Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 05:27 AM - floatplane update (Airgriff2@aol.com)
Message 1
INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
Subject: | floatplane update |
Good morning gang, I spent the better part of last week at Sanford Lee Co.
airport in N.C. with Doug and Betty Hemstead, who heads up the
distributorship of the Allegro in the USA. The purpose was to invite dealers to
check out
the Allegro on an amphibious float setup. Dealers came from Florida, Indiana,
and New England. After addressing a high temp issue, by lowering the radiator
below the cowling to increase airflow, we headed to the lake. The principal
owner of the company and the factory test pilot did 8 TO & Ldgs on the lake and
when they beached to start demo flights they were kindly asked to leave by
the park director. Being a new activity, never seen on the lake, brought safety
concerns and they would need to look into this before allowing further
operations. They did allow one more take off and landing (with Tom-- Florida dealer)
jumping in, and then Lee (New England dealer) hopped in for the water taxi
and take off back to Sanford Lee airport. I later spent time in the pattern,
along with the Indiana dealer, doing T&L's on the hard surface.
The usefull load drops to 330 lbs + fuel with this configuration. Cruse
speed is around 90 mph. Climb around 4-500 fpm. If you look on the Full Lotus
web site and look in the amphibious and gallery section you will see that the
gear portion of this set up is VERY LIGHT. Meaning "fragile". It is basically
designed to allow the aircraft to taxi up a ramp out of the water at a
lakefront camp. Our landings were done with 1 flap position and power on to allow
a
gentile touch down and taxing was done very slow.
Two improvements are on order. First: a different design in main fuel tank
will allow more head room for pilot and passenger. Second: retractable shoulder
harness for pilot will be standard. (optional for passenger). This will allow
forward movement to reach choke and panel and will lock if needed, such as
some autos have.
Of the 30 certified LSA's in the USA, Allegro 2000 is # 2 in sales!!! There
is also a glass cockpit avaliable now too.
Hope you all have a great summer of flying!
Bob Griffin
LandLsportaviation.com
Other Matronics Email List Services
These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.
-- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --
|