Long and slender, notice the compound wing angles on the new Phoenix SLSA. photo courtesy Phoenix Air
The comfy Phoenix cockpit. A glass screen digital instrument is available. photo courtesy Phoenix Air
Soaring champion Jim Lee sits on the wing of his new Phoenix motorglider. photo courtesy Phoenix Air
I’ve had the pleasure to fly more than 350 light airplanes of every conceivable description. Most of those experiences brought a smile to my face. A few genuinely stirred my soul. Though I started in powered aircraft I found my way to gliders and to soaring, which I freely admit is my favorite aviation challenge. To rise high above the Earth using only swirling currents of air is magical. *** An extra benefit was acquiring confidence about landing without an engine. To many power pilots, an engine-out landing is scary. But every landing in a glider involves but one approach. You know what? You get comfortable with it and now when I fly a power plane, I don’t worry as much about a loss of power. My power plane will just become a glider and I know how to handle that. *** So with great anticipation over an eventual test flight, I am delighted to announce the Phoenix was certified as SLSA #111 in August 2010. Immediately afterward, U.S. importer Jim Lee of Phoenix Air USA flew the slender winged bird from California to Florida! Check out his travel blog; it’s written in a brief, enjoyable style with some terrific photos. *** Offering a few tidbits before a full pilot report to follow… Phoenix has full span flaperons that operate on lovely, compound angle wings that end in tasteful winglets. She’s a picture of grace. Phoenix can also swap wings. Jim reported, “It takes about a minute to remove both [span extending] wingtips, and another minute to install the short tips.” Check these install images. A center console houses the flap, airbrake, and trim with separate levers for the spoilers and flaps so that they can be used independently. *** Specs: span 49.4 feet (can be reduced to a 34 foot “hangar span” in 60 seconds); glide angle 32:1; cruise with full-span wings, 120 mph; cruise with shorter wings, up to 136 mph; useful load 612 pounds and 456 pound payload; climb 1,200 fpm. *** The first airshow debut of Phoenix will be at Sebring 2011. Here’s one worthy of a close examination.
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