B a r r a c u d a!
have to do is burn more fuel. Landing is easy. I do not let
the airspeed get below 75 knots, slowing down over the
fence. With flaps and gear down, the speed bleeds off
fast in the flair.
The Barracuda was designed to hold 44 gallons of fuel, which
equates to about three hours in the air, but that is pushing the
envelope. My longest legs have been no more than two hours
and 45 minutes, which takes me more than 500 nautical miles.
Owning and flying this plane have simply been a joy. Everywhere I go it draws a crowd. Some time ago I took off
behind a friend's Baron. I quickly caught up to him in the
climb and told him to look out his left window. As I sped past
him I did a roll. That's what this plane was made for—and
just how Peter Garrison described it so many years ago.
My long wait was well worth it. I have finally caught the
elusive Barracuda.
Barracuda designer Geofrey Siers with his Barracuda on the cover of the
January 1976 issue of Sport Aviation. Te Barracuda was named
Best New Design at Oshkosh '75.
24
Vol.2 No.1 / January 2013