How similar are the 1-34 and 2-32 to fly?

On Jul 16, 5:32 pm, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...

Just wondering how similar these two ships are to fly. Performance
numbers seem to be in the same neighborhood. I've been flying our
club's 1-34 and have gotten comfortable with it. What should I expect
if I were to step into the 2-32?

In certain respects, particularly energy management in the pattern, the
1-34 and the 2-32 are very similar. To me, flying a 2-32 is much like driving
around in a big 'ole 1969 Caddy. It can be a comfortable experience, you have
plenty of room in the cockpit, you have a cushy ride, you have that 1960's
ambience, but don't expect it to handle like a sports car because that ain't
what it is.

On final the 2-32 can be really fun, pull the spoilers all the way out and
you suddenly have about the same L/D as a real 1969 Caddy.

Growing up in the 'burbs in the 70's, we had a name for something like
a 1969 Caddy. The term was "road sofa." In some respects, that's
how I view the 2-32. I especially love the trim wheel; if there were
a throttle I'd swear I was in a light twin :-)

Someone else mentioned the divebrakes. That's also a real hoot. I
watched the local ride pilot turn short final at about 800 feet this
past Sunday into a 20kt headwind. Popped out the boards and pushed
the nose over to about 80kts indicated. L/D approximates a set of
car keys. Down and stopped on the runway in a couple hundred
feet.

Can't really do that in an LS1.

P3