Are you in the market for a new amphibious LSA? Look no further than the Super Patrell – a modern biplane built with composite material. While biplanes may have fallen out of favor in the past, the Super Patrell offers a unique and fun flying experience that cannot be matched by monowing planes.

Despite its two wings, the Super Patrell fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and still has a useful load. Its lower wing stalls before the upper wing, making stall recovery a breeze, and its proximity to the water provides a nice ground effect boost, shortening takeoff distance. With an optional Rotax 914 turbocharged engine, the Super Patrell’s performance is right in line with other LSA amphibians. However, it’s important to consider the fun versus function ratio when choosing an airplane – while the Super Patrell may not be the fastest or most practical option, it provides an unparalleled level of fun.

Key Takeaways

  • The Super Patrell is a modern biplane built with composite material, offering a unique and fun flying experience.
  • Despite having two wings, it fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and still has a useful load.
  • While it may not be the most practical option, the Super Patrell provides more fun than function and is a good deal for what you get.

Super Patrell Description

Looking for a fun amphibious LSA? The Super Patrell is a modern biplane made of composite material. It has two wings, which may seem outdated, but the lower wing stalls before the upper wing, making stall recovery a cinch. Plus, it gives the plane a nice ground effect boost, shortening the takeoff distance.

The Super Patrell is not a fast plane, but it fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and still has enough useful load. Performance is right in line with other LSA amphibians, and there’s an optional Rotax 914 turbocharged engine that raises the ceiling about 2,000 feet to 14,000. It also improves takeoff distance and climb rate, but that’s about it.

Buying a Super Patrell isn’t as painful as some other amphibious LSAs. The top of the range here would get you a new version with a 914 engine. About 450 are flying today around the world, and about 50 in the USA.

Expenses are a little high because it floats. Maintenance will be a little bit higher than a similar land-only airplane, and insurance suffers as well. However, the Super Patrell definitely provides more fun than function. It’s a good deal for what you get, and there’s nothing wrong with having fun.

Biplane Design

The Super Patrol is a modern LSA built of composite material and features a biplane design. Although biplanes fell out of favor long ago, this plane still has two wings because it’s fun. The lower wing stalls before the upper wing, making stall recovery easy, and its proximity to the water gives it a nice ground effect boost, shortening takeoff distance.

The Super Patrol’s performance is in line with other LSA amphibians. It has an optional Rotax 914 turbocharged engine, which raises the ceiling by about 2,000 feet to 14,000 and improves takeoff distance and climb rate.

The biplane design of the Super Patrol is not going to make it fast, but it fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and still has enough useful load. It’s a good deal for what you get, providing more fun than function.

However, expenses are a little higher than a similar land-only airplane because it floats. Maintenance will be a bit higher because it’s getting dunked on the daily, possibly in salt water. Insurance costs are also higher because of the increased likelihood of accidents.

Overall, the Super Patrol is a great choice if you’re looking for a plane that’s fun to fly with no particular place to go. It’s perfect for those who want to get off the ground and enjoy the experience of flying.

Performance

The Super Patrol is a modern LSA amphibian biplane built of composite material. It is not designed for speed, but it still fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and has enough useful load. The lower wing stalls before the upper wing, making stall recovery easy. Its proximity to the water gives it a nice ground effect boost, shortening takeoff distance.

The performance of the Super Patrol is right in line with other LSA amphibians. There is an optional Rotax 914 turbocharged engine that raises the ceiling about 2,000 feet to 14,000, improving takeoff distance and climb rate. About 450 are flying today around the world, and about 50 in the USA.

Expenses for the Super Patrol are a little high because it floats. Maintenance will be a little bit higher than a similar land-only airplane because it gets dunked on the daily, possibly in salt water. Insurance suffers as well, but luckily, this plane does not have an expensive parachute to pay for.

The Super Patrol provides more fun than function, but there’s nothing wrong with having fun. It’s a good deal for what you get, and it definitely provides a splish splashy good time.

Optional Rotax 914 Turbocharged Engine

If you’re looking for a little extra oomph in your Super Petrel LS, consider opting for the Rotax 914 turbocharged engine. With this engine, you can increase your ceiling by 2,000 feet to 14,000, as well as improve your takeoff distance and climb rate.

While the Super Petrel LS is not a speedster, the optional Rotax 914 engine can give you a bit more power and performance. Keep in mind that this is an optional upgrade and not necessary for standard operation of the aircraft.

Overall, the Super Petrel LS with the Rotax 914 engine is a fun and capable amphibious LSA that provides more fun than function. If you’re looking for a plane that can take you on a splashy adventure, the Super Petrel LS with the optional Rotax 914 engine may be just what you need.

Cost and Maintenance

When it comes to buying a Super Patrol, you can expect to have a splish-splashy good time. This modern LSA is built with composite material and is a biplane, making it a new-ish addition to the aviation market. While biplanes may have fallen out of favor, the Super Patrol is designed to provide a fun flying experience.

