Sport Pilot Talk

zaitcev · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 256 Location: Albuquerque, NM

I went to check out in Remos GX of nmsportaviation.com today. It was my first time in LSA of any kind.

The airplane is very impressive overall, but I ran into a pretty significant problem with visibility. I am 200 cm tall (6 feet 5 inches in barbaric units). So, my head ends in the cavity between (high) wings, right under the skylight. Visibility is then badly restricted, which may create a safety hazard. Every time I do a scan, I have to crane my neck down, which is quite tiring. The enormous pillars between doors and windshield make it a good deal worse, too.

I heard a lot about LSAs being sensitive on controls and producing PIO. Nothing like that happened or were likely to happen. The airplane is quite stable. Sure, controls are light in touch, but the feel is there. One has to be very ham-fisted to suddenly stall or overcontrol it otherwise.

Another surprise was that flaps really work well to make slow approaches. I expected a more slippery airplane that was difficult to set up for landing. But it really is not. With flaps out and power cut, the airplane loses speed quite quickly. Apropos that, my instructor was giving me a hint through the stick to flare earlier, although we did not talk it over. He signed me off to rent it, so I guess my performance was minimally acceptable. But I strongly felt a hazard to flare too high, run out of airspeed, then descend and impact the runway -- which would be quite bad with GX's flimsy wheels. The only significant remark that I elicited was that I tend to land with side load, so I need to pay more attention to rudder work in flare.

All in all, if you are short, by all means check it out. It's not your grandpa's 150M.

Pawlander · Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 51 Location: Pawleys Island, SC

Your visibility issue was the same reaction I had to the Remos. My first ever LSA flight was in one at the Sport Pilot Expo in Sebring and the visibility to the sides was uncomfortably restricted. I'm 6' tall and had to duck my head to see out the sides. I'm guessing it is a design limitation forced by the folding wing capability.

The CTLS does not have that issue -- great visibility to the sides -- and, of course, the low-wing bubble canopy aircraft don't have that issue, though they have the 'greenhouse effect' if you live somewhere that get's hot.

tu16 · Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 85 Location: Bellevue, WA

zaitcev wrote: The airplane is very impressive overall, but I ran into a pretty significant problem with visibility. I am 200 cm tall (6 feet 5 inches in barbaric units). So, my head ends in the cavity between (high) wings, right under the skylight....

Same here... 6'3" and my head was stuck somewhere behind some formed beam protruding down with the forehead banging on it :) Either that or craning the neck beneath it... Otherwise seems very nice and well behaved plane - my shorter friend loves it. I tried sitting in CTLS - no such problems on the top.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1387 Location: Lock Haven PA

Pawlander wrote: the low-wing bubble canopy aircraft don't have that issue, though they have the 'greenhouse effect' if you live somewhere that get's hot.

My six-footer student pilots have no problem with headroom in the SportStar. As for heat in summer, the Kroger sun shade is a must-have accessory.

cvlngineer · Joined: 17 Mar 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Central Texas

I have been wanting to try a Remos, but haven't run across one yet. I am 6' 1", so I'm not sure about it now!

zaitcev · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 256 Location: Albuquerque, NM

cvlngineer wrote: I have been wanting to try a Remos, but haven't run across one yet. I am 6' 1", so I'm not sure about it now!
You are not losing anything by trying it. If you bought it sight unseen and then could no fit, then you might have had a problem, but trying it on is just fun. Also, you are 4 inches or 10 cm shorter than I am, so it may work better. On the other hand, I can do clearing turns easily by looking out of the skylight, even turns to the left.
-- Pete

zaitcev · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 256 Location: Albuquerque, NM

Oh, and here's a couple of fun addendum notes, hope Michael (the owner) does not mind :-)

- The engine is a 100hp Rotax with dry sump. So... If oil looks low, one has to turn the prop a few times to burp the oil into the reservoir. So Michael said, "here, turn it a few times until you hear it". I started turning... After 30 turns Michael started appeal to my patience :-) I was fine, but clearly it was the "demo effect". It took us a few minutes to get to the burp. What a relief! This is probably not specific to Remos, but a fun experience.

