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/149316
Ju s t A ir c r a f t 's Sup e r S TO L stopped while the steep descent angle barely leaves the pilot a view of the runway ahead. The SuperSTOL does slip nicely, albeit unnecessarily; just pulling power takes care of descent planning. On its shortest landings, the SuperSTOL effortlessly absorbs the impact of touching down at more than 700 fpm. The impact of touchdown transfers practically no feeling to the cockpit seats; instead, the arrivals all feel impact-free, soft, with a short roll dissipating any residual energy. With one fully deployed (on lef) and one shown halfway, these automatic slats on each wing help the SuperSTOL fy slowly and land shorter than normally possible. With a little coaching, Woodland had me able to touch down and stop in less than 75 feet at South Lakeland Airpark. No amount of coaching could, however, bring me to Woodland's level of control: touching down in a headwind with nearly zero forward momentum, holding the tail off the runway, turning and taxiing off to the side, before letting the tail wheel ease down to the grass. And in between? Of course, planes like the Helio can cruise nicely in the 140-knot range; the Porter manages a respectable 115 knots, on several hundred horsepower; the Storch about 95 knots. That's not bad company for the SuperSTOL, which manages about 90 knots with the 29-inch tundra tires, about 95 with the smaller 21inch versions. Shown fully stowed. But few SuperSTOL operators are likely to feel shorted with its ability to shine from runways shorter than a tennis court while carrying two with ample gear for some bush flying at less than half the price of a good, used Helio. Best of all, it benefits from the company's past award-winning design work. Both the Escapade and Highlander won Best Light Plane Awards previously at the Lakeland event—in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The SuperSTOL demonstrator flown for this story received the Reserve Grand Champion LSA award for its builders and owners, Tony and Janet Shuler of Franklin, North Carolina. The success of N272SS in the awards venue follows the tradition of its older siblings; all were customer-built examples entered into the judging at Sun 'n Fun. And that's a testament to the kit as well as to the design itself. Postflight Analysis Slotted ailerons and Fowler faps contribute to slower speeds with full control. 18 Vol.2 No.8 /August 201 3 Despite the look of its giant tundra tires, the massive telescoping main landing gear, and its supports, and aside from the huge flaps and lift-enhancing slats, the SuperSTOL pulls off one healthy imitation of a Helio Photography by Dave Higdon