I was just browsing Ebay and found a varieze up for sale. It has two bids on it at this time but the auction description concerns me. The numbers that the seller quotes for performance are numbers close to what klaus might post for his plane. I did send the seller an email through ebay asking him/her? about those numbers and I could be wrong about all of it. I suppose my problem (if I'm right) is that putting the plane up on ebay allows anyone to bid on it which means that the seller isn't all that concerned about who it goes to. Worse yet, the potential buyer could be getting into something that isn't nearly what the auction states. Like I said, I could be SO WRONG but I doubt that I am.
Here's the jist of the data supplied:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4599234526---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978 varieze with a lycoming 0-235 L2C engine.
airframe 240 hrs.
engine TT 1160 hrs.
Slick mags
new battery
speed brake
climb prop.
Top Speed -- 220 mph
Cruise -- 190 mph
Range, s.m. -- 1000
Stall, mph -- 55
Takeoff Distance, ft. -- 750
Landing Distance, ft. -- 1000
Engine Used -- Lyc. 0-235 L2C --
HP Range -- 118
Fuel Capacity, gal. -- 29
Empty Weight, lbs. -- 620
Gross Weight, lbs. -- 1250.
Instruments:
Airspeed,
Altimeter,
Turn Coordinator
Compass
RPM Gauge
Exhaust Temperature
Oil Temperature
Oil Pressure,
Nav/Com Radio
Hobbs Meter.
Trim systems are Yaw, Pitch and Roll.
The aircraft fuel burn at cruise is 6 gals. an hr. and uses 100 LL.
------------------------------------------------------------
Top Speed 220 MPH? With a climb prop?
TO Distance 750 feet? Under normal conditions?
CRUISE @ 190 MPH? With a climb prop?
IF and that's a BIG IF the airplane will cruise at 190 MPH, the seller states that he can hold 29 gallons of gas. That's 4.83 hours total endurance minus the 30 minute reserve brings endurance down to 4.3 hours. 4.3 hours at 190MPH (ugg) is 817 SM range. That's at 6 GPH. All of those numbers with slick mags no electronic ignition, no mention of a ram air system or 4 pipe exhaust. No speed mods noted but a pretty light weight plane.
It's not that I'm trying to discredit the seller or his airplane. My problem is that I think those performance numbers are probably inaccurate and that's a bad thing. I just sold my VariEze to a guy at Langley AFB and he knew EXACTLY what he was getting into. Everything was disclosed to all potential buyers including the little quirks that the plane has. This plane still has wing cuffs on it, no vortions, no fences... It just doesn't add up.
So If I'm wrong about this, I'll be the first to say that I'm very sorry for posting this message but If I'm correct in my assumptions, then I would hope the seller would correct the description of the airplane and make sure people know what they are getting into. I feel that we have a responsibilty to be honest and also somewhat selective whith people when we are selling our planes. There were a number of guys that made offers on my plane and I simply told them that I would not sell it to them for one reason or another. One guy that had just received his PPL wanted to come and pick up the plane; his first flight was going to be back out to Arizona with the plane. Another guy was going to keep the plane on a costal airport in North Carilina but not in a hangar. I warned him against doing that with a canard even though I know there are canards that live outside - not my baby. Take it for what it's worth, sorry for the long post it just annoyed me quite allot.
- Frank Pullano Jr
BerkEZ N97JD