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cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com
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 Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:09 pm Post subject: Answer to your question |
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I am in the process of building a Lightning and have
never flown one. I did exhaustive, thorough research,
well over 200 hours worth, before I ever sent a dime
for the kit. I am an unbiased customer; I don't work
for Arion Aircraft Copmpany and I don't own stock in
their company. My biggest concern was to get a plane
that had a BRS parachute recovery system. Although I
know I will likely never use it, it's nice to know it
is there. Cirrus is the best selling General Aviation
plane for a reason- and the reason is the parachute
system- the EXACT same system in the Lightning. Cirrus
also is sleek and aerodynamic- a modern plane; as is
the Lightning. With fuel prices as outrageous as they
are and the polar ice caps melting, it's nice to know
that the Jabiru 120 HP only burns 5.5 gph at 175 mph,
which Nick has verified with extensive test flying up
and down the east coast and to Oshkosh. I also wanted
a 2-seater because, let's face it, 4 seats are great
but how often are all four seats used in most planes?
Most people fly alone or with one other person or dog
the majority of the time. Who wants to pay the extra
fuel burn for 2 unused seats and a much heavier plane?
Not me. I like paying as low as possible for gas. And
because the Lightning can run on mogas, this will save
even more money. The next, and best, thing about the
Lightning is the cruise speed. This plane is almost as
fast as the base model Cirrus, which starts at
$199,000 and burns a lot more gas and is much more
difficult to fly. I have test flown the Cirrus and
didn't like it. They eat up too much runway on take
off and landing and are not fun in the air. They are
way too stable and not nimble feeling. The base Cirrus
cruises only a couple of miles per hour faster, so
essentially the Lightning is as fast as the Cirrus for
less than half the price and much lower operational
cost and insurance cost. After trips to Sun 'n Fun,
Oshkosh and doing tons of research on the internet, in
bookstores and talking to a ton of people at the
airshows, I decided on the Lightning. One of the
biggest supporters of the Lightning is Brent Ackley,
who works for BRS parachute systems. I highly
recommend anyone considering buying a Lightning kit to
call him. He has paid visits to the Lightning fuselage
fabricator to inspect the channells in the body for
the BRS straps to make sure they were up to snuff for
BRS' strict standards. He was blown away by the
quality of the job done. Brent flies a Sonerai, but
secretly wishes he had a modern plane like a
Lightning. Eventually I would like to cruise at
300-400 mph but I am going to take it one step at a
time. The Lightning is the perfect intermediary
between the easy flying slow trainer and the go-fast
propjets. Hope this helped you make your decision a
little easier on deciding on the Lightning. If you
value speed, safety, money and good looks you should
consider the Lightning dollar for dollar as the
absolute best buy in general aviation.
--- nick otterback <vettin74(at)yahoo.com> wrote:
| Quote: | The lightning is progressing well. As with anything
new we are trying to keep up with the growth and
intrest in this aircraft. Many things including
finished build and Flight manuals, as well as
improved kit components, are on e, thothe top of the
list
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| Quote: | of things to do. We currently are trying to deliver
4 kits a month although its more like 3, mosly due
to supply from are OEM's and a lillte learning curve
too. There are some 28 kits out there with 10 to
deliver yet...5 are flying with several awaitng
there inspections. The portotype is still being
flown on a regular basis and makes apperances at
many shows until we get are Demo flying. the demo
aircraft is being built and should be off to paint
at the end of this week and flying in march. The
fiberglass shop that is building the major
componenets is always serching for new cores and
materials to get as much usefull load as we can out
of the plane. The last ones out are under 800lbs
empty for a very well equiped aircraft. 3 of
the kits deliverd have gone to australia with 2
more this week and 3 more at the end of january. So
we have been very overwhelmed here and are just
trying to put things in a order we can deal with.
There will be 5 confirmed Lightnings for the SUN N
FUN show of which 3 will be customer built aircraft.
I am sorry that we haven't updated the web site and
will try to this week, with a few pics of the newly
finished planes, our build facility, and links to
the build and flight manuals. After trips to Sun n
Fun, Oshkosh and doing tons of research on the
|
internet, in bookstores and talking to a ton of people
at the airshows, I decided on the Lightning. One of
the biggest supporters of the Lightning is Brent
Ackley, who works for BRS parachute systems. I highly
recommend anyone considering buying a Lightning kit to
call him. He has paid visits to the Lightning fuselage
fabricator to inspect the channells in the body for
the BRS straps. He was blown away by the quality of
the job done. Brent flies a Sonerai, but secretly
wishes he had a modern plane like a Lightning.
| Quote: |
Thank you very much for all of the intrest and we
hope to make big strides this year with the
Lightning.
Nick Otterback
Production Manager
Arion Aircraft LLC
Daniel Vandenberg <djvdb63(at)yahoo.com> wrote:
Laurie...
That's good to hear. I'm fighting the "Lightning
vs. RV-9A" battle in my head. This has been
discussed before on this list. The 5100 would be a
great engine for the 9. It may be for the Lightning
too if the factory approves in the future.
