> > One interesting issue with the Optica was an empty cg issue.
 > > they had a skid like a tail hook that was lowered so the bird
 > didn't
 > > sit on
 > > its tail when the flight crew exited. Hold on to the photos, I've
 > been
 > > trying to line some up for my book!
 > >
 > > --George
 >
 > Hi Y'All,
 > the Optica was in limited production in Australia, in Queensland mid
 > 90s as I recall. It was a failure, the last article I read about it
 > said it was fitted with an O360, flat strap could not make a 100kts,
 > and had a serious Cof G problem. BR, Dave McC


Hi Guys
As a point of interest I flew the Optica at the factory in England in 1985.
It was underpowered/overweight, but flew well for it's role. A couple of
crashes with police pilots helped kill the market for the a/c.

I had ordered one, and my a/c was destroyed in the hanger fire in late '85
(said to have been arson by the company for insurance reasons). But I liked
the aircraft, and had hoped to sell them in North America. I still have
brochures and (somewhere) a video produced by the company.

George (in Canada)

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