Anti Air Cam
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Anti Air Cam
I pride myself on being a pretty reasonable guy. I’m not quick to judge and I’m pretty considerate of others, but in spite of all that I couldn’t restrain myself from sharing my thoughts on Sport Aviation’s most recent cover-plane.
So what is it about the Air Cam that stirs in me such disgust? I generally love all airplanes, big or small. I had to do some research to get to those answers.
Recall the original Air Cam was a purpose-built one-off airplane designed for a National Geographic project in Africa. That makes sense. It’s very open for photo work. No need for a cockpit in the warm climes and twin engines bolted on to avoid unsightly off-airport landings in the less than hospitable regions it was operating. All of this totally makes sense.
What doesn’t makes sense is why anyone would want to spend well north of $100,000 to build and own one. I don’t fault the manufacturer one bit. They were merely responding to what must have been a good volume of requests to purchase kits when the prototype was flying. Certainly the market has answered the call to a limited extent; there are over 100 units out there in various states of repair.
The airplane itself has some excellent capabilities that might be great in specific kinds of operations, like it was designed:
- Takeoff and landings in 100-300′
- Single-engine takeoff capability – impressive!
- Unparalleled views from the front office
- Super low and slow loitering
- Amphibious capability (optional)
Again all these things are cool enough.
When I first saw that they were commercially available, I actually looked up the price out of curiosity and was dumbfounded.
.
Its progenitor was the much more reasonable Max Air Drifter. I found an example on Barnstormers.com for $5000. That’s more like it.
My brain just screams when I consider the thousands of alternates out there for that kind of money!
And therein lies the problem; the cost is so staggering as to completely detract from any of its good points.
So if you are into a twin-engine, super-sized ultralight that cruises under 100mph and costs the same as a small home, this might be for you.
I know. I know. To each his own.
If you love the Air Cam, tell me why. I love to be educated, lord knows I need it.
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I gotta agree with you. the price is way too much for that plane. People like
$150K LSA’s too. Aviation is expensive, but some of this stuff is way over the top, pricewise.
Sometimes the product price is determined by supply and demand. Very little to no supply, what other twin is available at this time. I remember when Zenith was going to come out with a twin, but that has not materialized and I suspect never will. For me an Aircam with the new enclosed cockpit, would be perfect for so many missions like pipe line patrol, forest patrol, it can go almost anyway. If you have something unique with market value then it is not so much what you charge, but what the public is willing to pay. The other consideration is cost of operation as an A&P and former IA, I would make a portfolio for persons wishing to buy an aircraft and when they realized purchase was nothing compared to operating costs. Most light twins have a second engine to glide to a better crash site. Unique, safety, very low cost of operation Would I pay what they are asking, only if I could find a way to utilize the aircraft for more than personnel flying.
Oh forgot, with props in the rear would not make a good bush plane!
I disagree with the hate you lay down on helmets. They are as essential as motorcycle helmets. The examples in the picture are cheap Link helmets, not expensive Gentex helmets. By bashing budget helmets you only demonstrate your own ignorance. Which, I would say, is very strange for someone who’s into aerobatics.
The helmets in the picture are of dubious value for safety, in my opinion. I’m not a helmet hater, at least for the most part.
You can just explain why an AirCam is awesome, you have to experience it! The price is steep, especially for an experimental aircraft, but the fun is worth the money if you have it to spare! My AirCam flight: http://toriaflies.blogspot.com/2011/05/aircam-flight.html
Don’t get me wrong, I love low n’ slow, just doesn’t look like a practical solution for that kind of fun. For all my jest in this post, I would still take a ride in one and probably smile the whole time – since I’m not paying for it. That is fun!
My friend has a Rans S7 with removable doors. Close to the same feeling with a price of only $30-60k.
There’s a guy up here with an S7 that makes some really awesome videos on Vimeo – search Greg Swingle. Love that airplane!
I agree with your thinking that drifter is awesome. I can send you a great video of it flying in the PI. Post a link and I will try to share it. Thanks for your opinion. I think you are right. Way to much money to have fun.
My AirCam on a single engine vs. your (suggested) Drifter on none … lets think how that situation plays out. Have you ever flown an AirCam? Try one out so that you might have an informed opinion.
Jim,
I have not flown one. I would love the opportunity to stand corrected.
Brent
Personally I truly love the idea of this aircraft.
Brilliantly conceived from simple beginnings it fulfilled it’s design goals and I think probably surpassed them.
I occasionally work within the South Pacific and have often thought, graced with amphibious floats, what a perfect multi-purpose platform this would make.
