Why did you choose the Bushcat for your next build?

“You should really buy an airplane that fits your mission,” said the Cirrus pilot while landing on a gravel bar.

Claudius and I had been discussing a build project where we could include a group of deserving students. Things were moving forward at W48 and then Covid hit. It simply gave us more time to consider mission requirements:

1. Less than 800 hours start to finish. We wanted to be able to complete the project in about 2 school semesters (and maybe some time in the Summer). A Bushcat build is roughly 450 hours.

2. Simpler build techniques. We wanted to teach basic skills that involved as few potential hazards as possible.

3. Checks the box called “cool factor.” STOL (Short Takeoff & Landing) planes are very popular right now and this one is sexy. There’s nothing quite like it. The cowl is aggressively friendly and demands some good nose art.

4. Affordable and reasonably easy to sell when it’s complete (so we can build another one).

5. Easily (and affordably) customizable. We wanted to make it special for the kids.

6. Makes a good training aircraft.

7. We want to have as much fun as Mike Patey on 1/10th the budget. (www.mikepatey.com)

How much will it cost?

$70,000-$80,000 est. See the EAA Build Log HERE for details. Hopefully we’ll get most of that back after selling it.

Are you really going to sell it after all that work?

Yes! Well. Maybe. You see. It depends.
There are a few options: We could build it on spec and sell it. We could find a buyer early on and build it to their spec, and then sell it. We could build it and lease it back to our flying club at W48. We could build it and start a second flying club at W48. Finally, we have enough room in our hangar so we could keep it and fly it for a while, maybe visiting Oshkosh Airventure and Sun ‘n Fun airshows, and then sell it.

Clear as mud, I know.

Aren’t you afraid to modify anything? It is an airplane after all.

It will be registered as ELSA (Experimental Light Sport) so we can legally do what we want as long as we meet the LSA requirements and pass inspection. We certainly will not modify any control surfaces, and any system that would change the flight characteristics of the aircraft. We really like the design and the implementation of the Bushcat! It truly doesn’t “need” anything.

So what will you customize?

A few obvious things come to mind like paint/vinyl scheme, lighting and avionics. Beyond that, we may anodize a bunch of non-structural parts (we have the technology and know-how to teach the process) and we will make some custom carbon fiber parts (have you seen the Scrappy videos?). We will go to “carbon fiber school” during this project as we have no prior experience. Mistakes will be made! You can follow along and learn, laugh and cry right along with us. We also plan on many smaller, creative upgrades like LED lighting, internally wired camera mounts, storage solutions (utilizing 3D printing), and even a few clever ideas we ripped off from Scrappy (see mikepatey.com). We also want to rely on the kids to think outside the box and come up with creative ideas, instilling a sense of pride and ownership.

Who are you people?

There are two main project leaders, Jeff Auen (Ah’wen) and Claudius Klimt. We share a larger hangar called the Speakeasy at Essex Skypark (W48) near Baltimore, MD. We have each built a Lockwood Aircam (with a lot of help from our friends) and we currently share an IFR certified Bristell LSA. Claudius is a happily retired physician and Jeff is a sort-of retired musician, Flying Musician Association Ambassador and sporadic writer. We have the enthusiasm, facility, time, tools and knowhow for this project.

We will be assisted by many along the way. W48 is home to an amazing array of talented folks including welders, hydraulic engineers, A&P mechanics, flight Instructors, contractors, builders, doctors, lawyers, heavy equipment operators, etc. We will also rely on experts for Bushcat specific tasks (Daniela and Jeremy Knoll, the wonderful folks who import and build them in Illinois) as well as for tasks where we have little or no experience (carbon fiber fabrication for example). The Jemicy School has provided two wonderful instructors (August and Sam) who will alternate weekly duties throughout the process. We are excited to meet and learn from many experts along the way.

Who is this Mike Patey guy you keep mentioning?

Patey’s bio is too long to post here. See www.mikepatey.com. More importantly watch his YouTube videos about building an airplane called “Scrappy".” He’s smart. talented, accomplished, creative, artistic, inspiring and enjoys life to the fullest. We wanted to find out if we can have Patey-level fun on one-tenth the budget and pay it forward at the same time.

And check out Mike’s twin brother, Mark Patey who is equally as accomplished in business and aviation. He has a special interest in ADD and ADHD, speaking regularly on the subject and authoring “Addicts and Millionaires.”