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cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com
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 Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: Nick's Turbo edition |
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Hey Nick, When is the new turbo Lightning model due
to come out? Is it a whole new model or will a current
Lightning be able to be upgraded?
Charles
--- N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM wrote:
| Quote: | Here is my input on the tail-dragger controversy (is
it a controversy?) and
some reasons why I think it would be a good move for
a future Lightning
design. Also, many potential customers have asked
about a tail dragger Lightning.
People prefer to fly tail-draggers for different
reasons. Probably the
largest group of tail-dragger fans would say that an
airplane looks better
without the nose wheel. Another group prefers them
because of the slight
performance improvement in cruise, top speed, lower
empty weight, and grass runway or
rough field operations. Still another group might
want to fly them for
nostalgic reasons (most vintage airplanes are T/W)
or perhaps that it "shows" that
they are better pilots because they can handle a
tail-dragger. For example,
have you ever heard someone say, "See that guy (or
gal), they fly
tail-draggers." Whereas, you will probably never
hear someone impressively say,
"That guy flys a Cherokee." Oh well, I probably
belong to all the above groups.
The last statement about being a tail-dragger pilot
somehow making you a
better pilot will probably get some peoples hackles
up. That was not my intent,
as I am sure that some folks that have never flown
tail-draggers are great
pilots. They just, up to this point, have not had
or taken the opportunity to
get current in conventional aircraft. And that is
getting harder and harder
to do in today's environment. It really is hard to
find an instructor that
can check you out. But once checked out and current
in conventional gear
airplanes, you will fly like a better pilot. How is
that possible? Actually, I
can usually tell if a person is tail-wheel qualified
while they are taxing
out, or for sure during the takeoff roll. On
takeoff roll, by necessity, a
tail-wheel pilot notices the need to make small
heading corrections much sooner
than a person who has not flown tail-wheels. Their
eyes are accustomed to
seeing the small deviations sooner - rather than
later. A nose wheel airplane
actually corrects itself to some degree on takeoff
and landing roll out,
where as a tail wheel airplane, needing a
correction, will continue to need more
and more of a correction. So the current tail
wheel pilot sees that need
sooner and makes the correction. I have seen nose
wheel pilots let the nose
swing as much as ten degrees before making a
correction. Probably disaster in
a tail wheel airplane. And that is why nose wheel
airplanes were invented.
They are easier to takeoff and land. They were
designed for the weakest
link. Yes, I threw that in for effect and to
perhaps help you decide to go get a
tail wheel endorsement. You will improve your
piloting skill. And guess
what, those skills will make you a better pilot in
the air as well. If you are
seeing smaller heading changes and making
corrections quicker on the ground,
you will also be doing the same in the air. Even
your instrument flying
will improve.
Of course the down side, as Doug has mentioned (and
Pete has in the past),
is that tail dragger airplanes will probably cost
more to insure - certainly
until you log quite a bit of T/W time. But I think
your overall enjoyment and
increased piloting skills will be a big benefactor.
And besides, it opens
up a large number of vintage airplanes for you to
have the chance to fly. As
I said, this is just my $.02 worth, your mileage may
vary.
Blue Skies,
Buz
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
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N1BZRich(at)aol.com
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject: Nick's Turbo edition |
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In a message dated 8/13/2007 6:58:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, cdewey6969(at)yahoo.com writes:
| Quote: | Hey Nick, When is the new turbo Lightning model due
to come out? Is it a whole new model or will a current
Lightning be able to be upgraded?
|
Hi Charles, I think Nick is away from SYI for a week or so and thus may not be doing e-mails on a regular basis. So let me comment on your question about the so called “turbo Lightning”. Actually, I am sorry to say, it was a “tongue in cheek” comment, meaning, I made it up. Actually, Nick and I had discussed something similar to this at a past “refueling” meeting of Arion Skunk Works (meaning we were refueling with 12 ounce cans of brew”. So, sorry, no turbo Lightning, but Nick will be coming up with a tail wheel Lightning as soon as he can find the time. And that is the problem. All of the Lightning team is just too busy producing Lightning kits and doing builder assist with customers. Nick will get it done, but other things have higher priorities at this time.
Blue Skies,
Buz
AOL.com.
[quote][b]
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