Hi All,

I have noticed a marked lack of enthusiasm for the X-Air F on this forum and for the life of me, I cannot understand why. I have been flying my refurbished 582 X-Air F in tropical Nth QLD, Australia since finishing the rebuild in November 2014. I can cruise at 60kts @5200 - 5300rpm burning 17lph. It climbs out at 600-800fpm in our hot humid conditions and it handles our lumpy summer air with ease. I believe a Standard cruises at 50kts @5500rpm and the rate of climb is no better?

From comments on and off this forum, I hadn't bothered using the flaps because it was suggested they were next to useless. Well the last two days, I have spent flying tight circuits with full flap approaches, and I have to say I am impressed. In our summer conditions,?I would previously approach at 55-60kts, and side-slip in if necessary. With full flap, I am approaching at around 40-45kts and pulling up in under 60 metres landing roll.

If you want confirmation of any of this information, check out the cockpit views on Youtube here.

Cheers.

开云体育

Mine had the overhead additional fuel tank installed when I bought it, but the tank had obviously leaked and destroyed the screen and doors. The tank had to go when I put the chute in. If? you have a 912 on the nose, you might be able to use the 80litre tanks but I expect you will have minimal useful load capacity there-after. 80 litre tanks on a 582 X-Air would possibly put the CG too far aft?

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I agree the flaps are usually not necessary, but they are functional, and if they are on the aircraft it is useful to know how and when they could be used. As you mentioned, they are excellent for dropping into a very tight short strip, and I can see them being very helpful in the event of an engine out where landing options are limited.

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At this stage, with flaps deployed?I still haven't judged the distance and glide correctly to perform a dead-stick landing to hit the mark without needing to add some power, but that is what practice is about.