The issue of horisontal stabilisers or not - again.
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:51 pm
Cross country trips tend to teach one a lot, about yourself, your plane and other planes. I believe I have learned more in two weekends of flying - totalling 27 hrs to Gariep and back, and to Alldays and back - than I have learned in 3 years. I have even learned to love my Sycamore even more. 
Didn't think it is possible. 
We as a gaggle of 7 gyros, Magni's, ELA's, Sycamore, Xenon, has flown with Pieter Smith - he in his RAF - on Saturday, with really bad, gusting, windy conditions, and although I was really impressed with the RAF's flying characteristics, dunno if it is only his piloting skills that make it look good,
we as a group, after some serious discussion, has decided that the RAF without the horisontal stab will not do it for us.
At Potties we tried to motivate the horisontal stabilator of the RAF might do the job, as previously discussed to the bone, but alas, it was an anonymous decision that it is difficult to regard it as the thing to do the job of a decent horisontal stabiliser. It is too high and too small to work for us. We regard the lack of a horisontal stab as a serious shortcoming, especially on long cross country trips.
Photographic evidence included to motivate our decision.
Sorry to Eben and the team in Upington, but if there isn't an upgrade coming soon, the RAF will not be on my shopping list.
If you fly with old no 7 and his kitchen, you need a place to put your stuff. Retractable table behind the seat then, or horisontal stab - you decide. 
Believe me - all that, and more came out of the M22 belly.
Didn't think it is possible. We as a gaggle of 7 gyros, Magni's, ELA's, Sycamore, Xenon, has flown with Pieter Smith - he in his RAF - on Saturday, with really bad, gusting, windy conditions, and although I was really impressed with the RAF's flying characteristics, dunno if it is only his piloting skills that make it look good,
we as a group, after some serious discussion, has decided that the RAF without the horisontal stab will not do it for us. At Potties we tried to motivate the horisontal stabilator of the RAF might do the job, as previously discussed to the bone, but alas, it was an anonymous decision that it is difficult to regard it as the thing to do the job of a decent horisontal stabiliser. It is too high and too small to work for us. We regard the lack of a horisontal stab as a serious shortcoming, especially on long cross country trips.
Photographic evidence included to motivate our decision.
Sorry to Eben and the team in Upington, but if there isn't an upgrade coming soon, the RAF will not be on my shopping list.
If you fly with old no 7 and his kitchen, you need a place to put your stuff. Retractable table behind the seat then, or horisontal stab - you decide.
Believe me - all that, and more came out of the M22 belly.
- We really need one........or two
- Lekka ham and cheese rolls
- Preparing some cheesegrillers
!!!