dashvii(at)hotmail.com
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 Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:41 am Post subject: Lightning and Esqual two totally different designs |
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AJ,
I guess that you could say in some way that when the Esqual company sold
out the guys formed Arion Aircraft and designed an airplane that was a low
wing due to the fact that they had no more Esqual's to sale. They look a
little similar, but there is where the similarities end. The Lightning is
totally a newly designed aircraft. Let's take a look at the two aircraft
side by side:
VM-1 Esqual
Dimensions
Wingspan 29’10”
Wing Area 96.87 ft^2
Length 20’
Height 6’4”
Cockpit Width 43” (claimed, but really about 40” if I remember correctly)
Empty Weight 585lbs. (carbon composite version)
Max Weight 1232
Fuel Capacity 26.4 gallons
Price Approximately $39,000
Performance
Cruise at 75% 143-164mph
Vne 198mph
Vs 38.5 mph (when max weight of 992lbs, European microlight category)
Roll Rate 45-45 2 seconds
Arion Lightning
Dimensions
Wingspan 27’2”
Wing Area 91.0 ft^2
Length 20’
Height 6’6”
Cockpit Width 43”
Empty Weight 800lbs. (I think 700lbs is more the production E.W.)
Max Weight 1425lbs
Fuel Capacity 23 gallons
Price Approximately $29,900 ($33,900 in 2007)
Performance
Cruise at 75% 175 mph
Vne 208 mph
Vs 45 mph (again I think the production Lightning was more like 40mph)
Roll Rate 45-45 <1 second
So, in other words the planes are very different. That is not just in terms
of dimensions and performance though. The Lightning is a far more
responsive and capable airframe. The controls are entirely different. The
Esqual has a light control feel whereas the Lightning has a really good
feel, not heavy on the controls, but you actually have some feel and
feedback. In addition the rates of climb are about 1000' per minute in an
Esqual and about 1200+ fpm in the Lightning.
Having flown a good amount of hours in both airplanes I can tell you that
the Esqual is a fun airplane to fly. The Lightning has better curves,
better peformance, and a way better control method than the Esqual does.
I'm going to try to find some comparison pics head on, side view, that sort
of thing and attach to a future email for comparison.
Thanks for your interest, Brian Whittingham
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