"KatzManDu" (KatzManDu)
01/24/2015 at 06:19 • Filed to: None
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"KatzManDu" (KatzManDu)
01/24/2015 at 06:19 • Filed to: None | 1
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James May (now) flies a Champion Decathlon, the successor to the Bellanca Citabria, an aerobatic aircraft designed to fly in loops, circles and upside down. So much for the moniker of "Captain Slow." His prior aircraft was a Cessna 182.
A fully restored/factory fresh Decathlon can cost upwards of $100k, but quality, usable aircraft can be had for the high-30s/low-40s. Here are two such examples:
http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/aircraf…
http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_961…
Meanwhile, after playing on e-bay and trying to think what kind of vehicle compares to a Decathlon in terms of price and performance plus a crazy name, I found the following:
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Many posters before me, and likely after me can sing the praises of the 355. I've never driven one, so I don't know, but I think it's a good analog for the Champion. It has two seats, it's fast and nimble. Both craft can make good use of proper racing/safety harnesses. In fact, the Decathlon comes with them built-in.
But how far can you get on one tank of fuel? If you fly in a straight line, you can achieve 147 mph for 3.4 hours; if you add in the reserve that's four hours. So you can cruise 588 miles on 39 gallons of fuel. Given the speed limit of 70 on many US highways, a fuel capacity of 21 gallons and a highway fuel economy of 20mpg , you're looking covering 400 miles in 5.7 hours. And there are no speed-traps in Class G and E airspace.
Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
> KatzManDu
01/24/2015 at 09:52 |
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My favorite fact is, James' plane registration is G-OCOK.
