Thread: Thoughts on ownership at 17 hrs

Well, I've had the plane for a week and have 17hrs in it including a few x-c's and training. Here are a few of my thoughts and remember, these are based on comparison vs my previously owned C-182/G1000.

I'm very impressed with the fit/finish and overall layout. It seems like everything is where it should be. The seats are very comfortable and lots of room. More like a Corvette than a Suburban like I'm used to. Probably the BEST thing I like is the visibility out the windows. Coming out of the 182, I had to bend forward just to look out the side windows (I'm 6'4"). Plus that huge dashboard made forward vision adequate, but nothing more. The CTLS is as close to the Diamond 40 as you can get. (The DA40 has the best visibility of any plane out there, PERIOD Nothing comes close except maybe an F-16!)

The speed is a little more than I thought. I saw many times speeds of 125-130kts in cruise at 7500ft, but mostly at 120-122kts. Alot of other LSA's struggle to get near 120. All while drinking 5.5gph. My 182 did 146kts at 13.8gph so efficiency is fantastic with the CTLS.

The WOW factor at the airport is very different than I expected. I anticipated many people pointing at it and laughing the way I do an older Mini or SmartCar. Quite the opposite is true. At my first airport, a Citation X captain came running over and started crawling all over it asking me a hundred questions. He said my avionics were very comparable to his X. Before that, I thought I'd have to taxi into a corner and disappear into the crowd, but the people won't let me with all the questions. There is a "hint" of jealousy in their questions especially when I talk about avionics, BRS, fuel, and speed.

I'm a little disappointed in some ways with the GPS/AP/Dynon interface. With as many planes out there using this system, somebody should know what the H*** is going on. It would be nice for someone to say, "I know exactly what is going on, you need to go into this menu or that interface and adjust blah, blah blah". I'm tired of hand flying it for 3 hrs at a time!
On the plus side of avionics, a big surprise is the winds aloft (when its working) and the automatic radio tuning interface from the 696 to my SL-40. Not alot different than my G1000 for alot less $$$.

Oh, and BTW, the baggage compartment leaks water when you fly in rain. Didn't know that. Simple fix, I think is just to put your luggage into a kitchen bag. Any other ideas would be appreciated

I'm also going to have to get used to flying in turbulence. I've been beat to death for 16 out of the 17 hrs with 1000fpm thermals including the training time. This morning was the first time I've flown it in smooth air. I think I'll really appreciate it when the AP is 100% and also in smooth air, but for right now, I feel like I'm in a glider! X-C's are going to be very demanding if I don't figure out a way to stay out of turbulence. It doesn't bother my wife, but I just don't like it.

Love the dealer (Airtime Aviation)!!! The Tom's squared are fantastic and will make it right on the entire plane. They are great folks and I really appreciate their input. They're going to get the AP fixed at the 25hr inspection even if they have to replace the entire instrument panel...

Training is a no brainer. I have 650 hrs TT with 500 in a G1000 cockpit and transition was VERY simple- much better than I expected. I have 250hrs in a Diamond DA40 so the stick was an easy transition also. I stayed up nights worrying for many weeks before picking up the plane concerning the landing of this thing and, although I'm far from perfect, it's not as hard as I had imagined. When you look at NTSB, there are alot of "incidents" in the SW in the landing mode, but I find the LS isn't any worse than the "Beast" 182 with its monster weight on the nose (motor).

Rudder input is much more demanding than what I'm used to, but easily achievable. It almost acts like you use the ailerons just to level the plane and use the rudders to make any turning inputs. Very different for me, but not a problem like I had anticipated.

Fuel -- I'm working on it. Built the trailer, tank and pump. Just need to get the pump wired and figure out a grounding system that is simple and works. I'm flying Avgas for now but will be switching soon. I finally found a gas station with 93 octane with less than 10% ethanol. Most of our stations have 90 octane here in Lubbock. Any grounding device input with a drawing would be helpful for us dummies?!?

Alot has happened to myself and family in the last few months to bring me to the CT family. Heck, I was looking at moving up to a Corvalis 400TT at Christmas '08 but the Big Man had other plans for me and my health. I'm looking forward to many hrs in the CT. Maybe, someday I'll go back to the 230kt Corvalis, but for now, I'm just happy to be flying (and alive!). And, I know this sounds crazy, but I'm thankful to the FAA, yes the FAA and all the other alphabet pilot advocate groups, for making the LSA rules real. 5 years ago, I'd be finished...

