The $843,013 Bush Plane You Absolutely Need, but Probably Can’t Afford

Good afternoon! Thank you all for the hundreds of responses last week, letting me know you were getting my emails. About half of you told me that the newsletter from two weeks ago did in fact go to your spam folder, but you moved it to your primary inbox and all was good. I think the glitch is officially behind us now and we can get back to the business of aviation. Onward ✈

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Classic Bush Plane Design Revamped with a Modern Twist

• Upcoming Airshows

• Around the Skies: Florida Man flies jet with an excavator 🤣, Air Races move to Roswell, Follow the D-Day Squadron flying across the Atlantic, Why is North Korea dropping piles of crap?

• PilotTube: Electra’s eSTOL first flight

• Aircraft For Sale: New to market

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

Bushliner 1850 Cyclone

Bushliner Aircraft recently unveiled the new Bushliner 1850 Cyclone, an aircraft with a range of up to 1,000 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 150 knots. The modern taildragger can carry up to six passengers and has a useful load of 1,700 lbs.

In 2021, Bushliner acquired the manufacturing rights to the St-Just Cyclone 180, an aircraft cloned from the Cessna 185 introduced in 1992. But unlike aircraft models designed decades ago, the 1850 Cyclone is experimental — this flexibility allows Bushliner to “deliver a cutting-edge aircraft equipped with modern technology and to continuously refine the manufacturing processes.”

Some highlights include an expanded cockpit six inches over the original Cyclone, providing more space and headroom for both the first and second row of passengers. There’s also an ultra-wide cargo door, which helps with access for up to 1,700 lbs of useful load and optional third row seating. Bushliner has also increased the wingspan + horizontal surface area and improved the elevator shape, resulting in slower stall speeds and shorter takeoff/landing distances.

The company is expecting Q3 2025 deliveries for both the EX Homebuilt Experimental and FX Factory Experimental aircraft, but it’s going to cost you. According to their website, the out-the-door price for the DIY kit is $308,000 and $843,013 for a factory-built beauty (though financing is available for the FX model). Sounds crazy right? Yet, it’s still a few hundred thousand less than the sticker price for a brand new Cirrus…

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UPCOMING AIRSHOWS

June
June 7-9: WWII Weekend - Reading, PA
June 8: Rockin' on the Runway - Sunset, LA
June 8-9: Spirit of St. Louis Air Show & STEM Expo - Chesterfield, MO
June 8-9: Selfridge Air National Guard Base Air Show - Harrison Township, MI
June 12-18: Maryland Fleet Week & Fly Over - Baltimore, MD
June 14-16: Greenwood Lake Air Show - West Milford, NJ
June 15: The Flying Proms Symphonic Airshow - Virginia Beach, VA
June 15-16: Moses Lake Airshow - Moses Lake, WA
June 15-16: Deke Slayton Airfest - La Crosse, WI
June 15-16: Columbus Airshow - Rickenbacker ANGB, Columbus, OH
June 15-16: Olympic Air Show - Olympia, WA
June 21-22: Wings Over Wausau - Wausau, WI
June 22: Trukee Tahoe Air Show & Family Festival - Truckee, CA
June 22-23: Centerpoint Energy Dayton Air Show - Dayton, OH
June 22-23: Quad City Airshow - Davenport, IA
June 22-23: Fairchild Skyfest - Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA
June 25: Evening of Aviation Air Show - Toughkenamon, PA
June 29-30: National Cherry Festival Air Show - Traverse City, MI
June 29-30: Warriors Over the Wasatch Air & Space Show - Ogden, UT

July
July 1: Canada Day Flyovers - Ottawa, ON
July 3: Dubuque Riverfront Airshow - Dubuque, IA
July 3: Anderson Regional Airshow - Anderson, IN
July 3-7: Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival - Battle Creek, MI
July 4: Fair St Louis - St. Louis, MO
July 6: Thunder Over Cedar Creek Lake Air Show - Mabank, TX
July 6-7: Greater Binghamton Air Show - Johnson City, NY
July 6-7: CWHM RCAF 100th Celebration - Hamilton, ON
July 6-7: Los Angeles Airshow - Los Angeles, CA
July 13: America's Freedom Fest - Goshen, IN
July 13: Pensacola Beach Air Show - Pensacola Beach, FL
July 13: Boundary Bay Airshow - Delta, British Columbia
July 13-14: Wings Over Whiteman - Whiteman AFB, MO
July 13-14: National Warplane Museum Airshow - Geneseo, NY
July 13-14: California Capitol Airshow - Sacramento, CA
July 13-14: Yellowknife Airshow - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
July 14: Iosco County Fly-In Breakfast - East Tawas, MI
July 19: Rock The Ramp Airshow & Fly-in - Middleton, WI
July 19-20: Nebraska State Fly-In and Airshow - O'Niell, NE
July 20: Gandy Dancer Fly-in & Airshow - Siren, WI
July 20-21: Cold Lake Air Show - Canadian Forces Base, Cold Lake, Alberta
July 20-21: Arctic Thunder Air Show - Anchorage, AK
July 20-21: Thunder Over Michigan - Ypsilanti, MI
July 20-21: Pistons and Props - Janesville, WI
July 22-28: EAA AirVenture - Oshkosh, WI
July 22: Family, Fun, and Flight - Medicine Hat, Alberta
July 24: Wings Over Warren - Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY
July 26-28: Grande Prairie Regional Air Show - Grande Prairie, Alberta
July 26-28: Tri-City Water Follies - Kennewick, WA
July 27-28: Fargo Airshow - Fargo, ND
July 27-28: Milwaukee Air & Water Show - Milwaukee, WI
July 27-28: Springbank Air Show - Springbank, Alberta
July 31: Snowbirds Over Duluth - Duluth, MN