- The wings fold, but Michael warned me not to attempt it. The procedure is more involved than in Aerotrek, and there's a danger to forget to check the quick disconnects. Apparently there was a fatal crash at Sebring or Sun n' Fun when they attempted a demo flight after unfolding wings, but forgot to connect the ailerons. I readily agreed, and marked my checklist furiously in locations appropriate to walk-around sequence.

-- Pete

Pawlander · Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 51 Location: Pawleys Island, SC

zaitcev wrote: Oh, and here's a couple of fun addendum notes:

"here, turn it a few times until you hear it"... "It took us a few minutes to get to the burp. What a relief! This is probably not specific to Remos, but a fun experience."

"Apparently there was a fatal crash at Sebring or Sun n' Fun when they attempted a demo flight after unfolding wings, but forgot to connect the ailerons."

Yep, the burping is a Rotax thing. Mine usually takes about 7 revolutions (21 blades-worth) to get it to burp.

That Remos crash was at the Light Sport Expo in Sebring in January 2009. It happened on the morning after I took my Remos flight. It was an air-to-air photographer that was killed taking off on a flight to get some pictures. The plane that crashed (N9GX) had been in the display tent with one wing folded back on the previous day. I'd been sitting in it there in the tent, but it was not the one my demo flight was in.

And in a macabre coincidence, that aircraft number (N9GX) was previously used on a Lancair that had a fatal crash in Charleston SC three years earlier. I don't believe I'd want that registration on my plane.

Michael · Joined: 21 Feb 2011 Posts: 4 Location: Santa Fe, NM

You don't give yourself enough credit - I wasn't on the stick at all helping with the flare. Remember, I've got a big investment in this, so I'm not going to send you out unless I think you and the airplane are going to come back in one piece. I don't care if someone holds altitude within 100 feet during cruise. I care about how they handle it in safety critical situations - slow speed, emergency situations, and certainly landings.

No doubt that 6-5 is pushing (or is beyond, really) the size limit in the airplane. At 6-1 I'm comfortable, but you did look kind of folded up.

Things I don't like about the airplane: folding wings and burping oil. I see no benefit to the folding to offset the sacrifices necessary to allow it. I'm also really not looking forward to oil burping in January. Although, come winter I will fork over the money for hangaring.

My only disagreement: While the composite gear earned a bad reputation, I don't see the spring steel gear as "flimsy." Check back in a year and see if I'm still saying that, though.

snaproll · Joined: 22 May 2011 Posts: 11 Location: Newbury Park CA

Good comments.. I am 6' and fit the Remos well. I own a GX, have gotten used to the "burping", and enjoy the countryside at 120 and 4GPH. I have flown long enough to appreciate the design and handling and have some background in building and testing. I had a chance to fly a 162 last week and was not impressed - will stick to the Remos.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1387 Location: Lock Haven PA

snaproll wrote: I had a chance to fly a 162 last week and was not impressed - will stick to the Remos.

I've flown the Remos only once, but found it delightful. I have yet to experience the 162, though I'm anxious to do so. Like most CFIs, I've endured far too many hours in a 150. The SkyCatcher can only be an improvement!

snaproll · Joined: 22 May 2011 Posts: 11 Location: Newbury Park CA

The Skycatcher flies like at 150 on steroids but has a limited useful load due to the extra weight of the O-200D and metal construction. I started flying straight tail 150's in the 60's along with 120's, 140's, 172's, 175's, etc. The Skycatcher does have a wider cockpit than the 150. Try one if you get a chance. I will stay with the Remos for the useful load and better performance. VR.. Don Stits

goinaround · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 68

The Remos gx is an awesome lsa. The only lsa in my area are ct's, 1 ls I like and 1 sw I'll fly. :P I really wish the gx was still around. Doors off in the summer and handles like a dream.