Well, I pulled the trigger. I took a break from flying and sold my plane of some 19 years. That didn't last but a year or so. I wanted something to kick around in by myself...I don't need to travel too far. I looked into ultralights, but the area I fly in suggests a need for higher performance.
As usual, I looked at many options, and my final decision met most of my criteria, but not all. Originally, I wanted:
1. can be stored in a small space (shared hangar) so folding wings,
(It has a small wingspan - the wings can't be folded, but can be relatively easily removed. I have a shared hangar available at my airport)
2. has a parachute (although I am willing to wear one I suppose),
(It has a whole plane chute system)
3. has frontal wind protection (windscreen of sorts),
(It has an enclosed cockpit with excellent visibility and heat)
4. has a decent decent glide ratio (2X:1 minimum),
(This is the one it doesn't satisfy. Although a Ultralight version has a glider wings option, I decided to get the E-AB version due to where I fly)
5. preferably has a 4 stroke or electric motor, and
(I got it with the HKS700e 4 stroker)
6. has excellent support in the US.
(So far, the communications have been great. The challenge for me is scheduling the trip to get to the build site and then getting it back home as it is some 1800 miles away)
It has something like a 100 mph cruise, 800+ fpm climb, it sips about 2.5 gph and has a range of about 3 hours.
It will be some months before I can get out there and complete this transaction, but I am really looking forward to it. The plane is a Aeromarine-LSA Merlin PSA. All metal and stoutly constructed...
Should be interesting!
