In all likelyhood the answer is yes, it would be faster, both in
cruise and stall. I've flown a Zodiac and it was not a fast airplane,
man that wing is THICK.

And to answer the question about putting the turbo normalized Rotax
engine on an RV wing. Why not just build a longer (custom) engine
mount on the standard RV airframe and redo the fiberglass cowling.
You'd end up with a lighter plane and have the CG where you wanted it.
Also the longer nose (besides looking turbine cool) will save drag
because you're getting the prop a little further from the canopy and
wing roots. And yes the longer moment arm will increase the time
required for spin recovery, but it will also make it a more stable IFR
platform in pitch and yaw.

Also, the big difference between the RV and Europa on kit price is the
amount of labor you're going to have to put in. Assuming people with
equal skill in the respective contsruction materials, you're going to
be done faster with the Europa. The Europa is top of my list right
now because my time is more limited than my budget.

Regards



(VideoFlyer) wrote in message ...
Well, considering the differences in chord, span and thickness,
my guess is - it won't fit.


Well duh.

Dang...there go my plans for this weekend! LOL!

I realize that it wouldn't fit. I guess my question is more along the lines
of:

"With a thinner wing, more like the one on an RV, would the Zodiac XL have
higher speeds? (both cruise and stall?)

Or more simply, why is the XL so much slower than the RV? Is the thick wing
the MAIN reason? (I realize there are many reasons) More horsepower does not
necessarily net higher speeds. Reducing drag does.