Osprey Homebuilt Project

[Rudder Bug]

Anybody in here who's ever built, owned and flown an GP-4 Osprey amphib? I am contemplating the project of building one and any comment and info is very welcome!

Thanks

RB

[iflyforpie]

I don't know much about the plane but there was a guy who had an Osprey 2 at my former field. Seems to be basic foam core fiberglass construction just like a Rutan aircraft. Just use the jigs and a hot wire, slap the glass on the right way, microballoon and sand until you can't stand it anymore, and then finish and assemble.

Sorry I don't have more info. There are quite a few websites out there though.

http://www.osprey2.com/

I've never flown one. But I imagine it handles like other amphibian flying boats; power on nose down, power off nose up; gear up on ground, bad, gear down on water, worse; and on the third porpoise you become a submarine.

Not a bird to the air or a fish to water, and pretty lousy on land too.

[Cat Driver]

Rudder bug:

Some years ago I thought it would be a neat machine to build so I bought a set of plans.

A few years later I saw one flying at an airshow in California.

I did not built one.

Give me a phone call and I will explain why.

Flying boats are great, but not all flying boats.

At least that is my experience with them.

[Rudder Bug]

iflyforpie,

The Osprey isn't made of composites. The main structure is wood, steel and fabric. Some components, like the canopy, are designed for foam and glass but not the entire airframe.

Your link is an excellent one, full of resources.

Thanks bunches!

RB

[Rudder Bug]

Thanks Cat, I'll call you momentarily.

I'm also looking at the Volmer Sportsman, much slower but probably a smoother flyer. The Osprey is said to be very sensitive in pitch and roll. Retracting the gear can be an issue at low altitude/speed.

[iflyforpie]

Sorry, like I said I don't know much about the plane. The owner of the one I saw said it was foam core fiberglass but he was probably just talking about the canopy; was a few years ago.

You're welcome.

Cheers

[rigpiggy]

I believe the GP4 is a lowing retractable speedster the gp2 is the osprey

[Rowdy]

I know of one hiding in a garage in the vancouver area. Neat little machine and I can remember being around when it was built. I also remember them fishing it out of the Pitt river after an incident with a logboom.

Having the engine sitting up there behind me like that on a pedestal is a little unnerving.

[Rudder Bug]

I crossed-off the Osprey for many reasons. One is that we need an amphib for our 2 fishing camps, where both of our lakes are hardly half a mile long with no obstructions at both ends. The plane has to be suitable for my girlfriend's ab initio training too, which eliminates an Osprey from what I read and what . is gonna tell me about it soon.

With all the help available around, that 4,000 hour project should get us going within a couple years, hopefully before I get too old to enjoy it!

This one seems to be a sweet machine, check it out:

http://www.volmeraircraft.com/Volmer%20 ... y%20FL.wmv

Any leads to Volmer pilots, builders and owners would be priceless!

[Cat Driver]

Good choice rudder bug.

I know a guy who built two of them, I never got to fly them but from what he told me they are good little machines.

I instructed about 50 hours on a Coot amphib with a Cessna 337 engine in it.

It was not an airplane for a PPL because it had some real weird stall problems and very expensive to put fuel in.

When we talk I will give you the name of the guy who built the Volmers...they use a Taylorcraft wing as I recall.

[Rudder Bug]

Cat,

I think I read somewhere that Piper wings could also be fitted

[Cat Driver]

Yes it is a homebuilt so you could put wings off the Space Shuttle on it R.B.

The Taylorcraft wings give a bit faster cruise, but the Cub Wing is good also.

The Space Shuttle wing also has a decent high end speed if that is what you are after.

[Rudder Bug]

From the size of my lakes, if I fit it with Space Shuttle wings, I'll also need Space Shuttle engines!

[Cat Driver]

[Rudder Bug]

Cat,

Have you spent some time on your Super Cub lately?

[Cat Driver]

No, it is just sitting in my garage.

I sort of lost interest in it because I had planned to use it for training, and don't think it would be worth bothering with.

But I am going to Idaho Falls in a week or so to pick up the new Husky.

[Rudder Bug]

You're gonna have a good time doing that ferry with the new little plane! Will it be crated and sent in Greece from what I understood?

[Cat Driver]

No the Husky belongs to a friend in Vancouver and I am going to be working for his company and keeping the Husky in the hangar here in Nanaimo...we will be putting the floats on it in Vancouver.

I will finish the Cub in the near future....have decided to put a 0-200A Continental in it from a company in California called Lycon.

And for a prop I plan on using the Aeromatic.

http://www.aeromatic.com/

For a home built it will be expensive.......but I can't take my money with me where I am going because it will just get burnt up.

[Rudder Bug]

Yes indeed Cat, spoil yourself while you can do it man!

This other one I'm dreaming of by the way, aaaaaaaaaah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGp6bNo2 ... re=related

Have you ever flown those?

[Cat Driver]

My first ride in an airplane was in a Sea Bee on Lake Nipigon in 1947.

When I first started flying I flew a Sea Bee for four summers out of the Toronto Island airport CF-FSE.

They are a wonderful airplane.