Bush plane

A bush plane or bushplane is a general aviation aircraft used to provide both scheduled and unscheduled passenger and flight services to remote, undeveloped areas, such as the Canadian north or bush, Alaskan tundra, the African bush, or savanna, Amazon rainforest and the Australian Outback. They are used where ground transportation infrastructure is inadequate or does not exist.

Common traits A bush plane is defined by how it is used, and many different aircraft with different configurations have been so used over the years. However, experience has shown certain traits to be desirable (though not mandatory), especially on aircraft specifically designed as bush planes. Undercarriage designed to be fitted with floats, skis or wheel/skis to permit operation from water or snow—primarily for Canadian, Alaskan and Russian use. High wings ease loading and unloading, particularly from docks; improve downward visibility during flight; and increase clearance to reduce the potential for damage during landing, take-off, loading, and unloading. Conventional or "tail dragger" landing gear—two large main wheels and a small rear wheel—reduces both weight and drag, increasing the aircraft's speed and useful load. It reduces stress on the airframe compared to a nosewheel. A failure is also less critical, as a broken tailwheel is easily repaired and does not prevent the aircraft from flying, unlike a broken nose wheel. Short runway performance and low-speed flight characteristics are typically improved by high aspect ratio wings and high-lift devices such as flaps, slots and slats. Very large, low-pressure tundra tires may be fitted to enable the pilot to operate from broken ground. It is not uncommon for a bush pilot to land and take off from unprepared surfaces. Piston engines are preferred over turboprops, as they are cheaper to build and maintain and easier to start without the aid of ground facilities. In extremely remote areas where avgas can be difficult to acquire, some bush pilots prefer turboprop engines that can burn kerosene-derived jet fuel.

Current and historical bush planes Years in brackets are of first flight.

