"Montblack" wrote in message
...
I have heard and read (meaning stumbled across) very little about the
Extra 400 and 500 - saw some at OSH, that's it. I wonder if it's because
so few are flying?

As far as I know, the 400 is no longer being produced, and the 500 isn't
certified yet. That information isn't exactly current though.

However, that doesn't mean that the airplanes aren't viable, and especially
not because of their wing position. Their lack of success in the market has
to do with issues like price, pilot qualifications, lack of "brand name" (in
the non-aerobatic world) and (in the case of the 500) lack of a deliverable
airplane.

IMHO, the price is the biggest issue. Just as they finally got the 400 into
production, the stock market collapsed, and around that same time several
light jet proposals appeared, promising twin-engine jet performance at the
same price as the 400. Given the slow production rate, I think a lot of
people figured if they were going to be on a waiting list, they might as
well wait for a jet.

I seriously doubt that the position of the wing has anything to do with the
relative obscurity of the 400/500 line.

Pete