Heck, if you're going to go Experimental, try one of these:

Lancair ProJet on Trade-a-Plane 325kt cruise and 4,000fpm climb

And it could probably be had for well under advertised price.

If you fly out of short fields you will not like it. Also, the wing is pretty high up to get onto. The easiest way is to sit on the front of the wing an simply slide 180 degrees and then stand up. If you don't like light controls and heavy wing loading you won't like it either. I got used to that features the first 10 seconds. It feels just like a helicopter on the controls. Some people may also not like the visibility out the front. Once I started flying the plane like you should (stay high and come down steep and fast) the visibility was great. It is a rock solid, but different airplane. Probably not for everyone, but I love the machine.

I can't comment on the Glasair. I do like my SX, however. I find that the maintenance is no worse than a similar certified plane. You have, as Todd said, the advantage of doing whatever you think best as far as avionics, etc, goes. You have the disadvantage of doing whatever you think best, as well....


It offers a lot in terms of "choosing your own fate". I've flown mine 600 plus hours in less than 4 years. A lot of that is IFR. I fly mine off a grass strip routinely. But I think that the SX gear is better suited to that than the Glasair gear (opinion only...the Glasair gear is strong, just has smaller clearances on the tire/shaft, etc...)


Remember, though....glide speeds are significantly higher. I've thought a lot about an engine out at night or IFR. The morning I took off out of Atlanta at 0500 with a 300 ft overcast the thought of "what would happen if..." certainly entered my mind.

It requires a different touch. Todd's analogy of helicopter is right. Speed control is critical on approach. Reminds me a lot of the Mustang....too slow, and the sink rate goes up enormously. Too fast, and you eat up runway really quickly. Small wing, and any power loss is noticed immediately.

Love mine, but you have to acknowledge what you have.

Stan nailed it. And yes, his gear is better suited for grass. I don't like any airplane with retractable gear for unimproved strips, so my opinion is biased.

With a highly loaded wing and light controls you have to "feel" the airplane and just simply put pressure on the controls instead of moving them. Speed control is a must just like in a jet. Think of it as more of a "ref" speed that you follow when you land. In my plane, 115 knots with the gear out and flaps down is the sweet spot for short final. I cross the number at 100 knots, power off, and then flare. Get below 100 knots with the gear out and you better be landing because you are coming down. I can land in 2500, but I usually roll out to the 3800 taxiway with very little braking. The brakes are very small on these planes.

Once you get used to the feel you won't want it any other way. With that said, if the engine quits the gear stays up. Take the gear up landing.

"you had me at hello"
Discussed with wife last night. She will give up her horizontal sleeping position in the back of the 36 for 50kts. Is A/C an option?

Greg, again limited to my SX experience. I use one of the small "icebox" coolers when it's super hot weather. Works great. I routinely go to 11-13K, and up there it's cool. Weight matters, so I personally wouldn't install permanent a/c.

just my opinion....

I'm not sure I could fly without A/C............Had no a/c for 30 years, had a/c for ten years now. Can't even imagine not having it.....

It is hot where you live. With that said, I usually taxi with the doors open and that is plenty of air to keep fairly cool; albeit, you still sweat. The doors close a few seconds before I take the runway. Once airborne, I am in 30 degree cooler air with 6-7 minutes. A/C is just too much weight and expense for these planes IMO.

I see some of these 22lb a/c models. Are they any good? I feel like a jilted lover.

-- not many of these fast Experimentals with real AC..

If that's the number 1 criterion, then the answer to the thread title may be "No."

Experimental? Check.
A/C? Check.
Ugly? Check.

http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... Air+7.html

If you don't maybe Rick Ott will...

(A little thirstier than a Glasair, mind you).

If it were a tailwheel version, I'd be interested! (no, not really, but I do think it would be cooler)

Robert

Is this a real 220kt airplane? I have an ex wife so I can deal with ugly

According to aerocompinc.com "expect about 210 to 225 KTAS, depending on altitude/power."

I think that's on 35-40gph of jet-a.

You can also expect that the Walter engine it has is over TBO and the latest "Hot section" was a look at the blades to make sure they were simply just there. This is one of the reasons I did not buy a Turbine Legend. Many of them had timed out engines from commuteres used in Russia. Who knows what the real times are.