AAC Angel (1984) Aermacchi AL-60 (1959) Antonov An-2 (1947) Antonov An-14 (1958) Antonov An-28 (1968) Antonov An-38 (1994) Auster Autocrat (1945) Aviat Husky (1986) Avro Avian (1926)Anderson, 2004, p.82Foster, 1990, p.74-79 Avro Anson (1935)Foster, 1990, p.189-191 Avro York (1942) Bach T-11P (1927) Barkley-Grow T8P-1 (1937) Barrows Bearhawk (1995) Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing (1932)Foster, 1990, p.174, 190 Beechcraft Model 18 (1937)Foster, 1990, p.191 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker (1929)Anderson, 2004, p.31Foster, 1990, p.97, 102, 175 Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket (1930) Bellanca Aircruiser (1930)Foster, 1990, p.156 Bellanca Senior Pacemaker (1935) Bellanca Senior Skyrocket (1935) Boeing B1E (1928)Foster, 1990, p.64-65, 156 Bristol Freighter (1945) Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (1965) Buhl Airsedan (1928) Bushcaddy L-162 Max (1995) Bushcaddy L-164 (2007) Canadian Vickers Vedette (1924) Cessna Crane (1939) Cessna 172 (1956) Cessna 180 (1952) Cessna 182 Skylane (1956) Cessna 185 Skywagon (1960) Cessna 206 Stationair (1962) Cessna 208 Caravan (1982) Champion Citabria (1964) Consolidated Catalina/Canso (1935)Foster, 1990, p.191, 197 CubCrafters CC19 XCub (2016) Curtiss HS (1917)Foster, 1990, p.43-45 Curtiss Lark (1925)Foster, 1990, p.48 Curtiss Robin (1928) Curtiss Thrush (1929) Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando (1940) Curtiss-Wright Junior (1930) de Havilland DH.60 Moth (1925)Cole, 1986, p.4Foster, 1990, p.74, 131, 188 de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth (1927)Foster, 1990, p.139 de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth (1931) de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth (1932)Foster, 1990, p.105, 200 de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (1934)Foster, 1990, p.173, 190 de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly (1935) de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover (1948) de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver (1947)Foster, 1990, p.199 de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter (1951)Foster, 1990, p.199, 201 de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (1958) de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (1965)Foster, 1990, p.202, 207, 210 Dornier Do 27 (1955) Douglas Dolphin (1930) Douglas DC-3/Douglas C-47 (1935)Foster, 1990, p.177, 188 Douglas DC-4 (1942)Foster, 1990, p.204 Eastman E-2 Sea Rover (1928)Cole, 1986, p.34-38 Evangel 4500 (1964) Fairchild 24 (1932) Fairchild C-82 Packet (1944) Fairchild FC-2/51 (1926)Foster, 1990, p.135 Fairchild 71 (1926)Foster, 1990, p.107, 115, 138 Fairchild Super 71 (1934)Foster, 1990, p.136, 138 Fairchild 100 (1930)Cole, 1986, p.49-55 Fairchild 82 (1935) Fairchild F-11 Husky (1946) Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (1936) Fleet Freighter (1938) Fokker Universal (1926)Foster, 1990, p.4Foster, 1990, p.53, 56-57 Fokker Super Universal (1928)Foster, 1990, p.52-53, 56-57, 70-71 Fokker F.11 (1928)Cole, 1986, p.39-42 Ford Trimotor (1926)Foster, 1990, p.152, 155 Found FBA-2 (1960) GAF Nomad (1971) Gippsland GA8 (1995) Gippsland GA10 (2012) Grumman Goose (1937)Foster, 1990, p.207-208 Grumman Widgeon (1940)Foster, 1990, p.197 Grumman Mallard (1946)Foster, 1990, p.204, 208 Halpin Flamingo (1929) Hamilton H-47 (1928) Helio Courier (1954) Howard DGA-8/9/11/12 (1936) Howard DGA-15 (1939) Johns Ra-Son Warrior (1947) Junkers F.13 (1919)Foster, 1990, p.36-41 Junkers G 31 (1926) Junkers W 33 (1926)Foster, 1990, p.180 Junkers W 34 (1926)Foster, 1990, p.101-102, 158, 166, 188. Junkers Ju 52/1m (1930)Foster, 1990, p.180-181 Kitfox (1984) Lake Buccaneer (1960) Lockheed Vega (1927)Foster, 1990, p.95-98 Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar (1939) Max Holste Broussard (1952) Maule M-7 (1984) Murphy Rebel (1990) Murphy Moose (1995) Murphy Elite (1996) Noorduyn Norseman (1935)Foster, 1990, p.142-143, 174, 188 Northrop N-23 Pioneer (1946) Northwest Ranger (1968) PAC P-750 XSTOL (2001) Piper J-3 Cub (1938) Piper PA-18 Super Cub (1949)Foster, 1990, p.195, 198 Piper PA-22 Bushmaster Piper PA-23 (1952) Pipistrel Virus SW (2006) Pilatus PC-6 Porter/Turbo Porter (1959) Polikarpov Po-2 (1927) PZL-104 Wilga (1962) Quest Kodiak (2004) Rans S-7 Courier (1985) Republic RC-3 Seabee (1945) Rutan Grizzly (1982) Ryan Brougham (1927) Shavrov Sh-2 (1930) Short SC.7 Skyvan (1963) Sikorsky S-38 (1928) Sikorsky S-39 (1929) Stearman C3 (1927) Stearman M-2 (1929) Stearman 4 (1930) Stinson Detroiter (1926) Stinson Junior (1928)Cole, 1986, p.45-48 Stinson Model A (1934) Stinson Reliant (1933) Stinson Voyager (1939) Stinson 108 (1946) Supermarine Sea Otter (converted after 2nd World War) Technoavia SM92 Finist (1993) Travel Air 6000 (1928) Vickers Viking (1919)Foster, 1990, p.47 Waco 10 (1927) Waco Standard Cabin series (1931) Waco AQC-6/Waco ZQC-6 Freighter (1936)Foster, 1990, p.194 Westland Limousine (1919) Wild DoubleEnder (2010) Yakovlev Yak-12 (1947) Zenith STOL CH 701 (1986)

Aviation museums with large collections of bush planes Alberta Aviation Museum Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum Canada Aviation and Space Museum Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre Pioneer Air Museum Western Canada Aviation Museum

Bush plane

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