Stan,

You touch down at 60, but from what I read it appears you come across the numbers at 100+. I also read that a 4000 ft runway is preferred and it appeared from some YouTube videos that the plane needs at least 3500 or so to get over an obstacle. Any thoughts there?

Here's one man's nice opinion about flying a SX-300:

http://tinyurl.com/SX300pirep

Lance,

That is the one I read. Lift off at 110 knots and across the numbers at 100 with touchdown at 90.

From the AOPA article that flew Stan's plane:

"Although that seems fast, the full-flap stall speed is 75 KIAS. From practice, I’ve learned that the gear-and-flaps-down sink rate can become prodigious. Flying the SX300 once again today, smoothly pulling the throttle to idle and then flaring to an aggressively nose-high attitude brings a smooth touchdown before a long rollout. With obstructions, I’d be cautious of any runway less than 4,000 feet long."

https://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All ... s-fun.aspx

I assume many of these fast planes have the same characteristic. I wonder how the Legacy or Turbine Legend compare for takeoff roll and landing distance. My Duke is a STOL airplane compared to these numbers

I know the Legend can fly out of short unimproved airstrips.

After some serious thought I think I am leaning towards a F1 Rocket or RV 8 with a high power engine or *possibly* a Legacy or SX-300. The Glasair IIIs are just getting to old and seem not to fly much. The Legacys fly a little more, but also not much. I like the metal construction of the SX and the RV/F1 planes. The Turbine Legend is nice, but more than I want to spend.

The Duke will be going for sale. I have to take the kids to a baseball game in St.Louis in it Sunday. After that I will put it for sale and take my time to find something fun. Until then I will have a nice Bonanza to fly if needed.

Yes, 240 is kind of my "standard". Obviously, groundspeed varies...recently as high as 301 (level) and as low as 210 (ugly).

That's a nice article...

RV8 won't give you the speed you want but that's what I would choose... Just a great set of overall compromises in an fun, fast, efficient and sporty package. It's like a little fighter but with reasonable stall speed and safety. Be a man and get the 8 not the 8A.

The SX is higher performance than some other planes. I fly it out of 4000 ft grass (that's my home runway). At TVR I routinely make the 2500 ft turn off (clear approaches), without using brakes. I've landed at some 2000 ft crop duster strips as well, but requires some braking. Speed control is essential.


Sink rate can indeed be high.


stan

Personal opinion:
-- if you're only going to be flying alone, an -8 is great, but I would not want to subject anyone in my family to the rear (tandem) seat for a couple hours.

An RV-7 (or -6) sits side-by-side and that configuration costs you only about 2-3 knots of speed.

Arlen,

I want a 540 engine with 300HP in a RV-style plane. I don't intend to use the 300HP down low, but rather to have the power available in in the 10-18k range. This is why I am leaning towards the Rocket. Also, why not the rear seat? Is it due to size or due to the possible yaw making them sick?

Stan has me thinking hard about the SX-300 as well. 240 knots on 16-17 GPH is very tempting!

That is good info Stan. I had "speed control" pounded into me when I learned to fly the Iskra Jet. Rotate at 105 knots - not 101 and not 110. Same for landing. If you were 10 knots fast you floated 1500 feet. 10 knots slow and your sink rate would get crazy and with the turbine lag you could get into trouble quickly. I don't think I would have any problem flying the SX; although, I would want someone with time in the machine to show me how to properly fly it.

I think you need the SX300. You need that kind of speed, not the 175 knots (albeit while only using about 9 gph!) of an RV. I don't know the range of an SX300, but you'd be stopping before you got to Florida in an RV.

The rear seat is just not a comfortable traveling scenario IMO: your legs are kind of around the pilot, you can't see ahead of the plane or follow along on most of the instruments, and getting down into the seat requires a bit of flexibility and strength. It can be done easy enough, but it's sure not where I'd want to spend a couple hours...

So after 17 pages, have you been talked out of it?

Nah, now I'm really committed!! Just have to find the right poison