WIX Archives

Some reflections...

Posted by Mikael Olrog on Thu Feb 21, 2002 12:21:41 PM

In reply top OUR WARBIRD PLEASE READ posted by Tony on Thu Feb 21, 2002 06:21:44 AM

I've made a couple of reflections on the choise of aircraft. It seems like a C-47 would be advantageous from some point of views (easy access to spare parts, common all over the globe, will take a lot of pax).

I can also see some less advantagouse sides to this, as a twin engined a/c requires service of two engines. And it's is very expencive to zero-time one engine. If we are to be permitted to carry passengers, the aircraft will have to be equiped with quite expensive radio equipment, navigation aids etc to fullfill the international standards that excists. They don't come easy on the $$$????.

I'm a member of two different associations in Sweden that operates C-47's since a couple of years, and my experience is that there is a continous development in more stringent requirments, even structural strenghtenings and reconstructions required by CAA (or whichever agency that gives such instructions) which demands great enginering capabilities, great knowledge in radio and navigation aids.

Also, spare engines are needed, they do break, and a special fund will have to excist to take care of that.

In resent years, after the crash of a Dutch Dakota, the maximum number of passengers was lowered from 24? to 19 (if I remember right) which makes it more expensive to operate the aircraft. I don't know if the same changes have been made in other countries, but in sweden it's a fact.

I suggest that a contact is taken with one of the Dakota associations that already exist in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands etc to gain some knowledge in the operating expenses and the challenges they experience.

All in all I don't think that it will be possible to operate such a large aircraft over the Internet, there will have to be a fairly large ground organisation, close to the aircraft. The Dakota SE-CFP is supported by more than a 100 very active members, and thousands of members most of them in the Stockholm region.

oh, I forgot to even mention the insurance costs...

From a personal perspective I'm already a member of two dakota associations in Sweden (great fun flying!) so I can't see a reason to join another dakota club.The suggested cost for a share (USD 100) is 4 times the yearly membership fee in one of these associations. Of course I can see that the cost for a share have to be in this region, so that's not the problem, but still it won't attract people for a Dakota, there are so many such associations around.

So my wote is still for a light two/three seat aircraft, may be one in each US, Europe, Asia, Australia and then we move them around every second year or so, so that we get to fly in a couple of different aircraft...

or if we want to have a large twin engined aircraft, let's go for a Catalina - that's more excotic than a Dakota, and still their are several around.

/Mikael
P.S. Sorry for sounding so pessimistic - I really don't like to be that, but if we really want this to become a reallity, we would have to deal with issues as the above mentioned.

: This is the initial proposal, once again, feel free to kic
: k it to death/Make suggestions, thanks Scott
:
: Tony

Follow Ups: