What would be a good high performance floatplane to buy?

[Scandinaviansky]

What would be a good plane to cover following requirements:

- amphib
- + 130 KTS cruise speed
- good STOL capabilities
- 20.000 ft ceiling / oxygen
- useful load + 400 KG / around 4 pax pluss luggage

To convert a 206 into a Soloy might be not worth the price, if you could get a Turbine Beaver for almost the same price? But the Turbine Beaver might be too slow?
Any other recommendations?

What would be the best/ most powerful piston engine to put into a C 206 H model originally powered by Lycoming 540 engines? I heard the Conti 550 can´t be installed in the 206 H models?

Thanks for all advices!

[fish4life]

your requirements are almost impossible to get

[Redneck_pilot86]

PC6 might fit the bill, but costly.

[sheephunter]

Twin Otter?

[ScudRunner]

Whats the mission? Why the 20,000 foot service ceiling?

[Driving Rain]

Quest Kodiak.

[sheephunter]

Driving Rain, that is a wicked looking aircraft for sure. Never been around or near one, just photos. What can they haul with full fuel on Amphibs?

[C-FDPB]

The turbo beaver would certainly have the STOL performance. Maybe this would get the cruise speed you'd be interested in? Garrett powered Cessna Caravan amphib.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca7naYzF ... re=related

[MUSICMAAN]

Those are quite the requested requirements! The PC6, will give you the STOL, but won't do 130 kts on floats, Turbo Beaver will give better STOL, (given the higher power rating of the engine), and probably better cruise than the Porter as well, but I doubt 130 kts. Caravan will give you the speed and Altitude, but STOL it is not, yes, throw a garrett in it, and it'll get off the water faster. I too would think the Kodiak would give you the best of both speed and STOL, but you would have to ask one of the very few float operators of that machine to find out if it fits the bill.

MM

[ahramin]

Boy you guys think small.

Two words:

Shin Meiwa

[Scandinaviansky]

Thanks for all the answers. Shin Meiwa is a bit above the budget unfortunately:)

20.000ft ceiling because the plane is operated IFR in the Alp region in Europe.
Caravan is too big. Kodiak and Porter might be an option. But Soloy and Turbo Beaver might be the best options.

Does anybody know if you can put an 550 engine into a new 206 H model normally equipped with Lycoming 540 engines?

[ahramin]

Grumman Widgeon then.

[bmc]

Make sure you can operate on water before you spend big bucks. The alp region is not floatplane friendly. Yes, Lake Como has some toys, but Switzerland, Austria dn parts of France usually permit float operations one weekend per year on a designated lake.

[Intentional Left Bank]

Turbo Beaver
- amphib CHECK
- 130 KTS + cruise speed CHECK (123 max IAS, but your TAS will be 131 at 3000 ft, 155 at 12000.)
- good STOL capabilities CHECK
- 20 000 ft ceiling with oxygen with PT6-34, probably, others may be able to speak to that.
- useful load 400 KG / around 4 pax plus luggage CHECK (400 KG for pax and bags plus full fuel)

[Scandinaviansky]

Great thanks!

Does anybody know if the TIO 550 can be installed in a 206 H model?

[GUMPS]

If you can afford the turbo beaver don't worry about the 550 and a 206....

[BeechBoy007]

IMHO your would choose an Aztec Nomad Turbo
Version Giving you the altitude, O2 system, Auto IFR if desired,
Cruise 130kts plus, payload about 2000 lbs,
Pilot plus 5 passengers, 300 lbs baggage, 1500 fpm climb.
On a budget under $300-$400,000 on straight floats.
Start looking at www.aztecnomad.com

From someone Who has a few thousand hours on them
They are hard to beat. Flew a non-turbo two weeks ago. Almost 160 MPH
Cruise at sealevel on straight floats.
Millions don't equal better sometimes.

If you want something with even more payload and similar cruise, swanky to boot, PM me on
A Beech 18.

One word of advice perhaps. Avoid advice from those that have
No time on type, plenty of armchair professionals on these forums.

Need verification? Ask Cat Driver. Occasionaly he will comment lol.

[Powerplante]

Just a thought... We are all talking about modifying the engine to an existing airplane. Aircrafts like the Turbo Beaver, Soloy 206 and the like, must all suspend all commercial single engine IFR operation when an aftermarket engine is installed. I would make sure that you check your federal regulations before commiting to anything. As we all know, the high level airspace structure here in MOST of Canada is IFR above FL180.

[182-SS]

206 vs a Turbo beaver......Watch wiplines goofy video for that comparison lol. If you have the money the Turbo Beaver Hard to beat. But for half the cost of the turbo Beaver you could get into a Found Expedition E350 ( $500K) that has all your requirements and its a brand new machine.
Having said that if I had a spare Million I'd spring for a fully redone turbo beaver.

I saw that the caravan was mentioned....Texas turbines has a 900 BHP supervan that takes off in a flash.

The Quest Kodiak has already been mentioned.

But if your thinking a 206 with the IO550.......don’t bother you wont be happy with the performance, It’s a great machine but you said high performance. I'm running a 182 with a 550 and its a hell of a performer. Put the 550 in the 206 and you have a better machine but the Expedition is far better, and as said before the turbo beaver cant really be compared to a 206. Although Forced air Technologies has a supercharger for the 206 with a IO550N, I hear that is actually a mean machine.

[+TSRAGR]

www.Sherpaaircraft.com