Jason Grass wrote:
Does anyone here know much about the Harmon Rocket II?
I've been looking at it, and it concerns me in the fact that the
cockpit demensions look a little snug. It has enough room in width,
but the distance between the front and back seat seems too close, as
does the distance of the instrument panel from the front seat pilot.
Also, in looking at pictures of it, pilots seem to have their heads
right up against the top of the canopy. Is John Harmon a short guy?
I suspect it was designed by someone not so tall. I guess it would be
nice to go sit in one somewhere, but that's not always easy to find.
And I wonder if the wing is strong enough. His webiste says he did
nothing to the RV-4 wingspar to strengthen it. He only shortened it to
to reduce the bending moment on it, and reduced the rib spacing. Then
it says he sand bagged the wing to 6 G's. 6 G's isn't all that much
for an ultimate load test. So I'm a bit leery of the design. I wanted
to build one, but after doing a little research, I'm turned off by
what I've found out.

I got a ride with John Harmon in his Rocket and it is a great airplane.
While I was not in the front seat the back seat has all kinds of room. I
am 6'3" tall and 200+lbs. and was not a bit crowded. One of my friends
just finished one and he is 6'+ and has a lot of room. You customize the
seats to fit your size. 6 G's is the load it could stand before it
could bend something, 9 G's is ultimate load. YOu might be turned off by
it but I would built one if I could afford one, but I will have to be
satisfied flying my 16 year old RV-6.

Jerry