Originally published at: Elixir Aircraft Begins U.S. Deliveries
First U.S.-based aircraft are expected to appear at AirVenture this summer.
Rotax for high scheduled maintenance downtime AND parts prices PLUS a T-tail for reduced pitch control effectiveness at low speed? No thank you.
For decades, I’ve been reading here on AvWeb why T-tails make no sense for piston singles. In addition to SteveR’s comment about pitch control, they are more difficult to examine effectively during preflight, and the stresses go through a more convoluted load path.
When I look at all the small dents on the training fleets I used then I consider a carbon reinforced OML i tend to be skeptical. Unlike aluminum a dent in CRGf does not carry load but the loads do affect the damages are making it grow, the damage are is always larger than what is visible sometime much larger. The repairs are expensive requiring methods and equipment few shop are familiar with and if not fixed quickly ca lead to water incursions which if into a honey comb or rohacel structure can lead to catastrophic loss due to delamination w freezing temps.
A good film rather than paint OML helps but does not eliminate the problem.