1) Garmin G3X is the most superior avionics platform on planet earth, truly amazing

2) I spent 40 hours of labor trouble shooting Can Bus (the architecture of G3X that involves a simple daisy chain of wires tying everything together). They forget to put in a little 2 inch jumper terminating the circuit causing havoc. All fixed.

3) Stabilized Approach. I'm throwing the speed brakes out on downwind and flying the aircraft at 90kts via the angle of attack sensor to touchdown on the grass strip stopping in 1700 feet no braking. No more throwing the brakes out prior to touchdown.

4) Takeoff on grass I'm using full flaps instead of 10 degrees holding full up and letting it fly off like a 727. Tap the brakes prior to retracting the gear otherwise the wheels can rub.

5) Most trim sensitive airplane I've ever flown; especially rudder. All power changes require some sort of rudder trim input.

6) TSIO-550 is a great motor but is incredibly sensitive to mixture and speed for it to run cooly. You must run this engine LOP.

7) Air conditioning is a game changer. I went with the engine driven compressor and I'm pleased with the result.

8) Hot starts require the low speed boost pump to be on. I use the high boost pump to prime it then full throttle with the mixture leaned adding the mixture and reducing the throttle as it starts.

9) 18MPG, My barons were usually around 6 mpg. This is pretty amazing.

10) Pressurization is amazing. 5.0 differential, very tight. I don't want an unpressurized traveling airplane; its that good.

11) Plane Power 100 amp Alternator is great but impossible to get; what's wrong this company. I'm glad I have one but scared if it ever breaks.

This is a really amazing little airplane but you must fly it weekly. Any more than a week than you are very uncomfortable in it for a few minutes. It's flies like nothing I've ever flown but its stable, honest, hands free and easy to fly; that's a complete contradiction but thats exactly what this airplane is. It's not really a teachable airplane. It's something you must feel and fly and understand on your own accord. The value of an instructor sitting with you is simply to prevent you doing something you shouldn't have done that could have hurt you.

Pictures or it didn't happen!

Ok I am seriously jealous. Almost bought a 4P kit back when they just started the fast build program...

Enjoy it sounds like a blast!

4P... always been a dream.

I have flown left seat in Bill Harrelson's Lancair IV with him at my right side. I agree with your comments about flight characteristics. I have also flown a Lancair 320. The IV was a more stable platform, and not so pitch sensitive. However, the ailerons were much heavier in the IV. I don't think you could find a more efficient airframe. We did 200+ knots LOP at 6500 ft burning about 12.5 gph.

-Kurt

as I said before, get the yaw damper installed with auto-trim for the yaw axis

that's the ultimate game changer for your current setup

Michael,
Show us your new panel. Did you installed GTNs navigator or you went with built in GPS?

Congrats on taming the beast. It would take a lot of envelope protection for average pilots like me to be comfortable in a plane like that. But - that may be the future. Super-efficient designs with autopilot-driven protection for the average person's lack of skill.

Michael, tell me about insurance. That is the hold up for me.
What company, if you have it (not broker, but company).
I cant risk going bare with such an asset.

Do not believe he runs insurance, something about being fortunate?

Panel

Do not believe he runs insurance, something about being fortunate?

You have to have a GTN (I have a 625) for instrument approaches unfortunately.

I flew the IV about 4 hours this weekend and learned some other pearls:

1) low boost pump on for all hot starts really helps.

2) on a 95 degree day, turning the high boost pump on in addition really helps keep CHTs below 380 in a climb.

3) I added lots more air conditioning vents (eyeballs are useless) and am very, very pleased with the engine driven compressor Flightline AC with no giant P-51 Mustang scoop. It was scorching this weekend and I didn't sweat.

Vents

>> 11) Plane Power 100 amp Alternator is great but impossible to get; what's wrong this company. I'm glad I have one but scared if it ever breaks.

The company no longer exists... Hartzell bought them out. That division of Hartzell has a legacy of Kelly Aerospace employee culture, famed for getting it not-quite-right...

Paul