Getting close to asking for airworthiness... and noticed my Pilots Operating Handbook gives Limit Gs' allowed as 4.5, but does not specify for which of the three airframes the POH covers: 235, 320 and 360.

It also gives allowable gross as 1400# for the 235,  and 1685# for the 320 and 360.

Sounds like the gross limit for the 235 is because of lower HP, not airframe... do you have a reference spec? 

Terry,

 

Interesting question for a 235.  Lancair did a static G-test on the 300 series plane by loading the inverted craft's wings with sandbags to 9Gs.  If I remember correctly, there was no failure at that load.  I also believe that this test was done on wings constructed before the "cap-strip" rib-to-skin technique was used.

 

Lancair later raised the "suggested" max gross weight to 1800 but, if I remember correctly, kept the landing max weight at 1685.  These things were documented in Lancair Factory newsletters that may be available at the www.Lancaironline.net site (Marv?).

 

It is interesting that Lancair's ultimate load limit is 2 times the max G when the usual STC's planes use 1.5 times.  In any event,

(1685/1800)x4.5G=4.2G, still a pretty good max G load limit.

 

Note that a critical factor is what weight the landing gear was designed to withstand.  For your airworthiness W&B you may state any GW that you want (within reason).  I am sure a flying 235'er can describe the effects of being overweight or out of CG. 

 

I have flown my 320 at an estimated 1960 lbs only to find that the AP altitude hold slowly wandered up and down until the weight got down to 1900 lbs (burned off ten gallons).  Uh, I try to be gentle on all landings regardless of the weight ultimately contacting the pavement.