“…through footless halls of air…”
Hard at work: Jim Lee, left, and me
Ready for sky: Phoenix with the long wing extensions.
Climb over 1000 fpm at 57 knots
A beautiful Rotax 912 ULS (100hp) installation
Wonderful aerodynamic lines and just plain beautiful.
Nothing like getting some air. *** Thanks to Jim Lee of Phoenix Air USA, I finally had my desire: Jim and I flew the fabulous new Phoenix LSA motorglider, with both wingtips (max span: 49 feet!) out of his home base at Melbourne International Airport, Florida, and I have to say simply this: it cured my winter blues.Or to paraphrase Renée Zellwegger, “Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at liftoff.” *** To say the Phoenix lives up to its advance billing is understatement, plain and simple: it’s a wonderful airplane for anybody who desires to have friendly Light-Sport handling (2 second roll rate, 45° to 45°), wonderful engine-off soaring performance (200 fpm sink rate), excellent and comfortable XC cruise (100 knots at 75%), comfortable, semi-reclined seats, great visibility with the sleek bubble canopy and forward rake of the cowl, beautiful lines, wonderful engine package… need I go on?I’ll let the pix do the talking for now. Expect my flight report in Plane & Pilot magazine soon. *** Tomorrow… Sebring 2011 Light-Sport Expo! *** Stay tuned for my daily reports. The rumors be flyin’ about lots of exciting new developments in what we all hope is a move-up year for the economy, and the aviation industry.
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