George wrote “If you agree with me I urge you to lobby
the "powers to be " at Lancair to get the 4-P's back in their promotional
and advertising schemes.”
It is good for the Lancair community to make their concerns
and recommendations heard to the new management at Lancair. Some clarifying
statements about continuing production and support of all the currently-produced
aircraft would be most welcome.
Let me make the case for the “plain vanilla”
Lancair IV, non-turbo, non-pressurized which normally resides in the shadow of
the P versions. It is a truly unique aircraft, totally unappreciated
by many. I recognize the “plain vanilla” version may not
scratch the primal urge itch to go FASTER!, HIGHER!, FASTER!, HIGHER!
But setting primal urges aside, consider the following for
the non-turbo non-P Lancair IV
·
65% LOP cruise speed at 8500 of 220+ knots on 13
gallons per hour, the same speed as a Piper Malibu at 25,000 feet at less than
one third of the price and two thirds the fuel flow.
·
50 knots faster than a new Cirrus SR-22 at one
half the price.
·
Empty weight of 1980 pounds meaning you can put 700
pounds in the cabin and full fuel, takeoff weight of about 3200 pounds, and
maintain good runway and climb performance while getting 1300 NM range with
reserves.
·
Transcontinental, one day, one stop.
·
Fuel costs, maintenance costs, maintenance
reserve, and insurance costs are all at least 30% below the piston P versions.
·
Above 160 knots IAS, the plain vanilla LIV
has lower drag and thus lower fuel flow than an RV-6! And carries
twice as many people while doing it.
·
95% of the speed of the Legacy with the same
engine, but with four people on board. The 5% speed deficiency costs
about three minutes per hour.
Like the IVP, the plain vanilla IV is in a class
by itself in terms of performance, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. There
is a market for this package of benefits that compliments the market for HIGHER
and FASTER provided by the P versions. It is overlooked too often,
but makes a lot of sense for old retired guys like me that like to watch the
landscape pass by close enough to be interesting. I have flown the
flight levels, and find them boring.
Fred Moreno