Lightwing Models ?

[Doug Evans]

Anyone know how many models lightwing make ?

 

EG : GA

 

GR

 

HV

 

with flaps

 

single brace wing struts

 

Tail dragger

 

Tricycle

 

Year maded ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Doug, After chatting with you earlier I went into the RAAus aircraft rego data listing to check on 25-032. It is the first LW listed, and all the others are there too, throughout the years, makes for interesting reading. They start out under 24 then go to 25 and some are under 55.......if I get the urge I'll sit down and compile a listing of all Lightwings built. The single strut you mention is on the GA Lightwing. It had a different wing more like a Sapphire wing which was around 20 Sq Ft less in area then the GR. It also had flaps standard and the single wing strut. I believe only around 14 made. Do you remember 'Princess' that Pat had at Woodstock ? She was a GA Lightwing, Marty Wheeler has her now at Majors' Creek..The GR was the standard model and had 532,582 and 912 engines fitted.. The GR wing didn't have flaps standard, but was an option like my aircraft for instance. I don't know how many GRs there are out there with the flap option. When they stuck a nose wheel on the GR it became the Sport 2000, basically the same except for the gear, and about 3 kts slower than the tailwheel version..When they fitted the GR with the 912 they strengthened up the fwd fuselage for the addition horsepower. The earlier ones originally fitted with 582s can't be re-engined with a 912 because of this..the size of fin and rudder were also increased to assist spin recovery with the 912 up front....................................................... Maj...

 

 

[winsor68]

Why did the GA have a different wing Maj? Was it faster?

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

The 'Heliview' model is the standard GR with a helicopter T style dash and side fuselage windows for extra visability.It is easy to fit the side windows to any lightwing and many have now been so fitted. The side windows can be different sizes and my aircraft 3370 has the largest possible...........................................Maj...

 

 

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Good question Donald, Yes they were faster by quite a bit with a low to mid 90 kt cruise, verses 80-85 kts for the standard wing.

 

The flaps which were standard could also be 'reflexed ' in cruise for about an additional 5-6 kts. They did demand a little more attention during landing though, and you had to watch airspeed carefully during flare. If you dropped below about 45 kts they could just 'drop on' suddenly Cont below ...

 

Standard GR 912 wing fitted with the 'optional' GA three position flaps. First stage (10 Deg) selected for landing at Tomos place.

 

Cont : due to the smaller wing area. Bit disconcerting first time it happened, but once you knew about it, no dramas. The 'optional' flaps fitted to the GR wing can't be 'reflexed' due to physical restraints, but still make the GR with flaps much nicer to land, and eliminates the sometimes annoying tendency of the big GR wing to just want to keep floating down the runway, especially on hot days. The smaller GA wing was also positioned more foward on the fuselage compared to the standard wing. basically the fuselages were the same as the GR, but on some models the position of the engine oil reservoir can be in different positions for CG considerations.............................................Maj...

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Doug, That first aircraft in your first post (19-3263) is pretty interesting, and one I haven't seen before. Where was that photo taken ?

 

It appears to have a non-standard fiberglass fuselage, early nosewheel and flaps fitted to a standard wing with exterior flap control rods. The tail is all different also, (huge elevator !)no doubt due to the different fuselage. I wonder if it is still around ?...............Maj...

 

 

[Doug Evans]

yes it still around for sale 35000 I belive it is a proto type as it has a fiberglass tail boom I was told by the owner she was made very early but was too heavey so she sat in a shed till they lifted the weight that why is a 19 rego ! it even has flapperrons ?

 

lightwing also has a 532 gr with single wing struts an early model I think

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Yes it appears the earlier ones had a shorter wing with different wingtip style, and single strut. They look good and get along nicely. 19-3263 has a massive vert fin and rudder on it....what were they thinking ???.........................Maj...

 

 

[winsor68]

I wonder what sort of flying hours the oldest ones are accruing today? The small number of Lightwings I have seen in the flesh are certainly testamen to the fact that they are one tough and well engineered airplane which will outlast all the modern 2 seat Ra machines I have flown.

 

 

[dazza 38]

I wonder what sort of flying hours the oldest ones are accruing today? The small number of Lightwings I have seen in the flesh are certainly testamen to the fact that they are one tough and well engineered airplane which will outlast all the modern 2 seat Ra machines I have flown.

There was a Lightwing video, that I have watched .A lightwing was back at the factory, for a full strip.Airframe inspected,fabric replaced

and painted.It had from memory about 4500 Hours TT.It looked realy good.No faults, or corrosion discovered.It was used out west as a farm run about, mustering etc.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Yes that one was redone at the factory, and as you say not a lot of problems found apart from the recover and repaint, after 4500 hrs.Mines eleven years old now, just done 600 hrs and still in great shape, and very reliable transport. I've only owned it for three years by the way.

 

The first one out of the factory (032)is now being rebuilt after a prang some years ago, and the third out of the factory (035 I believe) was sitting there looking pretty on the line at the Old Station fly-in this year. It belongs to one of our forumite David See, and he is very happy to own it. Like the old 63 Falcon or EH Holdens they'll keep on keeping on......................................................................Maj...

