X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 10:21:37 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from vms173005pub.verizon.net ([206.46.173.5] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.8) with ESMTP id 6703603 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:21:13 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=206.46.173.5; envelope-from=n5zq@verizon.net Received: from BillHP ([unknown] [108.44.173.150]) by vms173005.mailsrvcs.net (Sun Java(tm) System Messaging Server 7u2-7.02 32bit (built Apr 16 2009)) with ESMTPA id <0N0000324Z66RP10@vms173005.mailsrvcs.net> for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:20:31 -0600 (CST) X-Original-Message-id: <5EC06D98221E43E98E9AFA90E402095A@BillHP> From: "Bill Harrelson" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" X-Original-Cc: References: In-reply-to: Subject: Re: [LML] Lancair 235 info X-Original-Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:20:30 -0500 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_02D4_01CF1AAA.26474080" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-priority: Normal Importance: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Windows Live Mail 15.4.3538.513 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V15.4.3538.513 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_02D4_01CF1AAA.26474080 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello David, You are demonstrating very good judgment in seeking advice from = knowledgeable folks in the Lancair community before committing to a = purchase. I=E2=80=99ll will try to give you my best advice. By way of = background, I have about 2,200 hours in Lancair 320/360 and 235 = airplanes (mostly 320). Another 550 in Lancair IVs and somewhere north = of 27,000 total time.=20 The 235 is a great little airplane, fast, efficient and economical. It = is not, however, a bush plane by any stretch. It is possible that a 235 = can be landed safely on a smooth, firm, long, dry (preferably rolled) = sod runway IF proper soft field techniques are used. It is possible = that a 235 can be landed safely in 2,000 ft IF proper short field = techniques are used. Both soft and short field techniques are skills = that are best acquired after you have gained considerable experience in = this plane on long, hard surfaced runways. Combining soft and short = field techniques with a new Lancair pilot is a scenario that has a very, = very high likelihood of a bad outcome. As those on the Lancair Mail List have heard me say many times; these = airplanes are not difficult to fly...but they are different. It is a = good bet that the 235 flies considerably differently than ANY other = airplane you may have flown. It requires...demands, Lancair specific = training with a Lancair proficient instructor. Gaining Lancair = experience at Landers Loop airport would be an ill advised undertaking. = One of the biggest problems that I see is that the runway is not only = too rough and too short but it is way too narrow. The pine tree branches = on opposite sides of the runway are only 100 ft apart at some spots and = the two hangars on opposite sides of the runway near the northeast end = are only 120 ft apart. Due to the semi reclined seating position and the = fact that in the 235 your eyes are almost half way back the fuselage = from the nose, the runway ahead is NOT visible during a properly done = soft field take off OR landing (nose high ground roll). Forward = visibility in this situation can only be obtained looking left of the = nose. David, I believe that the probability of mixing fiberglass with = pine splinters at your field looks quite high in a Lancair. Frankly, it = is not a field that I would be comfortable operating a 235 from. I hate to discourage anyone from experiencing a Lancair. They really are = exceptional aircraft. But in your particular environment, I would have = to advise that it seems unlikely to prove a safe operation. I hope that = this helps in your decision. Please feel free to call me at (five four = zero) 372-8738 if I can be of further assistance. Regards, Bill Harrelson Fredericksburg, VA Landers Loop airport: Google Earth. N35 23=E2=80=99 = 56.07=E2=80=9D W093 04=E2=80=99 04.71=E2=80=9D David, I will post your question on the Lancair Mailing List for input from = L235 owners who may have experience with grass strips. My opinion is 2000' is too short even for a paved strip and grass would = be too hard on the landing gear. Let's see what the 235 guys have to = say. Steve Colwell Sent from my iPhone On Jan 26, 2014, at 5:29 AM, Claudette wrote: Answer him pls. Can't really operate that small gear on grass can u Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Date: January 25, 2014 at 10:57:16 AM CST To: c.colwell@lancairowners.com Subject: Lancair info Reply-To: ergo@ipa.net Mr. Colwell, I have very recently considered a Lancair 235. I am in Arkansas and = live on a 2000 ft grass airstrip. I don't really know anyone with a = lancair near me. I live near RUE to the north on Landers Loop Private. = I have looked online and don't really see much on performance and = durability/safety. I would like to visit with someone that would have = legitimate knowledge to give me some advice. I appreciate any help you = may be able to lend! Thanks, David Wilbanks 479 857-0961. =20 ------=_NextPart_000_02D4_01CF1AAA.26474080 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hello David,
 
