|
A few comments by Dan Johnson, LSA expert, in his review of the Lambada in 2008:
part airplane, part glider and it has the interchangeable wing tips to prove it.
I stood at the wing tip and marveled at the complex wing with its multiple dihedral angles and compound dual taper.
one sailplane pilot thought the gel coat finish of the Lambada is more like other sailplanes and much superior to work he's seen on composite power planes. Attention to detail like gaps and general smoothness is an obsession of sailplane pilots and designers, so getting high points for finish quality from one of these pilots is significant
At close to 42 inches wide, the Lambada isn't as roomy as some LSA power planes, but it's still a couple of inches wider than a Cessna 172. All but the biggest occupants will fit easily
Up to 120 pounds of luggage can be placed aft of the seats and you can also specify a special tube to accommodate snow skis or other long items that can reach back into the tail fuselage
I fly out of a high density altitude airport," says Ted Grussing of Sedona, Arizona. "I seldom have a climb rate under 850 fpm with two persons on board and density altitude in the 9,000-foot range."
Good control authority for crosswind landings. Very powerful air brake helps control approach. Excellent visibility on approach to landing. Energy retention is so extraordinary that you need to learn to use air brakes effectively. Short ground roll, takeoff or landing.
You have to experience air brakes to comprehend the dramatic effect on glide performance they can exert. They also produce a clear sensation of deceleration…the Lambada is slowed to about a 7:1 glide, a huge drop from max L/D of 30…Each time we retracted the full-speed upper surface Schemp-Hirth spoilers, the Lambada reacted like someone had cut a tie-down line, shooting forward with restored energy.
In the sailplane world, a motorglider is often considered a rich man's toy. A quarter million dollar Stemme motorglider is a gorgeous piece of work, but the Lambada is far more affordable for the rest of us.
New importer gaining good marks from customers and others investigating the Lambada... Base prices at about $110,000 are low for a motor glider. Overall, a joyous machine to fly, power on or off.
____________________________________________________________________
www.salsaaviation.com
|