Thanks for the comments! I went out to Walt's home in Perris, CA to look at
the Laister & discovered it has 0 hours. It was a kit he started, then had
no time for (he was a Continental Airlines captain). It was completed at the
Laister facility, then never flown. It's too small for me at 6'3". I doubt
anyone taller than 6'0" would be able to latch the canopy. Also, my
shoulders touched both canopy railings, but otherwise it felt similar to a
1-26.
Jim
wrote in message
oups.com...
Jim Hultman wrote:
There are few RAS comments on the Laister LP-49. In photos an ungainly
design, but does appear a reasonable transition ship for a low-timer;
31/1
LD, retractable gear, flaps, auto hookups, aluminum wing. How large is
the
cockpit? Anyone here with LP-49 flying & rigging experience?

Jim Hultman,

I owned a LP-49 for a few years & put over 1400 hrs on it with 618
flights. Jack Laister, in my opinion, was a very good designer. I
believe it would be a very good ship for a low timer to transition
into. The cockpit was comfortable for my 185 lb.5ft 11" body. In it's
day it had a lot of features, spring loaded shock absorber retractable
landing gear, gear door went up inside the fuselage when the gear was
lowered. Two separate operations.Tailwheel retracted into the tail
cone at the same time gear was raised. The right materials were used in
the right place, molded fiber glass fuselage, aluminum wings & tail.
Wings tested to 12 g's. Stainless nose skid, simple brake system.
Trailing edge drive brakes where very effective. If I remember
correctly, it's been 26 years since I flew a 49, assembly although
not as easy as my 20, was not too bad.. The ship climbs like a home
sick angel. I highly recommend it.

Cliff Crader