The Super Patrol is not the fastest plane out there, but it fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and still has enough useful load. The lower wing stalls before the upper wing, making stall recovery a cinch. Additionally, its proximity to the water gives it a nice ground effect boost, shortening takeoff distance.

If you’re looking for a turbocharged engine, the optional Rotax 914 is available. This raises the ceiling to about 14,000 feet and improves takeoff distance and climb rate.

In terms of cost, the Super Patrol is relatively affordable compared to other amphibious LSAs. The top of the range model with a 914 engine will cost about $450,000. Currently, there are about 450 Super Patrols flying around the world, with 50 of them in the USA.

However, owning an amphibious plane comes with higher maintenance costs. Since the Super Patrol is designed to float, it will likely get wet daily, possibly in saltwater. This means that maintenance will be a bit higher than a similar land-only airplane. Additionally, insurance costs will be higher as well, as there is a higher chance of hitting submerged objects while landing on water.

Overall, while the Super Patrol may not be the most practical plane out there, it definitely provides more fun than function. If you’re looking for a plane that will give you a unique flying experience, the Super Patrol is a good deal for what you get.

Insurance

When considering purchasing a Super Patrol, it’s important to keep in mind the potential expenses that come with owning an amphibious aircraft. Due to its ability to float, maintenance costs may be higher than a similar land-only airplane. Additionally, insurance costs may also be higher due to the increased likelihood of encountering obstacles while landing on water.

However, the Super Patrol is still a good deal for what you get, providing more fun than function. It’s important to consider the fun versus function ratio when choosing an airplane. If you’re looking for a plane to simply get off the ground with no particular destination in mind, the Super Patrol may be a great option for you.

Overall, while owning an amphibious aircraft may come with some added expenses, the joy and excitement of flying a Super Patrol may make it all worth it.

Absence of Parachute

The Super Patrol is an amphibious plane that is designed to be fun and enjoyable to fly. One of the interesting features of this plane is that it does not have a parachute. While this may seem like a safety concern, it is actually not necessary for this type of plane.

The Super Patrol is designed to fly at low speeds and land on water, which means that it is unlikely to experience the types of emergencies that would require a parachute. Additionally, the plane is designed to stall at the lower wing before the upper wing, making stall recovery easy and safe.

Furthermore, the Super Patrol is a relatively low-cost option for an amphibious plane, which means that the absence of a parachute does not significantly impact the cost of the plane. The lack of a parachute also means that there is one less component to maintain and replace, which can save money on maintenance costs over time.

Overall, while the absence of a parachute may seem like a concern for safety, it is not necessary for the Super Patrol. The plane’s design and intended use make it a safe and enjoyable option for those looking for a fun and unique flying experience.

Fun Versus Function Ratio

When it comes to choosing an airplane, the fun versus function ratio is an important factor to consider. There are planes that are designed for high speeds and long distances, which are great if you have a specific destination in mind. However, sometimes you just want to take off and enjoy the thrill of flying with no particular destination in mind. That’s where planes like the Super Patrol come in.

The Super Patrol is a modern LSA built of composite material that is designed to be fun. It’s a biplane, which may seem outdated, but it actually has some advantages. The lower wing stalls before the upper wing, making stall recovery easy. Its proximity to the water also gives it a ground effect boost, shortening takeoff distance. And, of course, it’s amphibious, which adds to the fun factor.

While the Super Patrol may not be the fastest plane out there, it fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and still has enough useful load. There’s even an optional Rotax 914 turbocharged engine that raises the ceiling to 14,000 feet and improves takeoff distance and climb rate.

Of course, with all this fun comes some additional expenses. Maintenance will be a little higher than a similar land-only airplane due to the daily exposure to salt water. Insurance will also be more expensive due to the increased risk of damage from water hazards. However, overall, the Super Patrol is a good deal for what you get. It provides more fun than function, but sometimes that’s exactly what you’re looking for in an airplane.

Conclusion

In summary, the Super Petrel is a modern LSA amphibian aircraft made of composite materials. It is a biplane, which is not common in modern aviation, but it provides a unique and fun flying experience. The lower wing stalls before the upper wing, making stall recovery easy, and its proximity to the water gives it a nice ground effect boost, shortening takeoff distance. The Super Petrel’s performance is right in line with other LSA amphibians, and the optional Rotax 914 turbocharged engine raises the ceiling to 14,000 feet, improving takeoff distance and climb rate.

While the Super Petrel is not the fastest plane, it fits under the LSA/ultralight weight categories and still has enough useful load. It is relatively affordable, with the top-of-the-range model costing around $450,000. However, expenses may be higher due to maintenance and insurance costs associated with owning an amphibian aircraft.

Overall, the Super Petrel provides more fun than function, but there is nothing wrong with having fun. If you are looking for a unique flying experience and enjoy the water, the Super Petrel may be the perfect aircraft for you.