Well, that's just a few thoughts of a new owner. Hope you didn't find it too boring. Time to change my avatar.

John

PS How do they build a plane like this at 1/4 the weight of a 182?!? I know composites are the rage, but my DA40 was still pretty heavy.

You are learning what the rest of us already know about the wow factor. People are usually all over it and the women love it. Too bad I didn't have it when I was 18!!

Welcome to the CT family. It's a great experience.....

The Static Ground Reel is simple to hook up:

1. Mount your fuel tank.
2. Mount your static ground reel on one side of the trailer in the back close to the tank.
3. Make up a cable using #8 copper with eyelets on each end, mine was only 12" or so long. You could buy one already made up from a Auto Parts Store, it can be bigger than #8, but #8 will be big enough so that the cable holds up to physical damage.
4. Bolt one end of the cable to one of the mounting plate attachment bolts on the cord reel, where the paint was left off.
5. Bolt the other end of the cable to one of the fuel tank mounting bolts.

Here is a link of one location to purchase cord reels: http://metalworking.mscdirect.com/CGI/M ... 0032009168
If I can find the paper work on my model I'll post it or get the info off my reel the next time I go to the airport, which might not be until next Friday.

Here is a couple pictures of my Fuel Trailer.

Call me if you want more info on wiring it up - (209) 614-7388

Alan Wallace
President
Wallace Electric, Inc.

Thanks a bunch for the pics/advice. Do you ground to the plane or to the hangar? That was mentioned in an earlier post as grounding to the hangar. The composite stuff on the plane is what's confusing me. I thought I could just connect to the muffler exhaust with a wire/clip that connected to the trailer and I'd be set, but I guess I was wrong. Those reels are expensive! Could you use just a one wire jumper cable? That reel costs as much as my fuel tank...

John

I connect the ground wire to my exhaust pipe.

I don't think I paid near that much for my reel, I'll see what I can dig up for you.

Yes you could just make up a length of cable, (like 3/16" coated aircraft cable) and put a eyelet on one end and bolt it to the tank mounting tab and put a clamp on the other end to use at the exhaust pipe.

I say plastic coated so that you don't end up with "barbs" on the cable over time. Just make sure you cut back the coating when you
put the ends on.

I would think you could buy everything you need at OSH or some other hardware store.

At 900 CT hours in my 2005 there has been so many good memorable trips I can't help but smile every time I get into it. Sure, I've had a few bugs to get worked out but the overall engineering is a marvel. Once you master the feel of landing a "light plane" every landing will become routinely easy. Very predictable even in challenging winds. My first year I used too much flaps. Now prefer 0 degrees if any wind.
Enjoy & Welcome!

Originally Posted by Patrnflyr

Well, I've had the plane for a week and have 17hrs in it including a few x-c's and training. Here are a few of my thoughts and remember, these are based on comparison vs my previously owned C-182/G1000.
...
Coming out of the 182, I had to bend forward just to look out the side windows (I'm 6'4"). Plus that huge dashboard made forward vision adequate, but nothing more. The CTLS is as close to the Diamond 40 as you can get. (The DA40 has the best visibility of any plane out there, PERIOD Nothing comes close except maybe an F-16!)

Well, that's just a few thoughts of a new owner. Hope you didn't find it too boring. Time to change my avatar.

John

PS How do they build a plane like this at 1/4 the weight of a 182?!? I know composites are the rage, but my DA40 was still pretty heavy.

John -

Welcome! Glad you're liking your CT. It really is amazing how it does what it does on as little weight and gas.

As for the visibility, I've got to agree, for "production" airplanes, the DA40 is king. I'd say the best airplane I've flown is the RV-4, but that's a homebuilt. It's even better then the ASK21 training glider we fly at the club.

The DA40 is a heavier airplane for sure. This shows up in the flying qualities - the CT does great on 100 Hp, but the DA40 is much better airplane for IFR - higher wing loading, and has MUCH sturdier landing gear. I've been in a DA40 that was flared and stalled by an instructor and it dropped about 6 feet to the runway - no problem. The Diamonds seem to be built for lots of use - 2000 Hr Katanas at flight schools still look pretty good.

We love the CT because it's good for a lot of things - goofing off in the pattern, going for lunch, slow-and-low flying and real traveling. It could be faster, more stable in turbulence and sturdier, but it does a lot of things well.

You're going to enjoy it

Doug

Does anyone ground the plastic gas cans when pouring into the plane?