On Fri, 5 Jan 2007 08:13:48 -0800, "Richard Isakson" wrote:

Have to define "successful," and "low-cost," too. The Polen Special
probably cost no more to build than an RV-3 yet performed better,


That depends on how you define "performed better". I once talked to a guy
that flew the Polen Special and he said the airplane is a real handfull to
fly. By all reports, the RV-3 as a nice airplane to fly. So, which
airplane performs better?

Yup. Hammer Harris likes his BD-5s, but does say they aren't for beginning
pilots. Most of the "World's Smallest Aircraft" contenders (Stits Sky Baby,
etc.) ain't for the faint of heart, either.

A 100 MPH aircraft at 2,000 feet performs better than a 400 MPH contrail
pointing to a smoking hole....

Ron Wanttaja