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
Aerochia's First: The LT-1 pounds, it will haul a standard pilot, 15 pounds of luggage, and full tanks off a short runway. The cabin is 27-½-inches wide. That doesn't sound like a lot, but think about how wide a two-place, 55-inch cabin would feel! (For reference, a Cessna 172 is 39-½-inches wide, seated two across.) Tall pilots will fit, as well. At AirVenture, one 6-foot, 5-inch volunteer hopped in, and he fit, with headset clearance on top and "didn't have to move the rudder pedals" legroom. When I put my 5-foot, 8-inch frame in the cockpit, there was a mile of space above me, and I could barely reach the pedals. (I wasn't wearing a para- chute, but I was sitting on the foam pad.) Visibility was astounding. Looking ahead, even from my artificially low position, was plenty adequate; I could just see the wings in my peripheral vision. Even with the round fuselage dominating your sight picture, keeping the wings level without relying on instruments should be a breeze. Yes, more compact pilots will be able to fly the plane. Darryl, while a giant in the record books, is smaller than I am, and he's flown the LT-1 many times. The LT-1 is aerobatic at +6/-4g, but it does not have inverted fuel and oil systems. Simple, remember? At minimum weight and with a better airbox/filter arrangement, the LT-1 should easily make its claim of 1,000 fpm climb; the 650 fpm figure for MTOW climb also looks realistic. Offi cial, pilot's operating handbook– style V-speeds have not been de- termined, but design speeds of 120 knots at 60 percent and full speed at 140 knots are still listed on the web- site. But only 129 knots have been achieved so far. Remember, though, there are no wheelpants on this little machine, and they'll make a huge im- provement. VNE is listed as 180 knots. The Plane's Boss Andy likes to make things out of composite materials, and since his days as a hardcore skimboarder, his craftsmanship has been an T e LT-1 is powered by the 60-hp HKS 700-E engine. T e turbine HKS engine could also be an option. 22 NO. 2/OCTOBER 2012