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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)

Dogman
30th November 2011, 06:19 PM
Throw this one on the list!

It had the very first all glass cockpit in a privet aircraft. It was a shame that it came out too soon, and at a bad time. But a couple are still flying.

Sorry about the size of the pic.


http://www.weemsjohn.com/Starship%20Images/star%20m.jpg






Beechcraft Starship


General characteristics


Crew: One[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship#cite_note-POH-37)
Capacity: Six
Length: 46.1 ft (14.1 m)
Wingspan: 54.5 ft (16.6 m)
Height: 12.9 ft (3.9 m)
Wing area: 281 sq ft (26.1 m2)
Empty weight: 10,085 lb (4,574 kg) standard empty weight
Gross weight: 15,010 lb (6,808 kg) max ramp weight
Max takeoff weight: 14,900 lb (6,759 kg)
Fuel capacity: 3785 lb[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship#cite_note-POH-37)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney_Canada_PT6) turboprop, 1,200 shp (890 kW) each
Propellers: 5-bladed McCauley, 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) diameter

Performance


Maximum speed: 385 mph (620 km/h; 335 kn)
Cruise speed: 353 mph (307 kn; 568 km/h)
Stall speed: 112 mph; 180 km/h (97 kn) max weight with flaps retracted & idle power[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship#cite_note-POH-37)
Minimum control speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#VMC): 108 mph; 174 km/h (94 kn) flaps retracted[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship#cite_note-POH-37)
Range: 1,576 mi (1,370 nmi; 2,536 km)
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,497 m)
Rate of climb: 2,748 ft/min (13.96 m/s)
Wing loading: 53 lb/sq ft (260 kg/m²)
Power/mass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-to-weight_ratio): 6.2 lb/shp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship

Ponce
30th November 2011, 06:24 PM
Wowwwwwwwww Pluto, I love that one.......If I had the money I would buy me one and put it in my backyard just to look at it... a Prince from Soudi Arabia bought a 80 feet boat just to put it in his backyard a party in it.

midnight rambler
30th November 2011, 06:44 PM
The composite Beechcraft Starship did end up getting certified by the FAA, but they drug their feet and that killed the Starship too.

The Super King Air still rules.