Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/84816
At 5 feet, 8 inches tall, author Tim Kern had plenty of headroom in the LT-1. But even a 6-foot, 5-inch tall pilot had plenty of clearance for a headset. Cockpit width is 27 inches. plane that is built right, flies right, and is fun to fly. This plane makes me smile." How big is that smile? "From seeing the line drawing in Greg Cole's shop to doing the fi rst fl ight to test-fl ying it, well, I've put a deposit on one." Len Fox, professional test pilot, will be the owner of LT-1 serial number three. Darryl Greenamyer Weighs In Eleven-time Reno champion Darryl Greenamyer had a complaint: "I wish it went a thousand miles an hour faster." He laughed and said, "I'm just used to faster machines, but this airplane fl ies well and is easy to control." Darryl acknowledged that "He [Andy] has had some engine Photography courtesy Andy Chiavetta problems, but he's got them worked out. That's the only criticism I've had, and he's worked them out. He's still experimenting, though, making the engine better, and I think he has an- other idea, too," possibly referring to the turbocharged version of the HKS. He continued, "The LT-1 flies well; it's easy to control. It handles well, feels good, is good. The airplane flies fine, works fine, has good speed for its power." Darryl, who is responsible for the name "LT-1" (the meaning of which is a secret, perhaps like the British "Lola" race car name), added that it "flies the pattern well; it has good low-speed handling. Some may want flaps, but I don't see the need." He summed up: "I like it." Specifications and Performance The single-seat plane is little, with 60 square feet of wing like a Formula 1 racer, but it's not a racing wing. The wingspan is 20.8 feet, and there are no flaps. It's simpler that way, and it doesn't need them. Overall length is just 15 feet. The world's ti- niest trim tab, half the size of a stick of chewing gum, is on one elevator. Tiny stall dams on the leading edges aren't any longer than a cell phone. With 18 gallons of gas in the two- wing tanks, minimum endurance should be well more than four hours, plus reserves. Still, the LT-1 is comfortable and capable. With a useful load of 293 EAA EXPERIMENTER 21