But unfortunately we’re not National Geographic.
Affordability does not reside within it’s design brief.
Shame.
Fly one and you will understand that price is relative. The Air-Cam amphibian is as close to the perfect flying experience as you will find. The Air-Cam is to a Drifter in much the same way as the Mustang is to a T-6. When you fly one…which I highly recommend you do, you will get the 160K to 180K price tag.
Having flown both I would have to say the S-7 is a fun airplane. However, there is a world of difference between flying a S-7 and an AirCam.
Robert, so true!
I just ordered a kit, should be here about the middle of Oct. I can go relative fast in the F-1 an real slow in this. I understand it’s a absolute blast.
Leaf watching this time of year should be incredible
Enjoy!
Think as to hospital costs and death possibilities of a single engine low and slow ultralight EAB or SLSA like airframe.
Some individuals have responsibilities and people/companies counting on them that preclude them from responsibly taking the risk of flying a single engine LSA or EAB plane, which they could easily afford and probably prefer to purchase, which have equally great visibility. Companies have key man insurance for this very reason. This plane is for those kind of people and there are many of them around. They are past the point of high speed, long distance, go fast, see the world. They have already pushed themselves in high stress environments and accomplished great things. Now they want low stress flying enjoyment with a high safety factor. That’s the niche this aircraft fills.
It should be no surprise. Look at how much extra car buyers have shelled out for safety features over the years. People are willing to pay extra for safety.
Since my wife and I just had our first rides in an AirCam yesterday, it’s only today that I’m finding this blog post. I can only agree with others who have said, essentially, “don’t knock it until you try it.”
We both got our ASES rating last fall, doing about 6 hours in J3 Cubs on floats. SO MUCH FUN!!! But the AirCam flights yesterday were as much more fun than the Cub, as the Cub flights were more fun than our 182. What an absolute blast!!! We were flying over agricultural fields, just a few miles from AirCam’s home airport in Sebring, FL, at literally 30′ – 40′ AGL, and I never felt safer in any airplane I’ve been in. At 55 mph, you could look down and see the individual leaves of the plants. And with no more instruction from our back seat pilot than “Do it just like you did in the Cub” – both my wife and I executed amazingly simple and rock solid water landings and take-offs on our first attempts.
Until you sit “front seat” in an AirCam, you simply can’t appreciate how cool it is, to be flying an airplane and have that plane be almost invisible to you. Sure, you can see the panel, and the small bit of fuselage around the lower half of your body, but there’s nothing overhead, nothing to either side, and almost nothing below you.
We live in FL and spend considerable time in the Bahamas. There is no aircraft of any kind that I would rather have for experiencing the beaches, swamps, islands, rivers, and open waters of those two areas than an AirCam on floats.
We also got an extensive tour of their manufacturing facilities. We saw how the kits are made, what they look like when they arrive at your hangar, and what they look like “mid-build.” I’ve never built a plane before, but I’m absolutely sure my wife and I could build an AirCam. They have made it so simple – and that, in part, is what you’re paying for.
Yes, it’s more expensive than most – maybe all – other kit planes. Maybe it’s not fair to compare it to a “normal” kitplane, cost-wise – because you sure can’t compare it any other way!
Yea its expensive, I agree…However, find another amphibious twin that can fly at 39kts, as well as takeoff and land in short distances…. Mostly its about the views you see and experience you feel when flying in such a plane that make it a one of a kind… Additionally, it is also about the redundancy & simplicity of its systems. You can get down low with tons of visibility and you can fly more confidently and safely at the lower altitudes in such a plane… it is extremely capable like no other plane is.
Man, you have missed the mark with this one! You clearly have never flown one of these machines. The very first time you do, you’ll get it. It will click. I helped ferry an amphibious AirCam from Florida to Minneapolis by way of the Mississippi River. Let me tell you, out of all the other airplanes I have flown and ridden in, none of them can give you the view of America like an AirCam on floats. I’m a television reporter and producer by trade, so I see the value in it as a platform ship. I also have spent days on end in these machines in fun places like the Everglades. Go fly one, and you’ll learn why we love them so much. You remember the sensation you expected as a kid when you’d put your arms out, run, and pretend you could fly? The front seat of an AirCam nails it. If you tilt your head up, the nose disappears from you peripheral vision, you’re protected from the wind, and its relatively quiet. You feel like you are just flying like a bird. You can’t get that with any other machine. Take 12 minutes and watch my story. http://www.aopa.org/AOPA-Live/Travel?ipp=25&watch={10353B43-00DC-4F27-88A0-77722FFBB608}