Posted on 07/30/2013 6:03:44 PM PDT by Errant
Just Aircraft Founder Gary Schmitt wasn’t sure anyone else would be interested in the no-compromises bush airplane that he wanted to own and fly.
But in the year since the South Carolina firm introduced its SuperStol, the company has shipped 38 kits, added staff, and is backlogged until April of next year.
“It turns out there are quite a few people who want to do the same kind of backcountry flying that I like to do,” Schmitt said. “It’s come as sort of a surprise to us.”
The two-seat SuperStol has leading-edge slats that deploy automatically at high angles of attack and enable the two-seat, side-by-side, tube-and-fabric aircraft to make extremely short takeoffs and landings. Shock absorbers on the main landing gear and tailwheel allow steep approaches with high descent rates and virtually no flare without damaging the aircraft. (See "Fly the new Just Aircraft SuperStol.")
(Excerpt) Read more at aopa.org ...
In terms of design, it kinda reminds me of a stripped down Pilatus turbo porter.
With those tires, you could land just about anywhere.
Yep, gear wise. In one of the videos, one of the co-developers talks about its roots being Kitfox, IIRC.
Amazing what current generation STOL aircraft can do.
But then, His Arrogance will probably state “you didn’t build that”!
I keep dreaming.
Yep, and don’t get it within 30 miles of his private 747 with several armed F-16s flying cover.
It ALL starts with a dream! ;)
I agree with you that it looks like it would be a helluva lot of fun to fly. It just seems to say, “Toss a backpack in here and let’s go!”
That could just about replace a helicopter.
I know someone who bird-dogged and did the 1st story on it and has a standing invite to visit and maybe snag a ride. Got to see it out of the corner of my eye last yr @ OSH. It is sick! LOL !!
Me too! It has really good numbers. He must think it’s a helicopter since he’s flying right seat all the time, or something about the way the controls are setup.
He also mentioned that they had enlarged the stabilizer and elevators for more control with reduced power on landing.
And a whole lot of less moving parts that a helicopter!
“It can’t exist without the prairy fields government built for takeoffs and la... wait. what?”
Osh is one of the items in my bucket list. ;)
Wow, amazing! Price is pretty amazing too.
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