Of course if there are five people...

Mike
MU-2


wrote in message
...

On 28-Aug-2003, "Jay Honeck" wrote:

Pshaw. How the heck can they call that a "6-seater"? My 4-seat
Pathfinder
has a 1400+ pound useful load, for gosh sakes...


Jay,

Want to feel REALLY good about your plane? Consider this:

Comparing "useful load" on different airplane models is often misleading
because of different fuel economy. A far more useful comparison is
maximum
payload when fueled for a given mission. For example, what is the payload
available for your Pathfinder when carrying fuel for a 500 nm trip with 1
hr
reserve? Probably about 1000 lbs, right? Enough for four 200 lb adults
AND
200 lbs of luggage. Now THAT number really emphasizes your plane's
impressive load-carrying capabilities!

In an Extra 400 fueled for the same mission, maximum payload would only be
about 800 lbs. So, you either have to leave behind 200 lbs or make a fuel
stop. If you make that fuel stop, and assuming it takes 1.5 hrs, the
effective speed of the Extra is reduced to about the same as your
Pathfinder.

-Elliott Drucker