On 31 Oct 2005 12:51:13 -0800, wrote:


Jason Grass wrote:
...
You know, it's not uncommon for a design to linger for
years that has a fatal flaw. Take the Questair Venture for instance.
Turns out that thing is an absolute deathtrap, but it sold for big
bucks for years, and I still see them for sale for high numbers. But I
was at Reno the year 3 of them were destroyed, one fatally, before
people finally started to see the light with that design.

Could you elaborate on that fatal flaw?

One of which is due to the short fulselage, the elevator is
underpowered. That's what killed Henry Boulet and the then president
of Questair. An engine failure on final in the landing configuration,
due to the subsequent loss of airflow over the elevator, the plane
noses over into the ground. It's also very unstable on the ground, and
will roll up in a ball on landing easily. I saw two which that
happened to in Reno at the races. Not to mention the one that the
elevator completely failed, causing the plane to crash, killing the
pilot. Elaborate enough?
You guys are dangerous, you're writing checks your body can't cash!