 

 

[nomadpete]

Maj,

 

Would love to see a Lightwing register so that we can all share the joy, so to speak.

 

BTW, My GA-912 has about 2200hrs on it, but is still awaiting my recovering of wings before I can get any more hours onto her. Have you checked your axle welds yet? I have not seen any AD on it but would definately have a close look before putting any more hours onto any Lightwing, as there have been a couple of second hand reports and one recent clear cut failure. (Pardon the pun.)

 

Peter

 

 

[P4D]

If you dropped below about 45 kts they could just 'drop on'

 

Sorry Maj I have to correct you.

 

They might not "just drop in"

 

The definitley will drop in and rather quickly if you are not up to speed.

 

My GA Lightwing reg 0438 and it has taught me many things quite quickly that the Maj has been discussing here.

 

These aircraft will still be flying when hover cars are nuclear powered.

 

 

[djpacro]

19-3263 has a massive vert fin and rudder on it....what were they thinking ???

In my opinion, you can never have a vertical tail which is too big. On the other hand, bad things can happen if a vertical tail is not big enough.

[Litespeed]

Yes that one was redone at the factory, and as you say not a lot of problems found apart from the recover and repaint, after 4500 hrs.Mines eleven years old now, just done hrs and still in great shape, and very reliable transport. I've only owned it for three years by the way.The first one out of the factory (032)is now being rebuilt after a prang some years ago, and the third out of the factory (035 I believe) was sitting there looking pretty on the line at the Old Station fly-in this year. It belongs to one of our forumite David See, and he is very happy to own it. Like the old 63 Falcon or EH Holdens they'll keep on keeping on......................................................................Maj...

Yeah.........But

 

The last thing I want is a aircraft like a 63 falcon or a EH.....................not so much a compliment but a bad omen.

 

I like the suspension to still be there at landing, the rods to stay in the engine and the motor to run on a hot day- vapour lock comes to mind.

 

Call me picky

 

Phil

 

 

[Doug Evans]

Yes that one was redone at the factory, and as you say not a lot of problems found apart from the recover and repaint, after 4500 hrs.Mines eleven years old now, just done 600 hrs and still in great shape, and very reliable transport. I've only owned it for three years by the way.The first one out of the factory (032)is now being rebuilt after a prang some years ago, and the third out of the factory (035 I believe) was sitting there looking pretty on the line at the Old Station fly-in this year. It belongs to one of our forumite David See, and he is very happy to own it. Like the old 63 Falcon or EH Holdens they'll keep on keeping on......................................................................Maj...

25 0032 is now ready to fly just waiting to sort out the rego

 

 

 

[winsor68]

Beautiful Doug... I love the paint scheme.

 

Congratulations on the completion of the rebuild.

 

 

[Doug Evans]

Thanks mate look forward to flying her

 

 

[Blueadventures]

25 0032 is now ready to fly just waiting to sort out the rego[ATTACH=full]20701[/ATTACH]

Very nice Doug. Your wait to aviate must be disappointing but your will enjoy the flying.

Cheers

 

Mike

 

 

[Hongie]

well done doug, i'll get in the sav and come see you one day.. i'll ring 1st so i dont get eaten by the resident angry cattle dog!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Very nice Doug, when do we fly her ?.. again !!.......................................Maj...

 

 

[Keenaviator]

"Yes they were faster by quite a bit with a low to mid 90 kt cruise, verses 80-85 kts for the standard wing."

 

80-85 for the standard wing? Certainly not in those I've been in, more like 60-65. You have to be going down a steep hill to get anywhere near 80. That's with the 582 anyway. Does a 912 make that much difference?

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Keenaviator, The GA with flaps has the reflex capibility which puts the flaps up for cruise. I have flown one of these Ballina -Townsville in around 9 hrs flight time, and I can tell you with an 80 Hp on board you'll easily see 9o kts when trimmed for cruise. The reflex capibility is good for another 6 Kts as I proved one morning in smooth air.

 

My GR Heliview will easily do 80Kts plus, with the 100 Hp 912 (at normal cruise RPMs 5-5200) as verified last weekend when flying in company with another aircraft.

 

Any Lightwing in my experienced likes to be trimmed foward , 'on the step' for best cruise, and held there with a bit of back-stick pressure. Like any aircraft model, some appear a bit slicker than others. I've flown Cessna 172s that were 5 kts faster than the average, for no obvious reason.......................................................Maj...

 

 

[Doug Evans]

Got to sort out rego first may have to change rego too 19 .. See what future bring may even go VH .... 400 kg will not cut it. Was 544 kg but now saying all 25 rego only 400 kg

 

 

[Doug Evans]

Update :

 

We will be staying with 25 0032 and they have put the mtow back from 544 too 400kg all 25 register aircraft will have to conform to the original rego rule s .......

 

So will be heading north to innsfail around the 26th if the weather permits to bring my girl home :-)