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| Jasper's Aircraft 4 Avid Flyer Speedwing |
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 This is an Avid Flyer, a rag-and-tube design from the states, kit-built in the UK. A diminutive aircraft, the wings fold extremely usefully for storage and due to its low weight (barely 410lbs empty; we didn't even have a starter - there was a pull-cord in the cockpit) and high power - 60 horses from a two-stroke Rotax, gave very good climb performance and took off like a scalded cat once you turned on the taps. Not fast, but highly manoeuvrable with a short-coupled fuselage and full-span ailerons - twice the roll rate of the Tiger. Long trips could be tiring as she needed flying all the time, and she was twitchy on landing, as the stall was quite high - almost 48 MPH, and once she was on the ground it was like going down a steep hill in a wheelbarrow, with only a rudder to control you. There was the 'Oops moment' too, where the rudder runs out of effectiveness (It's small, see) and you have to deftly move your feet to the brakes to maintain a straight line. Great fun, but slow, and cramped. Two-Strokes are a lot better than many people think, but I always had an engine failure at the back of my mind when flying her. I used to fly her over the mountains with the door open, and take pictures. She was okay, but had no lasting charm - I think it was the twitchyness and high engine note. I Sold her to a gentleman in Perth, Scotland. |