The terms bush plane, bush flying, and bush flyer simply refer to any fixed-wing aircraft that are specifically designed to be flown in remote areas. These remote areas - dubbed “the bush” - are otherwise inaccessible by ground or water transportations; hence, you can imagine just how harsh and unforgiving these terrains can be.

Today, “the bush” includes extreme environments such as the icy plains of Alaska, the unpredictable deserts of Kenya, and the wilderness of the Amazon rainforest. To be operable in such archaic terrains where landing strips are mostly non-existent, bush planes have certain characteristics which make them fit-for-purpose. Here are four of the most common and desirable traits of a bush plane.

STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing)

STOL is the ability of an aircraft to take-off and land with short runway requirements. This is the most important factor as bush planes need to get in and out of tight spaces with extreme precision. During take-off, a bush plane is not only restricted to a short ground run, but it also needs the capability to clear obstacles such as trees and hills. To achieve this, a high rate of climb is essential; and a high climb rate requires a power to weight ratio of at least 1.5:1.

When it comes to landing, the opposite is needed in the form of a low stall speed. A low stall speed permits an aircraft to fly relatively slower while still producing enough lift to stay airborne. This ultimately decreases the distance needed for landing due to excess speed.

The stall speed of an aircraft is partially dependent on its wing loading. Bush planes typically have a larger wing area relative to their mass - giving them a low wing loading. On the other hand, a high wing loading aircraft such as a fighter jet will have a much smaller wing area relative to its mass. This enables them to travel at much higher speeds, however, takeoff and landing distances are increased making them unfit for bush flying.

High-Wing Configuration

A high-wing configuration is when the wings of an aircraft are mounted above the fuselage. Apart from providing added lateral stability, a high-wing placement on a bush plane has two specific advantages: greater cockpit (downward) visibility, and greater ground clearance.

Compared to a mid-wing or low-wing aircraft, a high-wing plane benefits from much better visibility. This is vital as it helps the pilot to navigate easier through rugged plains and avoid any potentially damaging obstacles such as foothills and tall grass.

Equally important to visibility is enhanced ground clearance. Again, this feature enables the aircraft to avoid any environmental obstacles which may damage the aircraft during takeoff and landing. The inherent ground clearance from a high-wing architecture also means that the landing gears required can be relatively shorter and subsequently, sturdier. While this may not be a point of importance for any other aircraft, for bush planes - where conventional landing strips are a novelty - a shorter and sturdier landing gear will definitely outperform and outlast a longer one.

Flaps

Flaps are a secondary control surface commonly found on the trailing edge of a wing. While they are not a mandatory component on an aircraft, most, if not all bush and STOL planes will have flaps. Also known as high-lift devices, flaps ultimately serve two purposes: to increase lift and induce drag.

When the flaps are deflected, the lift and drag of the wing increase. A partial deflection results in more lift than drag which ultimately decreases the distance needed for takeoff. A full deflection will result in more drag than lift which enables an aircraft to descend steeper without increasing airspeed. Used during landings, a fully deflected flap lowers the stall speed of an aircraft allowing it to land in much tighter spaces.

Landing Gear

Depending on the remote area they serve, bush planes will have terrain-specific landing gears. For those that operate mostly in water or snow, floats or skis are fitted. For those that operate mostly on rough surfaces, oversized balloon or tundra tires are used.

Balloon and tundra tires are large low-pressure tires that enable an aircraft to navigate through rough terrains with ease. The large but low-pressure build inherently gives the tires a cushioning effect that acts as the first line of defense absorbing any unwanted impact and mitigating any damages to the aircraft itself.

HobbyKing RC Bush Planes

If you are looking for an all-terrain electric RC plane that can pretty much fly under any conditions or environment, then the Avios BushMule V2 or Durafly Tundra V2 is what you need. Both planes have unparalleled STOL capabilities and come with skis allowing you to literally take off and land anywhere you want. With all the characteristics mentioned in this article, take your RC plane to the “bush”, and discover a whole new way to enjoy the hobby!

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