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#1
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Flying RV/Camper
Bought an old Percival Sea Prince (twin engine with approximately
2,000 pounds useful with full fuel. This might turn into an academic exercise only, but would really like to save on car rental, hotel and restaurant costs when traveling. I've already figured out the transportation portion with a scooter and side car, but need thoughts on cabin heating, stove, fridge, shower, sink, toilet, etc. Anyone out there seen a converted beech 18, maybe a Grumman Widgeon, or something similar in size? Thanks Bill |
#2
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William M wrote:
Bought an old Percival Sea Prince (twin engine with approximately 2,000 pounds useful with full fuel. http://www.oldprops.f9.co.uk/Perciva...hotographs.htm This might turn into an academic exercise only, but would really like to save on car rental, hotel and restaurant costs when traveling. I've already figured out the transportation portion with a scooter and side car, but need thoughts on cabin heating, stove, fridge, shower, sink, toilet, etc. A "Homelite" portable generator for 120/220 power. A/C electric heating would be the safest. Maybe even permanently mounted in the tail (or nose) like an APU on the big birds or run outside and away from the plane for noise reduction, simplicity and safety. A slide out cooking surface, like what is used for tailgating, would be the safest. A tarp/canopy could provide additional shade or protection from the weather, though you do have a large wing for that too. There are several multipower refrigerators available. It could have power from the main or a "house" battery, as well as from the generator or even propane. The stove could be electric, propane or fueled by gas sumped from the engines. What is the buss voltage of the aircraft? You'll probably need a regulator to give a more standard 12v source for appliances or to power an inverter (inflight microwave). A bath module from a travel camper would be the most convenient, as it provides the toilet, sink and shower in one unit. If the water tank were overhead, gravity could provide pressure and if its over the holding tank, that would capture the waste water. Grey water could be discharged externally if permitted. A portapotty would be the easiest to install. |
#3
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William M wrote:
Bought an old Percival Sea Prince (twin engine with approximately 2,000 pounds useful with full fuel. This might turn into an academic exercise only, but would really like to save on car rental, hotel and restaurant costs when traveling. I've already figured out the transportation portion with a scooter and side car, but need thoughts on cabin heating, stove, fridge, shower, sink, toilet, etc. Anyone out there seen a converted beech 18, maybe a Grumman Widgeon, or something similar in size? Jimmy Buffet's Grunman Albatross comes to mind: http://www.margaritaville.com/adventures/dancer3.htm From googling on it, it appears that it is no longer flying. |
#4
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Bill,
Have you really decided what amenities you want or need built in? I have seen plenty of air show folks who just spend the occasional night camping out near or in their plane. Not changing the plane much at all, except to add sleeping space and heat would seem to be an option. Then, a portable generator and a few gadgets would work. This assumes you can use the airport or marina plumbing. Even if this is an intellectual exercise, I am all for it. I don't foresee ever having the ability to buy and maintain one of the really big sea planes, so I want to know what the possibilities are as well. I would likely want to know what tricks I could use to upgrade something like a caravan, or one of the cabin class pistons. I am hoping the value of the single engine turbo props comes way down with the new jets. I foresee a retired user being able to accept the trade offs involved in one of these planes when the businesses are able to upgrade to a 2 million dollar class jet and save money. "William M" wrote in message om... Bought an old Percival Sea Prince (twin engine with approximately 2,000 pounds useful with full fuel. This might turn into an academic exercise only, but would really like to save on car rental, hotel and restaurant costs when traveling. I've already figured out the transportation portion with a scooter and side car, but need thoughts on cabin heating, stove, fridge, shower, sink, toilet, etc. Anyone out there seen a converted beech 18, maybe a Grumman Widgeon, or something similar in size? Thanks Bill |
#5
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In article ,
Darrel Toepfer wrote: William M wrote: Bought an old Percival Sea Prince (twin engine with approximately 2,000 pounds useful with full fuel. http://www.oldprops.f9.co.uk/Perciva...hotographs.htm Like if a Dash 8 had puppies! -- Ben Jackson http://www.ben.com/ |
#6
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Does climb any on one engine??
