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Yesterday morning, I was stuck in Mustang Island (KRAS) with crosswind exceeding the demonstrated value for Arrow and killed time at the airport office. At about 10 a.m. a Cirrus landed. I talked to pilot and he said that he barely managed it. Well, I thought, that's a Cirrus with a high stall speed. Soon, however, I saw a pilot of the little yellow-and-red RANS S-6 Coyote preparing for takeoff. He was going to take a friend for a trip around the pattern. I raised an eyebrow and went outside to take pictures.

While I was standing there, an academy C-172 went in to land, and, naturally went around. However, on the second time he made it stick by crabbing all the way to touchdown and planting it sideways in a way that would make any of my instructors swearing. That was just cheating.

Meanwhile, the little Coyote was ready to go, and took off. He kept the nose down, then popped off. I made a mental note. Then, he went around the pattern, and landed with a kick-out. No drama, no fuss, absolutely amazing. I really wish now that I spoke with the pilot, because I had a chance while I waited for him to refuel. He must be one of those airline guys who fly into Dusseldorf.

Once I saw him doing that, I figured that I had no excuse. I started up, rolled, and took off. Surprisingly, it wasn't so bad. Then my door unlatched. I knew that trying to repeat the performance of the pilot of the little LSA would be too much for me, unless in emergency. So I went inland where winds were lower and better aligned with the runway, landed and locked the door.

The S-6 was something that I seriously considered owning (no link because RANS' website sucks and changes internal structure all the time). Of course I realize that it's the pilot that makes the airplane do it, and there is no magic built into the airframe. But it was a very impressive demonstration nonetheless. Unfortunately, a ready-to-fly S-6 costs about $85k, which is far outside of my range.

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at 11:17 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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