Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 11:56:00 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1794314@logan.com>
From: "Skip Slater" <skipslater@earthlink.net>
References: <list-1794218@logan.com>
Subject: Re: [LML] Start Up of N104PT
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Brian,
   Congrats on finishing your plane so fast.  I have to eat some crow, as I
said last year that I didn't think it could be done.  I join Stu in
wondering what it must have cost though!
   One thing in your post jumped out at me though and that's your gross
weight figure of 4100 pounds.  That's 600 more than advertised for the
L-IV-P and 900 above max advertised landing weight.  What did you do to
raise the weights so much?
   Also of note is the wing loading you'll have at.  At 4100 lbs, based on a
wing area of 98 sq ft, your wing loading is almost 42 lbs/ sq ft.  By
comparison, the IV and IV-P, at their gross weight of 3200 lbs are 32.65 and
the ES (also at 3200 lbs), with it's 140 sq ft wing area is 22.85.  I assume
you must have done something structurally to allow the higher weights, but
unless you increased the wing area (and your photo shows you don't have
winglets), you're going to have some eye watering max gross takeoff and
landing speeds, not to mention the glide ratio of a clean brick should you
ever experience a power loss at anywhere near 4100 lbs.
   Can you share with us your thoughts on this topic?
   Thanks and best of luck on the first flight,
   Skip Slater
   N540ES