It has the 180 HP IO-360 motor and a very nice panel - the plane lands beautifully coming over the fence at 70 kts getting it close to the deck at 60 and she settles like a butterfly. The speeds mentioned are probably a bit lower at touchdown (lands at 52 kts) as my gaze easily shifts to the end of the runway to try and grease the landing which always happens only when I'm alone of course ...
Its easy too to to keep the nose wheel off by maintaining objective back pressure on the stick - almost a wheeler and can't wait to fit the tail wheel option. Upper air work ... she mushes on the stall with power on and off and with flaps - its a bit gentle and feels like you still flying so need to be more alert at low speeds.
The flaps bring on a fair amount of drag esp on approach and until you over the fence power needs to be applied to arrest the sink... I'll try much higher approaches next time out.
Wing tip tanks (10gal each) need pumping to mains (20 gal each which adds to normal workload. That gives it a range of (60/8 gal/h burn rate =7.5-1hr for sa) 6.5 hrs @ 137 kts and almost 900 nm range .
Payload in the rear is around 300 lbs with almost full fuel and moderate pilot and pax weight .
I'll check all those numbers out in the next few month and build in my safety margins within the the legal limits.
I will read up to get engine management and handling tips. If any owner/or interested party wants to post here feel free.
I heard one Sportsmanin SA had an issue with the pax seat headrest ... when the seat was folded forward the pilot was unable to get the required stick travel to aft enough to execute the landing with serious consequences. I think it nosed over on touchdown. It would be a good idea to check all that out and see if one can adjust the seat further back so this does not happen in unusual circumstances.
I did a mock order the Glasair website and was a bit surprised at the costs to purchase with quick build intention. Feel free to check my numbers. There have been sales way below that in SA of recently built models that could be considered good bargains when compared to these usd prices.
(Cost quoted in 000's)
Quick Build Kit Fuselage Wing and Tail - 104 usd
Engine io 360- 48 usd
Prop- 18 usd
Avionics -58 usd
Ad -4 usd for other options
Basic kit cost then 232 usd
Around R3.5m at R15/1 usd
I wonder how that would compare to a Sling H W.
