Paul,

Do you know that the Slovenian firm of Pipistrel is planning a fast
four-seater using the 230hp Mistral? They're an impressive company; I
take this more seriously from them than I would from some other quarters.

Peter

Wow Peter! No I did not know. Thanks for the tip. Funny Francois did not mention that at OSH. He is still heavily focused on FAA certification. Pipistrel could start out with a experimental kit right now.

BTW I loved your Technicalities column "Total Electrical" in the  Aug. 2008 Flying.  The latest scheme is a prize for the first motor glider that can make 100 MPG. Aug. Pop Science page 27 "A Prius In The Sky".

I could probably find 1000 self launched sail plane pilots around the world that
could achieve that on the right day. Lets see... 50 HP at a BSFC of .5
is 25 pounds of fuel per hour. Say four gallons an hour. One gallon... 15 minutes. Surely most sail plane pilots can find lift in 15 minutes at the right airport. IMHO more a test of sail plane pilot skills than the aircraft or engine efficiency. If one runs it for half an hour all one need make is 200 miles.

Good hearing from you Peter. I would still like to meet you at Whiteman and
take some pictures of your airplane. I am no longer living in the Glen.
I am out in Ventura now. If you plan on flying into SZP some day I could meet you out there with 15 minutes notice. I'll pop for lunch at Logsdens :)

Another BTW. Watch for my  1968 AIAA "Aero. of the Group Seven Racing Car" article in the next issue of Bernoulli Aerodynamics International mag. http://www.racetechmag.com/

Paul Lamar