August
August 3: Williston Basin Airshow - Williston, ND
August 3-4: Rochester International Airshow - Rochester, NY
August 3-4: Boeing Seafair Air Show - Seattle, WA
August 3-4: Great State of Maine Air Show - Brunswick, ME
August 3-4: Manitoba Airshow - Southport, MB
August 9-11: Abbotsford International Airshow - Abbotsford, BC
August 10: Valentine Airshow - Valentine, NE
August 10: Will Rogers Fly-In - Oologah, OK
August 10-11: Wings Over Muskegon - Muskegon, MI
August 10-11: New York Air Show - Montgomery, NY
August 10-11: Vanderhoof International Airshow - Vanderhoof, BC
August 10-11: Chicago Air & Water Show - Chicago, IL
August 11: OCIA Air Show - Waterford, MI
August 14: Atlantic City Airshow - Atlantic City, NJ
August 16-18: Alberta International Airshow - Edmonton, AB
August 17: Coles County/Mattoon Airshow - Mattoon, IL
August 17-18: Gary Air Show - Gary, IN
August 17-18: Westmoreland County Air Show - Latrobe, PA
August 17-18: Pikes Peak Regional Airshow - Colorado Springs, CO
August 17-18: Bremerton Air Show - Bremerton, WA
August 17-18: Props and Pistons Festival - Akron, OH
August 17-18: Wings Over Camarillo - Camarillo, CA
August 21: Frecce Tricolori Airshow - Norfolk, VA
August 22-24: Airshow of the Cascades - Madras, OR
August 24: Wings Over Wheeling Air Show - Wheeling, WV
August 24: Wings & Wheels Airshow - Hot Springs, VA
August 24-25: Ocean City Air Show - Ocean City, MD
August 24-25: Frontiers In Flight Air Show - McConnell AFB, Wichita, KS
August 24-25: Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show - Omaha, NE
August 24-25: Air Show Atlantic - CFB Greenwood, NS
August 31 - September 1: Wings Over Batavia - Batavia, NY
August 31 - September 1: Fly Iowa - Clarinda, IA
August 31 - September 2: Oregon International Air Show - McMinnville, OR
August 31 - September 2: Cleveland National Air Show - Cleveland, OH
August 31 - September 2: Canadian International Air Show - Toronto, ON

AROUND THE SKIES

Must Watch: Florida Man Flies Jet With Excavator Like a Toy Plane

Roswell, NM is the new home for the Reno Air Races, after the Reno Air Racing Association opted for a venue change. Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the RARA said, “We’re thrilled to bring our honored tradition of racing to Roswell and are confident that they have both the enthusiasm and resources to expand the future of our races for many generations to come.” 

FlightAware has created a special link to track the progress of the “D-Day Squadron” — the American contingent of Douglas C-47 and DC-3 transport aircraft flying across the Atlantic Ocean in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion.

Last week, North Korea dropped at least 260 balloons in South Korea, carrying trash, bottles, old batteries, leaflets and even excrement, according to officials. Gross 🤮

PilotTube

Howard 500: A Timeless Airplane With Terrible Timing

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AIRCRAFT FOR SALE - NEW TO MARKET

You want speed and economy? Then this 1995 Glasair III could be the ticket! It’s equipped with an IO-540 300hp Lycoming engine and a constant speed prop, flown regularly with a fresh conditional inspection.

• Asking Price: $200,000

• Location: Fort Myers, FL

This 1979 Mitsubishi Solitaire has 4776 TT and includes a slew of Garmin avionics, autopilot, BFG Skywatch, ADS-B In/Out, USB plugs, A/C, FIKI and Cleveland wheels and brakes.

• Asking Price: $590,000

• Location: Camdenton, MO

“Now accepting offers” on this low-time, one-owner Cessna 182T! Beautiful paint and interior, great panel, and solid engine – broker says you’ll turn heads wherever you show up in this great airplane!

• Asking Price: $699,500

• Location: Redmond, OR

This 2020 Cirrus SR22 G6 is a beauty and happens to be one of my favorite color schemes! Loaded with a GTS Hot Weather Package, Enhanced Stability Protection, Synthetic Vision Technology, Enhanced Vision System, A/C, tubeless tires, Beringer brakes and under warranty through October 2025.

• Asking Price: $747,000

• Location: Tallahassee, FL

This 1961 Douglas A-4L is a military enthusiasts’ dream plane! All inspections and times current, live ejection seat with self-start. This A-4 has recently been flying on a military contract, but is ready to go to a new home.

• Asking Price: $650,000

• Location: Addision, TX

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I’m the founder of Royal Aviation Group, a veteran-owned aircraft brokerage that specializes in video content to get airplanes sold. Send me an email at [email protected] if you’d like to chat.

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