Per Juan Vega:
> pull up the archives, i brought up the issue of VNE and Max
manauvering speeds over one year ago, but the back room engineers
ignored it.
>
> Fly it and follow the specs. My guess is the guys flying and that
augered in ignored the flight envelope of the aircraft. BUILD IT TO
PLANS AND FLY IT TO SPECS.
Ok. The zenith website listssome specs for the XL and now the 650as:
Max cruise @sea level 138 mph
75% cruise @8000' 160 mph
VNE 180 mph
G load (ultimate) +/- 6 g
However when I received my plans the VNE is listed as 160 mph
this is an excerpt from the specs page:
Vigorous performance:
"My evaluation of cruise speed showed about 140 mph at 2800-2900 rpm,
however, the company plans a different prop for Sport Pilot.
If we look at these numbers and keep in mind that part of testing a
newly built aircraft is to prove these numbers, how many of you feel
safe taking your XL up to 180 mph?
How about the g load testing. At +/- 6 that should mean a safe limit of
+/- 4 (why doesn't zenith state this) with a 50% margin. would you feel
safe at a +4g steep turn? A typical loop produces about 3.8 to 4 gs How
about inverted pushing up at -4g?
How do we decide whether VNE is 160 or 180. if it's 160 what about this
75% cruise of 160.
I'm sorry but something is wrong here and we deserve factual answers,
not this garbage expecting blind faith. I'm building my XL. I like
almost everything about the design, but I will gladly sacrifice an extra
50lbs. of weight making it seriously strong. When the day comes that I
fly it for the first time I want to know without reservation that it
isn't coming apart, period.
Dirk Z