________________ G. Paleologopoulos "Ben Jackson" wrote in message news:gKBad.370660$Fg5.367665@attbi_s53... In article , Darrel Toepfer wrote: William M wrote: Bought an old Percival Sea Prince (twin engine with approximately 2,000 pounds useful with full fuel. http://www.oldprops.f9.co.uk/Perciva...hotographs.htm Like if a Dash 8 had puppies! -- Ben Jackson http://www.ben.com/ |
#7
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"Ben Jackson" wrote in message
news:gKBad.370660$Fg5.367665@attbi_s53... In article , Darrel Toepfer wrote: William M wrote: Bought an old Percival Sea Prince (twin engine with approximately 2,000 pounds useful with full fuel. http://www.oldprops.f9.co.uk/Perciva...hotographs.htm Like if a Dash 8 had puppies! There are a couple of Sea Princes you can play with he http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.c...ce/prince.html It has some information on them. Cool personal aircraft! Paul |
#8
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Paul Sengupta wrote: There are a couple of Sea Princes you can play with he http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.c...ce/prince.html It has some information on them. Cool personal aircraft! Sorta resembles the old Lockheed Hudson. Wonder if that served as inspiration. George Patterson If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have been looking for it. |
#9
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Thanks for the responses,
By the way in real life it looks like what a twin Otter would have looked like if it where designed the same day as the single engine version. For it to be worthwhile I want to replace some restaurant meals plus all hotel and auto rental costs while on the road. That means a full kitchen and washroom facilities, tables and adjustable seating, TV and comfortable sleeping facilities for two. Assuming at any airport:- - Clean water is available. - We could drain the grey water. - Black water removal may not be available. - Electricity may not be available. - Winter operations. So far I've found:- - vacuum toilet that uses about half a quart per flush. - very low volume shower heads. - motor scooter and sidecar around 400 lbs. Starting to play with:- - how not to die of carbon monoxide poisoning, explosions or fire - how to keep the pipes from freezing when we are not around - how to empty the black water - how to go as light in weight as possible - how to get a quiet electrical generator that runs on avgas Then after all is said and done. How do I get all this approved? I mean by the authorities ~ my wife is another story. Bill |
#10
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William M wrote:
For it to be worthwhile I want to replace some restaurant meals plus all hotel and auto rental costs while on the road. That means a full kitchen and washroom facilities, tables and adjustable seating, TV and comfortable sleeping facilities for two. - how not to die of carbon monoxide poisoning, explosions or fire Cook outside, however if you solve the power problem, cook with electricity... Otherwise use propane: http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/w...70&storeNum=15 - how to keep the pipes from freezing when we are not around RV antifreeze, Wal*Mart sells it. Otherwise drain everything... - how to empty the black water Use a portapottie, unsnap the seat and take the tank to the local FBO toilet. http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/w...roductId=46539 - how to go as light in weight as possible See the above... Use thin aluminum structures... G - how to get a quiet electrical generator that runs on avgas I think most would be able to, quiet is the tuff part. Lots of batteries might be the easiest (house, seperate from the mains), with large output alternators on your engines to restore them. Or perhaps a GPU (gas driven DC generator) for topping off the batteries before takeoff. An inverter can power any 120vac devices for periods of time in the air or on the ground... Then after all is said and done. How do I get all this approved? I mean by the authorities ~ my wife is another story. Airframe mods could be a booger, unless you'd move the plane into experimental and then insurance could be a real issue. How does one insure a warbird (exmilitary plane)? From the interior photos I saw, you could perhaps mod a portion of that desk along the right side for kitchen duties. Otherwise you'll be removing alot of stuff that might allow adding more stuff... G |
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