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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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Dear LML'ers
Most of the discussion on this website centers around building hints and
avionics. I thought I would sprinkle in a little discussion of actually
flying these fantastic aircraft. In my case it is a iv-p with about 400+hrs
on it. Last week I flew it from my home base at Colorado Springs to
Anchorage Alaska. One stop for fuel in Spokane, then overflew Canada and
landed in Juneau where I spent the night. Anchorage was only 2 1/2hrs
flying time from there. Circling around Mt. McKinley at 17,500 was a
highlight. I told the controller that the scenery was spectacular and she
replied that they average 3 clear days like that during the month of August.
On the way back after departing Sitka and encountering light rime at
19,000ft. I asked for higher and was in the climb to fl250 when I heard a
King Air flying at fl250 get cleared to Portland OR. The King Air asked the
controller if the Lancair was faster. The controller replied that the
Lancair was 10knots faster ( remember I was climbing ). We were both
cleared to Portland and once I leveled off my KLN 90B calculate mode showed
a TAS of 290kts! I must have been overtaking the King Air because as we both
descended the controller told the King Air to maintain his forward speed and
asked me to not exceed 210 kts. I replied that I was SLOWING to 210kts
(from IAS of about 220). Granted the King Air goes through known icing and
can carry more people, but the price of having fun is pretty reasonable in
the Lancair! Not to mention Sitka to Portland in a little over 4hrs.
Incidentally, I have the Mach numbers taped right on the panel so as not to
exceed redline on descent. I hope this will inspire those in the building
stage to persevere to the end.
Safe flying, John Wright
LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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