EAA Sport Aviation - March 2012

There is an old saw that airplanes take off and climb on
wing area, but cruise on wing span. That means you want
a large wing to fly slowly for takeoff and initial climb, but
a very small wing area to cut drag in cruise.

over the years, but a very rigid and detailed initial and recurrent training requirement the FAA imposed on MU- 2 pilots about five years ago appears to have resolved the problem. Even the most ardent MU- 2 fan must admit that the airplane behaves differently than other piston and turboprop twins, and the training requirement addresses the differences and teaches pilots how to operate the airplane within its design limits.

Like the MU- 2, the Lancair IV-P is fun-
damentally different from the huge majority
of propeller singles. There is no FAA
requirement for specialized and specific
training in the Lancair, but such courses
have been established and are popular with
airplane owners, and even more popular
with their insurance companies.

This article is based solely on the official final NTSB report of the accident and is intended to bring reader’s attention to the issues raised in the report. It is not intended to judge or reach any definitive conclusions about the ability or capacity of any person, living or dead, or any aircraft or accessory.

J. Mac McClellan, EAA 747337, has been a pilot for more than 40 years, holds an ATP certificate, and owns a Beechcraft Baron. To contact Mac, e-mail mac@eaa.org.