homebuilt safety

On 19 May 2004 07:52:18 -0700, (Paul Lee)
wrote:

:KLS website is gone because KLS is in process of changing name. KLS
:was a partnership and one of the partners left. The new name
:is Advanced Composite Design, Inc. KLS has also just finished developing
:a new desing of a large plane (tested and flying). Thats explained at m y
:website http://www.abri.com/sq2000

Stan's run through another partnership? That's about on schedule,
they last 3-4 years or so in this business. So that's Shirl, Kurt and
now Keith.
:
:I just came back from SQ2000 factory training.
:I haven't tried the factory model to Vne. I was mainly interested in
:take off and landing skills. But Stan indicated he achieves 230mph
:cruise.

It wouldn be it would be Vmax, not Vne, - maximum cruising speed, not
never exceed speed. I'd be *very* surprised if Stan was getting that
- 360 Long EZ's do 230-235 mph wide open. The 360 Berkut does
235-240, and that's with half the fuselage, and a couple of hundred
pounds less than the Speed Queen. He's probably around 220, a few mph
faster than the Cozy.

:But isn't Cozy IV fixed main gear? That would explain some of
:the difference.

As I said in my previous post, it would explain *some* of the
difference, but not much. A well faired gear produces as much drag as
a couple of whip antennas of the same length.
:
: Landing that fast increases risk, limits the airports you can land at,
: and increases wear. .........
:
:True. But in my case we have two 6800 x 150 foot runways. In SQ2000
:factory flight training I was instructed to touchdown at 90MPH and did
:consistently and the bird exhibited no problem behaviour. I am sure
:that after I get a lot more hours experience like you or Stan, I'll be
:able to cut the landing speed. If you are around Pierre, SD you are
:welcome to check out my bird.

The aircraft is capable of a lower landing speed (or it isn't, but it
probably is). If it is, then you can certainly change your mind and
land slower. The thing that worries me is that you're being trained
to land that fast, and being told that it's a good idea.

:
:Interestingly, while on the subject of safety, about 6 weeks ago, the
:KLS SQ2000 came down in a storm and busted the landing gear. It slid
:down the runway and into a ditch. No injuries, it did not flip over,
:and surprisingly the damage was mainly to the landing gear and the
rop (toothpicks all over) - very little other damage.

Composite airplanes are surprisingly strong. I know of one that was
flipped over by a dust devil on final, hit inverted and tumbled. The
pilot broke his leg, the passenger got a cut on his forhead. Another
lost it's engine on final, went through trees, touched down on a
freeway going the wrong way and went head on with a car. The pilot
was completely unhurt, though every part of the airplane was broken.

Any idea why the airplane ripped out it's gear? I know it was in a
storm, but did he catch the gear on something on touchdown? Excessive
sink rate? The gear should be able to take 3-4 G's without departing
the aircraft,

Richard Riley wrote in message . ..
....
Any idea why the airplane ripped out it's gear? I know it was in a
storm, but did he catch the gear on something on touchdown? Excessive
sink rate? The gear should be able to take 3-4 G's without departing
the aircraft,

It didn't actually rip out. They hit the gear sideways in the storm.
Its not a fixed gear and the lower brace pivot pin sheared and of
course the whole thing folded up under the fuselage then. You can see
how it is contructed at http://www.abri.com/sq2000/rg06.jpg

Its similar to Infinity gear design http://www.infinityaerospace.com/infgear.htm

Stan has since then reinforced the pin mountings. And I am modifying mine
in a different way.

Richard Riley wrote in message . ..
On 19 May 2004 07:52:18 -0700, (Paul Lee)
wrote:

Stan's run through another partnership? That's about on schedule,
they last 3-4 years or so in this business. So that's Shirl, Kurt and
now Keith.
...

The new arrangement is a corporation and not a partnership. That's the
way it should have been in the first place so that there is no need
for change of name in case somebody wants out - they just sell their
part of the shares. I think initially the partners just really wanted
each to get a SQ2000 copy. But I suppose after a few years a person is
not interested in the daily operation of the factory. I guess I am
more familiar with the case because I have been in touch getting
building support from KLS over almost 3 years.