Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Is everyone here to bash Skycatchers?

Thank your Jim!
Best response on this thread so far.
John

On Sunday 08 August 2010 03:55:49 pm Jim Bair wrote:
> Richard,
> Others have already pointed out the math error making the situation even
> worse than you thought. The point I would like to toss out is this. In
> aircraft design, manufacturers and engineers have to design around a
> target, very typically a percentile of the population. For example, the
> military has very stringent physical standards (for a few reasons, but I
> digress) and you will notice there are no 300 pound fighter pilots.
> Ejection seats aren't built to handle that, the cockpits aren't sized for
> them. Someone who doesn't meet the physical size requirements may feel
> that it "isn't fair", but to build a system to handle everyone is building
> in design factors for a very small percentage of the population and
> denying the other 95% of the population performance that could be had if
> they weren't wasting space and weight designing around a huge cockpit. As
> a result, I don't think you're going to find a LSA built for 300# guys and
> their instructors. Personally, I would recommend getting over it and
> accepting it and moving on.
>
> Another recurring theme I see on this and other light aircraft lists is the
> belief that fuel tanks must be filled all the time. People are constantly
> grousing that they can't fill their tanks and all the seats in the airplane
> at the same time. My question is this.... Would they be happier if the
> tanks were half as big so they could fill them? Then they could say, "I
> can fill my tanks and my seats." I would say to that, "I wish my tanks
> were twice as big so when I want to go cross country by myself, I can fill
> the tanks and get decent range." Having large tanks gives more options.
> That concept is quite routine in large airplanes. You can't fill a 747
> with people, cargo, and fuel, and go to Hong Kong from Chicago. To make
> it to HK requires lots of fuel, and not being full of people or cargo. To
> be full of people and cargo, one may only make it Tokyo. Having large
> tanks increases options. So, when you do the math of what you can haul,
> don't always fill the tanks. In my helicopter, I just accept the fact
> that 2 people and half gas is about right on most days. If I wanted to
> take you up, It would be for a short ride when we are low on gas and on a
> cool morning or evening. That isn't a bad thing, it just is what it is.
> If I wanted to take you and I farther and in the middle of the day, then
> we need a bigger helicopter than an R-22. My advice (if you were asking)
> would be to get your dual in a C-172 or even larger.
>
> Jim
>
>
> From: Richard Williams
> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 7:09 PM
> To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Is everyone here to bash
> Skycatchers?
>
>
>
> Anyway, 490 total payload.
> 24 gal fuel.
> (24*6=144)
> 490-144=346 for passengers..
> I'm 300 in my birthday suit.
> so 146 for a co-pilot/instructor.
> Hummmmm
> I'm not sure of any instructors who are that light.
> (Now, a nice lady co-pilot would be real nice.)
>
>
> R. Williams
>

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