 |
Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
psm(at)att.net
Guest
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:47 am Post subject: Warning - Slightly off topic - Yankee vs. Zodiac and specs |
 |
|
Hi Mark,
Like you, I have always liked the Yankee. I got a demo ride in one
ca. 1967 when it was a shiny new entry into the light plane
market. Its roll rate was so fast you could get a special kind of dizzy.
Unfortunately, it developed a horrible accident record. Probably
because of the very high stall speed and small wings (that made it
handle with so much spirit) it was beyond the skill level of many of
the low time pilots who were attracted to it. I agree with your
comment it had a strong structure, but its handling was just too
"Good". Its follow on 4-place design, the AA-5 just never made a big
hit on the market. In my experience, the quality of the factory
built AA-5s just wasn't very good - too many rattling parts.
The Zodiac XL is a departure from the Zodiac line in a couple of
ways. The biggest visible change is the long tapered wing instead of
the shorter bent wing of previous models. The current list of
updates being handed out to American owners suggests this wing change
was not engineered with the same robustness as the previous
models. We all hope the update fixes this shortcoming and the plane
recovers its leadership position in the market.
The other big change in the XL is the early adoption of the LSA
concept and performance specifications. This caused several years of
continual changing in the design and the specifications. The LSA
standard kept changing before final adoption and the XL design kept
trying to keep up with the limits of the changes. This is only part
of the reason for big changes in XL specifications. The other one is
the normal tendency airplane designers and sellers have to give their
product more attractive numbers than are justified. This is not a
new phenomenon.
In practice, I don't think the difference between any airplane's real
performance and it's glossy brochure numbers are a big deal. One of
my friends makes a handsome living ferrying airplanes around the
country. He says the only way to get improved average speed is to
extend each flight to the maximum length of time. The time to land,
refuel, eat and smell the roses between flight legs is a lot more
significant than the small differences in airspeed that happen as you
adjust the throttle and mixture. I understand it is an issue to get
really high airspeed numbers. This makes me feel good too. Alas,
this is one of the least important characteristics of any plane.
I respect your choice to have your plane taken apart and stored in
the corners of your hangar. Mine has been that way for 7 months
now. I am looking forward to installing the mods and getting my
plane in the air. I suspect you will feel that way too several
months from now.
I wish you the best.
Paul
XL moving on to installing the new changes
At 05:16 AM 11/10/2009, you wrote:
| Quote: | At the moment the plane is to be dis-assembled and put in the corner
of the hanger. The prime spot will be occupied by a Grumman AA-1 if
I can find one. It is so strong that the people would probably be
flattened before the wing complains. If all this blows over and one
can get reasonable liability insurance in the future, the updates
might be done. Otherwise, there will be an engine and radios with a
big metal bracket for sale.
--------
Mark Hubelbank
N708HU
CH601XL
|
| | - The Matronics Zenith601-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith601-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
mhubel
Joined: 05 Sep 2009
Posts: 141
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Warning - Slightly off topic - Yankee vs. Zodiac and s |
|
|
Paul,
I agree the AA1 is a bit wild. I have flown Grummans for 20 years. I know they are in the class of you love them or you hate them. I find their aggressive handling to be part of the fun. I sort of look forward to an AA-1 as it is even more demanding than the AA-5.
The local Grumman group used to even have a winter ice landing event just to make things even more interesting. It has been a while since the lake has been frozen well enough to do it.
If you ask the question, would I put a AA-1 in the hands of a very low time pilot who has just flown C-150s on long runways? No. They may have been called trainers at one time but maybe that really implied trainer for jet fighter pilots.
| | - The Matronics Zenith601-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith601-List |
|
_________________
Mark Hubelbank
N708HU
CH601XL
Jabiru 3300
Rotec TBI 40-3 carb
Sensenich ground adj prop.
240 hr TAF
Pictures at photo.hubbles.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
Get Email Distribution Too!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
