RA,

 

BS.

 

The rest of this has nothing to do with a specific crash.

 

As others will point out, your emphasis on the 320/360 tail is overdone.  In addition, anyone that writes for a part 43 (?) certificated GA airplane magazine has a questionable bias against EXPERIMENTAL airplanes.  Even though the FAA has allowed airplanes such as the Tomahawk and those killer twins (you know, where the engines are out on the wings), we train GA pilots are trained to the same level of mediocrity - the rest of the skill set is up to the individual, sometimes thru trial and error.

 

For those that are interested, The CAFE flight tests for 360, Legacy and IVP are at the following site. Slog thru the data and decide for yourself on whether or not the flight characteristics take away from their superior flight performance. 

 

 

BTW, I fly a small tail 320 and find it stable enough thru the full range of weights and CG (uh, I don't like rearward CG).  Remember that the 200/300 series EXPERIMENTAL Lancairs have one of the most unique wings flying today - reflex flaps that actually reduce drag.  Sure, Lancair added the silly 6 ft. tail for additional stability - then they had to add the extended engine mount to overcome a more aft CG.  Of course, then the cowl had to be extended.  Yada. Yada.

 

For those of you that now feel guilty about flying an EXPERIMENTAL airplane, read the following over reaction......

 

 

Yes, just like the "good" chauffeur, I stay away from the precipice edge as far as possible, but I still take the trip. I must be nuts!

 

Grayhawk

 

Piloting the fastest, most unsafe, retractable gear, IO 320 tractor powered, heavier than air machine in these here whereabouts.  A plane designed and built in the last century and still flying in this one.