Any crash is worrisome in the extreme.  Recognizing that grim reality, wouldn’t it make more sense and contribute to future flight safety to expeditiously and thoughtfully investigate rather than rushing to judgment and pontificate? 

 

As a start to trying to productively focus on the IVP accidents, what do knowledgeable professionals like Pete Zaccagnino and the plane’s aerodynamicists and design engineers have to say about this rash of tragedies?  How about hearing from Joe Bartels and Lance, himself, as well as pilots and builders with professional credentials who can help us all understand what has gone on and what we can expect from the flight characteristics of properly constructed IVPs?

 

For what it’ worth, mine was built by Mike Mahar and now has more than 1200 hours on it since its debut in 1997.  Mike insisted that I fly with him until he was satisfied BEFORE he would let me buy it. And in that time he ceaselessly a short list of important things into my thick-skulled head:  

 

1) this aircraft likes to go fast and gets very challenging when you make it go slow, sooooooo keep it above 100 knots or more whenever possible;

 

2) always, always, always keep the ball in the center;

 

3) remember that this is supposed to be fun and flying in environments like convective activity and icing situations just ain’t worth it.

 

I now have 300 very enjoyable hours in this bird and have no reason to subscribe to the idea that I’ve just been lucky and it’s just waiting to bite me.  But
I’d feel a lot better about my beliefs (hopes?) if people with relevant knowledge bases weighed in.  Professionals, the floor is yours.

 

Jack Cowell

IVP serial #166  N166JC

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Jim Cameron
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 10:33 AM
To: Lancair Mailing List
Subject: [LML] IV's and IV-P's -- unsafe at any speed?