Decathalon Cruise Speed/ IFR and Ski's?

M

morrisond

New member
Hi,

I'm just starting to learn about these neat airplanes. Just completed my PPL and am deciding where to go with my flying next.
I've been dreaming about Huskies, but thinking back to my training really enjoyed the spins/avoidance manoevers(I live in Canada, mandatory part of training), so am thinking Aerobatics and eventually getting something like an Extra 200/300.

Is there anywhere but the American Champion website with better info on the new planes?

Is the 127 Knot Cruise speed for a Decathalon listed on the site realistic?

Can you get one IFR certified?

Can you put a Decathalon on Ski's?

What is a realistic useful load(General Category - Cross Country) on new build airplanes?

Thank you
 
For specific questions...call us
Or call a dealer.

Unlike Brand 'H' we dont outright lie about our performance. When it comes to spending the large ammount of money that you do on a new airplane, always consider all your options and for crites sake, get a test ride.

Anyway.....

Only the Explorer and Scout are truely IFR certified. They were done before an FAA policiy change. However, a Decathlon can be fully IFR equipped and operate just fine. You just don't have a back up vacuum pump, but then neither does most of the legacy IFR airplanes.

You can put skis on a Decathlon. However, you sacrafice the acrobatics until you take them back off again.

An IFR Decathlon will be in the 450 lbs Acrobatic Useful load area. However, that means 600 lbs in Normal Catagory. The more toys you load in it, the less there is....
 
Hi Jerry,

Thank you for your reply.

So i can take the performance specs on the site as good?

I just sent an email to the Canadian dealer.

I like to get the unbiased view as well though.

Is the Decathalon a tricky plane in terms of ground handling or is it a benign Taildragger like Brand H is purported to be?
 
Its better than Brand H.
Not a lot, just a few inches of wheel base is the source.

What we lack over H is an expensive and aggressive ad campaign. We actually pay our own bills here; so extreme overhead is hard to swallow. :p

We have a Canadian dealer?
He's been pretty quiet, lately. Let me know if he answers. Canada has been a tough market to crack
 
In terms of the Canadian market being tough to crack, I believe it's because our costs are a lot higher.

Fuel is $4.50 U.S. per gallon, insurance seems to be about 2X the price, Hangar space isn't cheap especially where I live(Toronto - $1300/month for Heated at City Centre CYTZ), finance rates are higher and we don't have the write off's you get in the states.

Combine that with our higher income taxes and consumption taxes makes flying very expensive...
 
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