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
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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