Ultralights

[ultrarunner]

For those that have researched both, what do you like more about the Quicksilver GT 400 vs. the Quadcity Challenger.

I will prly make a decision next year. And buid it that winter. It will be primarily on floats.

 

[ngsp]

the gt-400 is by far the better airplane!!! i have owned the challenger and now currently own a gt-400. the challenger is very yaw unstable and it is more like flying an r-22 helicopter than a fixed wing plane. you have to constantly keep the nose pointed in the direction you are traveling and it gets very tiring on a long flight with all the rudder movements required. i bought my challenger in newport news va and flew it to atlanta ga over two days and my feet and lower legs were sore from flight. i now own a gt-400 and it flies like a plane should. feet on the floor and tracks like an arrow. the gt-400 handles more like a cessna 150. the gt series is the only ultralight style plane that is certified by the faa. you do not have to worry about loose rivets and bad handling with a quicksilver. do a google search on challengers and you will find alot of info on belt drive failures and crashes due to the terrible handling. the factory trys to down play the crashes, but the plane was not able to be sold in the U.K. until they put a tail nearly as twice as big as stock in order to meet the U.K. handling standards. i have been flying helicopters lately and i have my plane for sell. i want to build a helicycle helicopter kit. take a look at www.barnstormers.com and look under ultralights. you will see my plane. i have to say it is the nicest one i have ever seen. both planes will work on floats, i personally like the gt on a full lotus mono float and retractable gear. check out the full lotus website for a few pictures. the only other comments i can make about the comparison is the re-sell price of the planes. the challengers have terrible re-sell value while the gt-400 holds it's value very well. check out the difference on barnstormers and see what each are selling for. i hope this helps.

 

[ultrarunner]

NGSP, thanks so much for your comments. By the way, there several GT-400's when I do a search. Which one is yours?

 

[ultrarunner]

Ahhh...I found it....

400 is single place. No good there....guess I'll have to spring for the 500.

 

[ngsp]

mine is the yellow/ blue and white one in griffin, ga. it is brand new with only 5 hours on it.

 

[Gryphon]

I'd heard the Quad city was also unstable in pitch , the thrustline was so out of whack with the plane it would pitch very hard up or down depending on whether power was added or removed.. and opposite from what you would expect.

 

[ultrarunner]

What's interesting is that the Challengers are HUGELY popular in Canada. And it's my experience that the Canuks are pretty anal about stuff like this. So I'm surprised that if this aircraft has such a serious in-stability problem, such that the UK required a different tail, that the Canuks have accepted it as-is???

 

[ultrarunner]

mine is the yellow/ blue and white one in griffin, ga. it is brand new with only 5 hours on it.

Yep, I found it.

For me, this type of flying begs to bring a friend. So I'm only researching 2-place units.

thanks.

 

[ngsp]

the challenger popular for two reasons. the airframe is cheaper than other enclosed kits and it will carry two full size adults on just the rotax 503 engine with good performace. both of these factors are because the plane is built very light. the canadian dealer even offers a larger aftermarket tail kit to install on the challenger. i am not saying the challenger is a bad or dangerous plane, i just want you you to understand that it has tradeoffs for the price. i fly a challenger single seater all the time that hangers with me. i just prefer to own the gt-400.

fly safe
ngsp

 

[FishHunter]

If your into amphibious stuff, I know of a really cool amphibious trike called a Ramphos that's located in Central CA. Check it out at www.raphosusa.com for specifics. It's made in Italy. This one is a 582 Rotax and 19 Meter North Wing Mustang strutted wing. Best of light airplane, ski boat and motorcycle all in one. It's virtually new, always hangared with only 75 hours on it and I think it's for sale if anyone has a nice lake or small field they'd like to fly out of. Drop an email to me if you want to get hooked up with the owner.

 

[Huggyu2]

Eidt your link... you left the "m" out of the web address.

 

[wolfbayne]

Hey NGSP, I think you're the same guy I went up and saw in N GA a few years ago. Wanted to get into ultralights, still want to, still haven't, still at ASA....You're at AT, right? I need to see if I still have your contact info at home so you can help me get this going. Want the open cockpit type flying you mentioned. Last I talked to you was in the C concourse, you said you moved south of ATL.? anyway, will touch base with you soon....

 

[Gryphon]

Hey guys, been while since i've been on here, lots going on in my life, just recently moved to las vegas, but not sure if or how much ultralight action is going on.. tried a web search and came up empty.. if anyone knows of a club or airpark for ultralights, let me know, i'd appreciate it.

 

[Gryphon]

Hey guys, been while since i've been on here, lots going on in my life, just recently moved to las vegas, but not sure if or how much ultralight action is going on.. tried a web search and came up empty.. if anyone knows of a club or airpark for ultralights, let me know, i'd appreciate it.

 

[Gryphon]

sorry for the double post... my computer farted....