T-28 alpha or bravo model.

Nope... Not a tailwheel.
 
Last edited:
Yak 52 TW, 400 HP Retract tailwheel with constant speed prop. And lots of fun to boot.

Mike
 
Back
Top