By the way...to the factory...for those of us
watching the Lightning development, more frequent
updates on the website would be helpful. As far as
I can tell the only update to the website (other
than adding a computerized digital paint job to the
prototype flying picture on the homepage) since
August has been to the price 
Why not start a section on the home page that give
weekly or monthly updates something like the
following:
1. Number of kits paid for...
2. Number of kits delivered to customers (either to
the builders center or at home)
3. Number of kits under construction at the factory
assistance center
4. Number of kits under construction at customers's
homes/shops
5. Number of kits completed and flown.
This sort of information, combined with more
frequent photo updates of customer's projects and
prototype improvements, would help us potential
customers to feel confident that the Lightning is in
the early stages of a long and successful production
run.
Dan
Laurie Hoffman <lozhoffman(at)yahoo.com> wrote: -->
Lightning-List message posted by: Laurie Hoffman
Hi All,
The Jabiru 8cyl is currently out of production due
the
overwhelming demand for the 4 and 6 cyl engines.
The factory said that there have been no technical
issues with the 180hp engine. They just cant supply
enough of the others at this stage with current
orders
not being able to be met till sept/Oct.
They are increasing production capacity and will be
offering the 180hp engine again as soon as they
begin
to catch up with the 4s and 6s.
Laurie
Sydney
--- Daniel Vandenberg wrote:
> Somebody brought up the 8-cyl Jabiru 5100. You
guys
> in Tenn must have inside knowledge on this issue.
> My understanding was that the factory in Australia
> discontinued the engine because of problems with
> early production engines...combined with need for
> more production capacity for the 3300.
>
> What were the problems with the 5100?
>
> What are it's chances of re-entering production?
>
> Thanks...
>
> Dan
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject: Answer to your question |
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In a message dated 1/19/2007 12:11:48 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com writes:
| Quote: | I am in the process of building a Lightning and have
never flown one. |
Hi Charles,
We need to get you airborne in my Esqual LS - not a Lightning but a pretty close hybrid based on the many Lightning mods I was able to incorporate while I was building. I have had a bad ear block for over a week, so have not flown recently, but that should clear up soon. I generally keep 31BZ at KJGG. I think I remember you saying you were in Virginia as well. I hope to head out to Shelbyville sometime soon, so if we don't get you up before I go, we can do it when I get back.
Blue Skies,
Buz
[quote][b]
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cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject: Answer to your question |
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Buz- I can't believe anyone is up at this hour besides
me! Good to see there are some faithful Lightning
enthusiasts out there. I live in Aexandria and will
likely base out of Potomac Airfield, but am not sure
yet. I would love to go for a spin in your hybrid when
you are feeling better. Where is KJGG?
--- N1BZRich(at)aol.com wrote:
| Quote: |
In a message dated 1/19/2007 12:11:48 A.M. Eastern
Standard Time,
cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com writes:
I am in the process of building a Lightning and
have
never flown one.
Hi Charles,
We need to get you airborne in my Esqual LS -
not a Lightning but a
pretty close hybrid based on the many Lightning mods
I was able to incorporate
while I was building. I have had a bad ear block
for over a week, so have not
flown recently, but that should clear up soon. I
generally keep 31BZ at
KJGG. I think I remember you saying you were in
Virginia as well. I hope to
head out to Shelbyville sometime soon, so if we
don't get you up before I go,
we can do it when I get back.
Blue Skies,
Buz
|
Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast
with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather
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N1BZRich(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject: Answer to your question |
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In a message dated 1/19/2007 12:38:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com writes:
KJGG is Williamsburg, but I also have a hangar at Franklin and Wakefield. I usually have the Esqual at JGG. Were you the guy at the Virginia Regional EAA fly that I met at the Green "Acres" booth? You are not too far from Rick Bowen - his Lightning will be flying pretty soon - probably February.
Blue Skies,
Buz
[quote][b]
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Kayberg(at)AOL.COM
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:27 am Post subject: Answer to your question |
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Just a quick note to mention that we are flying our Lightning at Green Landings. (Yeah, Buz....Green Acres indeed!)
We have over 60 hours on it.
But because of building two others. it is not really "completed" No wheel pants yet and no interior. And it usually has oil on the belly from being rolled 100 times + !!
But you can certainly go for a flight if you come and see us. Check www.greenlandings.com.
Doug Koenigsberg
[quote][b]
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cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:13 am Post subject: Answer to your question |
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Thanks for the info Buz. I am not the huy you met at
that fly in... Charles
--- N1BZRich(at)aol.com wrote:
| Quote: |
In a message dated 1/19/2007 12:38:43 A.M. Eastern
Standard Time,
cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com writes:
Where is KJGG?
KJGG is Williamsburg, but I also have a hangar at
Franklin and Wakefield.
I usually have the Esqual at JGG. Were you the guy
at the Virginia Regional
EAA fly that I met at the Green "Acres" booth? You
are not too far from Rick
Bowen - his Lightning will be flying pretty soon -
probably February.
Blue Skies,
Buz
|
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