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Old 01-28-2007, 06:22 AM   #141 (permalink)
Mark Hickey
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Re: OT Interesting video

"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <peter@vecchios.com> wrote:

>On Jan 27, 7:42 am, Mark Hickey <m...@habcycles.com> wrote:


>> But compare the numbers to the 152...
>>
>> 44" wide ****pit
>> 85 horsepower watercooled Rotax 912S
>> 620 pounds
>> Cruise: 161mph
>> Range: 590 miles
>> Takeoff roll: 541 feet
>>
>> 152
>> ****pit width: 40" ??? (is it even that wide? I know that I was
>> wedged into the 150 I used to fly if the instructor was on board))
>> 110 horsepower
>> Useful load: 589 pounds
>> Cruise: 115mph
>> Range: 477 miles
>> Takeoff roll: 750 feet
>>
>> And... the Rotax is a LOT quieter than the Lycoming O-235.
>>

>ahh geezzz..this is so apples and oranges...these LSA are all 'home
>builts', very limited to both who can fly them(meaning sport pilots
>can fly these ONLY) and what they are. Remember a sport pilot can't
>even fly a C-152 legally. Great that there is a way for people to fly
>more cheaply and easier but this program really is a 'bicycle with
>training wheels'.


There are a lot more aircraft out there that are far too fast to
qualify for SP flying, and many of the LSA are becoming available as
factory-built aircraft as well (it's a very new field, but IIRC there
are 40-50 types available now).

>I can't imagine any SP would stay that way, would
>get another 20 hours and be a genuine private pilot, with all the
>benefits that carries, like the ability to get an instrument rating.


It's still up in the air as to how successful the SP rating will be.
Certainly there are some limitations - one passenger, limited to a
certain cruise speed, no night / instrument flying. But in reality,
that's pretty much what 50% of the potential pilots would limit
themselves to anyway (if only for financial reasons). Add to that the
fact that there's no medical requirement for a SP certificate, and
that means that a lot of those who (for whatever reason) can't pass
the stringent requirements for a private pilot certificate now have a
way to fly (assuming they transition to SP BEFORE losing their
medical). My dad lost his medical after having a heart attack and had
to give up flying.

>BUT these are not 'trainers', will not be used for anybody wanting to
>get a private ticket. This is a formal way for sombody to fly an
>ultralight...not much more.


I'm a little confused by your terminology though - if you consider a
plane that's faster, bigger, and all-around more capable than the
venerable Cessna 152 an "ultralight", you certainly have to consider
the 152 as an "ultralight" as well, right?

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame
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