For those aircrews out there who may be planning to
replace aircraft in the next few years, you may want to take a look at a
new aircraft which is currently undergoing flight testing. Montagne
Aircraft LLC has developed a two-place
"bush" plane which with an anticipated base price somewhere
between 115,000 and 120,000 dollars. That will buy a lot of performance.
The aircraft can carry a useful load of 1,250 pounds, and take off with
that load in a run of about three-hundred feet! Imagine climbing out at
gross weight and seeing 1200 fpm on the VSI, then level off and cruise
along at better than 150 mph for 800 miles and still have a 45-minute fuel
reserve! (If you really want to impress your colleagues, keep the load
light and pop off the ground at about fifty feet in a 2400 fpm climb).
Throttled back to 100 mph, the aircraft can stay airborne for 14 hours.
This means that the logistical problems associated with an aircraft
reaching remote sights and performing extended surveys and/or surveillance
missions are virtually eliminated. The limiting factor becomes one of
human nature, and fortunately landing distances for the Mountain Goat are
equally impressive! The plane has been designed to maximize performance
for a typical load used by an outfitter. It will pick up 7 to 9 mph in
cruise with a heavy load versus a light load.
This is all accomplished by mating a fabric-covered airframe to a
180-horsepower Lycoming engine. The wings, fowler flaps, and flaperons are
made of aluminum and flush riveted. To enhance its off-airport capability
the Mountain Goat is being designed to accept tundra tires, floats, and/or
skis. It can carry up to 350 pounds of cargo aft of the rear seat. Base
configuration will include: Garmin 250XL, transponder, mode C, nav,
strobe, and landing lights, electric turn & bank and standard engine
and flight instruments.
According to company president, Bill Montagne, the
prototype is a thousand hours into the testing program. Additional
investors are being sought, and once funding is available FAA
certification will begin. The plane will be produced in Wasilla, Alaska. A
six-seat plane named the Big Horn, which will have a 1750 pound
useful load, is also under development.
Further information is available from Montagne Aircraft
LLC, Palmer, Alaska.
Their web page can be found on the world wide web at:
http://www.bushplanes.com/
email: mtgoatacft @ ak.net
ph: (907) 745-7597
