BeechTalk - BT - What am I not thinking about: A36 to Lancair

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Sep 2015, 11:30

Isn't it all about risk reward in everything, not just aviation. I would never jump out of an airplane or bungee jump, just not worth it to me, but fine for others. I just sold BMW motorcycle after 50 years of riding. Risk not worth the reward anymore. Never wore helmet and completely understand people thinking I'm crazy. This while spending several years in a trauma Emergency Room and seeing it all. I see flying my plane in IMC at night a up there on the risk scale, but see little or no risk when VMC around Texas with a full load of fuel. Personal insights and individual personalities make it different for everyone. Based on what I learned and doing some research, it may not be for me. I'm just as concerned now about the comfort (6'3 230) as I am about keeping it out of a stall. I do grin when I think of 250kts for 250k...............................

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Sep 2015, 11:56

Why don't you find a weekend you're near Destin and let me know? My plane is here reliably every weekend, I can take you for a flight and you can see if you fit comfortably

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Sep 2015, 13:31

At 6'3 230 I'd say no dice. I almost bump my head with the headset on.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Sep 2015, 22:26

Username Protected wrote:

The -IVP is not a practical airplane for a typical GA pilot.... It has Zero tolerance for error. You get behind it and make a mistake, it will kill you... I cant quote the statistic, but something like 30% of them have been in fatal accidents and based on the little bit that I have flown one, I believe it.....

If you believe that you are better than all the rest of the folks who have been killed in them, then knock yourself out, but it has totally non-certifiable handling. A test pilot who flew several of them, told me, "don't ever stall it.... Several of them will tumble in a wings level unaccelerated stall."

There are some fantastic Lancair products, but the -IVP is not one of them..... I have said it before on this forum. I have over 1000 hours in WWII flighters and over 1000 hours in a Rocket which is a pretty hot ride.... If someone gave me a -IVP I would fly it home, and sell it to someone I did not know....

It is not a safe airplane for dependable X/C travel by any typical GA pilot...

If you are Hoot Gibson, maybe, but for the rest of us, the -IVP is not a practical solution.... Remember Drew's Law, 80% of us believe we are in the top 20%.... Rozendaal's corollary says "half of us are below the median....."

The -IVP is for the top 10% and some of them will perish in it..... Clearly my experience is in the top 10%, but my skill level is closer to the middle of the bell curve... I would love to go 240 KTAS in pressurized comfort, but I'll pass, I'm just not that good....

And BTW, yes, I am a weenie.... And further, your Evolution is a fantastic airplane.....

flying is a dangerous activity Doug.
No matter how you look at it the chances of having an accident flying an airplane are high, just look at the number of fatal accidents in beech airplanes this year (and they are not lancairs)
I got over 500 hrs in my IV-P and in general i have been more scared flying a T-6 than the IV.
I always fly instruments and have accidentally gotten some ice while climbing or descending and the airplane does not handle ice well. I avoid ice like the plague so much that i just had deice installed on the evolution and it works well...
It is a great cross country plane and i am 6 foot 6 inches and over 250 pounds (sorry) and had the front seat modified for my height. Its a bit cramped but much less than a mooney or a piperjet where the spar limits the seat. The evo has a lot more room.
Like they say if you can fly a T-6 you can fly anything, stay safe

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Sep 2015, 14:06

Get a pressurized Aerostar with the 350 hp engines. Today you could go from San Antonio to Ft. Lauderdale non stop at 245 knots tas (990 NM 4 hrs.) and land with an hour's fuel remaining.

Best regards,
Jim

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Sep 2015, 14:21

Username Protected wrote:

Get a pressurized Aerostar with the 350 hp engines. Today you could go from San Antonio to Ft. Lauderdale non stop at 245 knots tas (990 NM 4 hrs.) and land with an hour's fuel remaining.

Best regards,
Jim

fuel burn comparison to a ES or IV-P?

i guess at that point it's apples to oranges though, given the payload

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Sep 2015, 14:39

Had friend who built a IV-P, he was afraid of the plane the whole time he had it, wonderful at altitude cruise, but scared him when low and slow. Flew into a cloud at 24,000 feet, ice in the cloud did $42,000 in damage to the plane, he sold it. He is not a novice pilot.
Make sure you fly one and shoot some instrument approaches before you spend the bucks.
Met another pilot at our local avionics shop who has one and he loves it. Flew from New Orleans area to Amarillo, Tx on a test flight after having avionics worked on. Now that's what I call a test flight. He is a raving fan of his plane.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Sep 2015, 14:59

Username Protected wrote:

... Now it is just the wife and I 90% of the time. Lots of IFR. I am slowing down on business flying, now it is just getting to Florida/New Orleans/Lubbock/occasional Mexico from San Antonio as quickly, comfortably and safely as possible.... It is not about saving money, it is about 165kts vs 240kts or so. What am I missing or havent thought of.

I just mentioned the Aerostar because it was designed exactly for Greg's mission and he may not have thought of it. With the 350 hp engines it has the useful load and speed (245 knots at 65% power) to carry 2 to 4 people and bags, in comfort, over water, IFR, in icing conditions etc. Fuel burn will be more than a single engine airplane but it is also far more capable. Entry cost will be about 250K and up.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Sep 2015, 22:17

You should consider a Tradewinds Bonanza. Flies just like an A36 except you get 200kts at 10K and 215 at 17K (220 if it's cold) without pushing the TOT. All on 24 to 26 GPH. Engine Maintenance is virtually nil between HSI and Overhaul. Insurance is only about 8% of hull. Jet A is reasonable and will likely be around longer than 100LL. Outstanding mechanic right in Texas who built most of them.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Oct 2015, 00:58

Username Protected wrote:

Insurance is only about 8% of hull.

An expected hull loss every 12 years?

Since they run about $500K hull value, that's $40K per year?

That's a phenomenal hull rate!

My MU2 insurance (at $600K hull value) PLUS all my fuel for 125 hours/year (35,000 nm) adds up to about $40K.

Mike C.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Oct 2015, 01:14

Doug Rozendaal and Ted Wright have way more experience than most pilots have, and way more risk tolerance than most pilots should have and neither one would fly a IV in IMC. Lord love a duck, what more does one need? I'm comfortable with learning from others' experience, I don't feel the need to make all the mistakes myself.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Oct 2015, 08:40

Put the Tru Atlantic conversion on your A36. Cowl mod gives you the added speed and the IO550R will get you to the Flight levels where you can play the wind game granted you have oxygen. Granted you won't be going 200+ but you will see a considerable increase in speed. This allows you to keep an airframe you are used to as well as keeping the dependability of a Beechcraft.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Oct 2015, 10:12

my Lancair ES insurance is 1.1% of hull, 8% sounds extremely high, am I missing something?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Oct 2015, 11:49

Maybe he meant .8% of hull???

Username Protected wrote:

You should consider a Tradewinds Bonanza. Flies just like an A36 except you get 200kts at 10K and 215 at 17K (220 if it's cold) without pushing the TOT. All on 24 to 26 GPH. Engine Maintenance is virtually nil between HSI and Overhaul. Insurance is only about 8% of hull. Jet A is reasonable and will likely be around longer than 100LL. Outstanding mechanic right in Texas who built most of them.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Oct 2015, 12:59

I just sat in IV-P. Not comfortable for me. Felt cramped. As I have known for awhile, the next step up airplane from what I have, is a big step. I dont want to go from 165kts to 190kts. That seems like a baby step for me. The Aerostar is seductive but it is just my wife and I 90% of the time. I think I am going to sit tight and be appreciative of what I have, till the itch comes back...