You are demonstrating very good = judgment in=20 seeking advice from knowledgeable folks in the Lancair community before=20 committing to a purchase. I=E2=80=99ll will try to give you my best = advice. By way of=20 background, I have about 2,200 hours in Lancair 320/360 and 235 = airplanes=20 (mostly 320). Another 550 in Lancair IVs and somewhere north of 27,000 = total=20 time.
 
The 235 is a great little airplane, = fast,=20 efficient and economical. It is not, however, a bush plane by any = stretch. It is=20 possible that a 235 can be landed safely on a smooth, firm, long, = dry=20 (preferably rolled) sod runway IF proper soft field techniques are = used. =20 It is possible that a 235 can be landed safely in 2,000 ft  = IF=20 proper short field techniques are used.  Both soft and short field=20 techniques are skills that are best acquired after you have gained = considerable=20 experience in this plane on long, hard surfaced runways.  Combining = soft=20 and short field techniques with a new Lancair pilot is a scenario = that=20 has a very, very high likelihood of a bad outcome.
 
As those on the Lancair Mail List have = heard me=20 say many times; these airplanes are not difficult to fly...but they are=20 different. It is a good bet that the 235 flies considerably differently = than ANY=20 other airplane you may have flown. It requires...demands, Lancair = specific=20 training with a Lancair proficient instructor. Gaining Lancair = experience at=20 Landers Loop airport would be an ill advised undertaking. One of the = biggest=20 problems that I see is that the runway is not only too rough and too = short but=20 it is way too narrow. The pine tree branches on opposite sides of the = runway are=20 only 100 ft apart at some spots and the two hangars on opposite sides of = the=20 runway near the northeast end are only 120 ft apart. Due to the semi = reclined=20 seating position and the fact that in the 235 your eyes are almost half = way back=20 the fuselage from the nose, the runway ahead is NOT visible during a = properly=20 done soft field take off OR landing (nose high ground roll). Forward = visibility=20 in this situation can only be obtained looking left of the nose. David, = I=20 believe that the probability of mixing fiberglass with pine splinters at = your=20 field looks quite high in a Lancair. Frankly, it is not a field that I = would be=20 comfortable operating a 235 from.
 
I hate to discourage anyone from = experiencing a=20 Lancair. They really are exceptional aircraft. But in your particular=20 environment, I would have to advise that it seems unlikely to prove a = safe=20 operation. I hope that this helps in your decision. Please feel free to = call me=20 at (five four zero) 372-8738 if I can be of further = assistance.
 
Regards,
 
 
Bill Harrelson
Fredericksburg, VA
 
 
 
 
Landers Loop=20 airport:      Google Earth.   =20 N35   23=E2=80=99  =20 56.07=E2=80=9D          = ;  =20 W093     04=E2=80=99     =20 04.71=E2=80=9D
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David,
I will post your question on the Lancair Mailing List for input = from L235=20 owners who may have experience with grass strips.
My opinion is 2000' is too short even for a paved strip and grass = would be=20 too hard on the landing gear.  Let's see what the 235 guys have to=20 say.
Steve Colwell

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 26, 2014, at 5:29 AM, Claudette <colwell.ch@gmail.com>=20 wrote:

Answer him pls.  Can't really operate that small gear on = grass can=20 u


Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: <ergo@ipa.net>
Date: = January 25,=20 2014 at 10:57:16 AM CST
To: c.colwell@lancairowners.com
Subject:=20 Lancair info
Reply-To: ergo@ipa.net

Mr. Colwell,

I have very = recently considered a Lancair 235.  I am in Arkansas and live = on a 2000=20 ft grass airstrip.  I don't really know anyone with a lancair = near me.=20 I live near RUE to the north on Landers Loop Private.  I have = looked=20 online and don't really see much on performance and = durability/safety. =20 I would like to visit with someone that would have legitimate = knowledge to=20 give me some advice.  I appreciate any help you may be able to=20 lend!

Thanks,
David = Wilbanks
479 857-0961.  =20 =
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