gofastclint Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 What a cool looking aircraft with great performance figures. Anyone flown this mighty beast? 158 knots in level flight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brett Campany Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Make sure you check out the February edition of Recreational Aviation Australia. I got mine in the mail today and there's a great story on the Lightning! I'd do just about anything to be able to take one flying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gofastclint Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 Make sure you check out the February edition of Recreational Aviation Australia. I got mine in the mail today and there's a great story on the Lightning!I'd do just about anything to be able to take one flying! Its sitting on my lap, the reason for the post is I would like to see Dennis Borchardt get as much coverage as possible. The review gives the bloke a great rap and I wish his business well, especially in these quiet times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pudestcon Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I've gotta say the Lightning story on building and the trip to WA was great. Thanks to the owner Peter Mitchell for the stories. It looks an awesome flying machine although my tastes are more rag and tube - the Drifters and Thrusters for sale in the classifieds this month have got my interest! Off topic:sorry: Pud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gofastclint Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 I've gotta say the Lightning story on building and the trip to WA was great. Thanks to the owner Peter Mitchell for the stories. It looks an awesome flying machine although my tastes are more rag and tube - the Drifters and Thrusters for sale in the classifieds this month have got my interest! Off topic:sorry:Pud Guess that's what makes flying RA great, all different people from all different backgrounds with different opinions all just happy to be flying. PS my first ever ultralight flight was with Wayne Fisher in a drifter and I have been hooked ever since, now lets get back to the Lightning promo :thumb_up: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Yeah I loved the story as well, well done mate (Peter)... How much is the Lightning kit? certainly is a good performer... something like 36kts stall, while 158kts cruise, not bad for going places...:thumb_up: Pudestcon: I'm drooling over all the rage and tube for sale in the classifieds as well, theres some beaut looking Drifters for sale... Just need a spare 20k and I'd be laughing! Any way back to topic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shags_j Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I'd be interested to know what sort of price as well. Anyone got any idea? May just replace my dream of a cirrus srs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brett Campany Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I'm determined to meet this brilliant man and his flying machine!! The search is on for the next time I drive to Bunbury and do some flying....I'll take the camera as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 the Australian designed and built Cobra Arrow/Viper has great looks and similar performance with the right engine Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gofastclint Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 the Australian designed and built Cobra Arrow/Viper has great looks and similar performance with the right enginePeter Thats another great Aussie company that needs more time in the spotlight. It would be great if they had the backing to produce factory built and certified aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 While we're talking performance and Aussie companies that need support, the Morgan Sierra is right up there and less than half the price of the Lightning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gofastclint Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 While we're talking performance and Aussie companies that need support, the Morgan Sierra is right up there and less than half the price of the Lightning. It would be good if RAA Magazine did a feature like the world directory of leisure aviation, featuring all Aussie manufacturer of aircraft and engines with a brief description of the company and the specs and model range of all their aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Longden Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Only one thing wrong with The Lightning; Its not a factory built job. Dennis, can this be overcome? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest brentc Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Personally I think the 158 knots is a little bit of poetic justice on behalf of the author. I'm aware of one of these with a Jab 6, it cruises on 130 at 2,800rpm and 135-140 on 3,000 rpm. Is 158 VNE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palexxxx Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Personally I think the 158 knots is a little bit of poetic justice on behalf of the author. I'm aware of one of these with a Jab 6, it cruises on 130 at 2,800rpm and 135-140 on 3,000 rpm. Is 158 VNE? Brent, Is the Lightning that you know of a fixed gear model? I think the Lightning is available in retractable versions as well, that may account for the extra knots. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brett Campany Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 This aircraft is sounding better and better all the time! Anyone else had experience in this aircraft? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxamos Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Sure is a great looking plane and all the reviews seem to rave about it. Dennis did have some kits late last year for going for just over $52k for a basic kit, but with the $Aus trading so low against the $US dollar they would be over $60k now I would assume. This is for the basic kit, then around $2800 for interior kit ( seats, vinyl etc) and it wouldn't be hard to spend another few grand on other items, such as larger fuel tanks, wing lights, cabin heating, brake upgrade etc. Jab 3300 a bit of change from $20k, and then you have avionics of course. Better remember to buy lotto this week ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ozzie Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 140,000 is that with air con and leather? sheesh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ROM Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Go to the "Site Navigation Panel" on the left of this page. Go to "members blogs" > "seal " and read all about building a Lightning. There are currently two being built at Horsham. Our guys in the Horsham Flying Club have completed and are flying an Esqual, a J230 and a J170, both with profiled wing sections and glider type sealing and fitment of doors and etc. The J230 cruises at a genuine 120 kts and a full throttle speed of 140 Knots. Seal's Lightning will probably be finished along similar lines as he is a former glider pilot as well and knows the benefits of good profiles and good sealing and fitment. Seal's Lightning is well along the path towards completion within the next few months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seal Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 The Lightning kit comes from the US. Back in the good old days of 95 cents to the pacific peso the kits were mid $40k's. See the links pages on this site for the factory site and for Dennis' Lightning Australia site. Dennis imports kits to order and runs a build assist program from his base in Kingston SE. Those prices are plus engine and instruments Performance seems to be around 140kt TAS, perhaps a little more, cruise with fixed pitch or ground adjustable. What we need is a good CS unit for a Jab 3300. VNE is 180kt, full flap stall 39kt. At the design weight, two people, 5hrs plus 45 and around 20 kg baggage. This is an aeroplane that will benefit from the proposed weight increases, its design weight is 648kg. As far as I know, retractable is a fantasy option at this stage. There were some photoshopped pictures around last April 1st showing one in the air with no gear, and very nice it looked too, but nothing in reality. For those interested in factory builds, Arion is currently going through the hoops to achieve FAA LSA certification for a production aircraft so I guess that will be along in due course. This will be the longer wing version to achieve the mickey mouse US stall speed requirements. The short wing stalls at 48kt clean, the long wing at 44kt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seal Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Aircraft kits Make a start! Help to populate the links pages here Links Cheers, Selwyn It would be good if RAA Magazine did a feature like the world directory of leisure aviation, featuring all Aussie manufacturer of aircraft and engines with a brief description of the company and the specs and model range of all their aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Well chaps, I just saw a lightning at Dalby today, but it does have one little flaw.....! the nose wheel decided it was did not like the tube it was attached to, and broke off on touch down...! well yeah, you can imagine what happened to the acft, nosed over, snapped a side off the prop, and broke a few other bits and pieces... And before you all say it was a heavy landing on the front wheel... they landed the acft on its two back wheels, and then lowered the nose wheel down, and as soon as it touched the ground it departed gracefully from the aircraft... they are still investigating why it happened, but think it may have been cracked... Anyway, the morel to the story... fly tail draggers!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shags_j Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 lol!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brett Campany Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 How was the heart rate Tomo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest brentc Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 It was the landing before and the one before that which you didn't see that might have done the damage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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