midnight rambler
30th November 2011, 06:03 PM
Bill Lear pioneered 100% composite construction and the FAA shot him down. Now 30 years later Boeing has their composite 787 Dreamliner accepted by the FAA. The lightweight, high performance Learfan got unheard of fuel economy.
Bill Lear's ultimate aircraft design, his dream machine, the Learfan, killed by the FAA -
http://williamplear.com/pictures/LF_001_flyby.jpg
Performance
Maximum speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vno): 425 mph (369 knots, 684 km/h) at 25,000 ft (6,100 m)
Cruise speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vc): 322 mph (280 knots, 519 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m) econ cruise
Stall speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stall_speed): 88 mph (76 knots, 141 km/h) flaps down, power off
Range (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_%28aircraft%29): 1,783 mi (1,548 nmi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_mile), 2,869 km)
Service ceiling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_%28aeronautics%29): 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
Rate of climb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_climb): 3,450 ft/min (17.5 m/s)
Bill Lear's ultimate aircraft design, his dream machine, the Learfan, killed by the FAA -
http://williamplear.com/pictures/LF_001_flyby.jpg
Performance
Maximum speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vno): 425 mph (369 knots, 684 km/h) at 25,000 ft (6,100 m)
Cruise speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vc): 322 mph (280 knots, 519 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m) econ cruise
Stall speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stall_speed): 88 mph (76 knots, 141 km/h) flaps down, power off
Range (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_%28aircraft%29): 1,783 mi (1,548 nmi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_mile), 2,869 km)
Service ceiling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_%28aeronautics%29): 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
Rate of climb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_climb): 3,450 ft/min (17.5 m/s)