Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #54800
From: Bill N5ZQ <n5zq@verizon.net>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: [LML] Fox Article
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:45:12 -0400
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
Message
Lynn,
 
Everything you say below is absolutely true. The reason that 61 knots is even marginally significant is that is the max Vso allowed for single engine airplanes certificated under part 23. Since we are not bound by part 23 our Vso can be higher. Hence, this is just one of the many differences one might find between certificated and experimental aircraft. Why FAA jumped on this number that has no particular significance for experimental aircraft, I have no idea.
 
Bill Harrelson
N5ZQ 320 1.750 hrs
N6ZQ  IV under construction
 
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of farnsworth
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 4:06 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Fox Article

My reply to Fox News

 

There is nothing holy, sacred or even significant about a 61 mph stalling speed. Why not pick 41 or 51 or 161 mph? All aircraft that are used by the airlines have a stalling speed greater than 61 mph. Does that make their aircraft unsafe?

 

The fact of the matter is that a given aircraft has many "stalling speeds". The speed varies with weight, number or "G" forces and even altitude and temperature will affect the true airspeed at which an aircraft will stall.

 

It appears to me, that the person who wrote this article did so with an eye toward damning Lancairs and experimental aircraft in general. The Lancair aircraft that landed on the beach did not do so as a result of a stall, but mechanical failure. So why the fascination with stall speeds? Even the widely referenced "Piper Cub" will stall with just enough speed to kill a person!

 

I can address this article from many many years of flying experience that include: Piper Cubs, jet fighters, airliners and Lancair aircraft. I have often stated that the Lancair Legacy, that I fly, is one of the best flying aircraft I have ever flown.

 

Lynn Farnsworth

Super Legacy #235

TSIO-550 Powered

Race #44

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