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Totally agree Peter. In this instance I did consider retracting again, but as you know the plane becomes unstable during gear transition and I felt that it was too risky to do another up / down cycle. We should really develop some "cookbook recipes" for landing fast, slow, short, etc... The airframe certainly has potential for this!

It is a 6 seater, but payload limits mean you can only do short trips with 6 people

I think it was October. due Covid, no traffic at all. You can see empty parking. The cost was something like 250 € for 3 days I think.

@@N807DS is responsible! I think that during the summer period, they don't have any parking available.

Geneva international (LSGG) and ile d’Yeu (LFEY). Her first name is Galatea and when all goes well she flies 150 hours per year.

@@N807DS very nice. I regularly fly above Geneva on my way to LESB in my Mooney. What is the shortest runway you operate on with Galatea?

@@milonangele6611 800 meters. It can do less but this is my comfort zone.

flyingfish28 arobase le mail de google point com

Very sad indeed. Part of the reason is that the aircraft is too sophisticated for its market. 16'000 hours of skilled German manpower is what it takes to build one and this converts into an excessive cost to the manufacturer. But buying one used and moving it to experimental is a valid solution.

Thanks Cyril

Yes indeed! To be honest, I was extremely concentrated even nervous. New engine and many small changes and a rusty pilot. I was very happy that she flew well and we landed safely,

Thanks Peter !

Welcome too HSCO. Let's talk some day if you want. D-EXTA is beautiful and I hope you are happy with it.

You are welcome Teo. I am honored to have your attention from beautiful Argentina. I have a dream that someday I'd fly from Switzerland to Tierra del Fuego...

sorry for the late reply, I have been away... Many parts are a challenge but we owners are doing our best to support each other. If your aircraft is N-Reg and used for private travel only, Owner produced parts are a solution.

Haha - not quite ... the knob of the watch digs into my skin if I wear it on the left wrist, so I prefer it like this. That is whenever I wear it at all - unlike aircraft, mechanical watches have zero protection against hard landings ... 😩

Yes, it is a short runway, sloping up. Unfortunately, the direction of take off is dictated by the wind. Whenever possible we'll take off on the descending slope. It was not possible that day due to traffic. Note that we normally rotate at 80 KIAS but the aircraft can do 75.

@@N807DS I've done the mistake of landing on R18 at Lausanne due to traffic, and I'll never do that again. It took me 3 attempts. Don't the PC12 take off from R18 almost no matter what the wind is? I need to run the numbers on what my tailwind limit should be for landing R36, and minimum headwind to land R18. Have you done that?

@@axel-stephanesmrgrav7036 I ‘ce seen PC12s take off in both directions, this aircraft is very capable.

Garmin Pilot, connected to the certified avionics with Flightstream 210. By having a full Garmin cockpit the user interface is consistent and a number of nice interfaces are available. I also have installed Windy on the iPad, as well as some vfr chart repository. Back in 2015, installing an iPad on such a premium spot was a bold design decision, but the bet on fast moving ipad avionics has been a clear winner. Only drawback: the iPad’s screen is not as bright as a dedicated avionics device.

@@N807DS Do encountered reliability issues with the iPad ? Personnally, my brand new iPhone gave up after 7 months of use. The same thing happening in a fast plane on IMC condition would be an absolute nightmare.

@@gliderfs621 No problems at all. I initially had the first generation iPad pro and then I bought the second gen to benefit from the brighter screen. The ipad does not replace the certified avionics (G500 and GTN750), so it is not a critical piece of equipment. In fact it would be illegal to fly IFR in this aircraft using iPad alone.

@@N807DS I would not do so, but as an auxiliary tool to complete nav informations, it would be fine. Do you use ForeFlight ?

@@gliderfs621 I don’t, but I think it’s great.

Thanks for your comment Leif Vejby. The Extra 400 airframe is indeed superbly engineered and probably too much so from a cost perspective: Direct manufacturing cost was higher than the price tag of $ 1M back in 2002. Each aircraft required 16'000 hours of skilled German labor. So it was financially not sustainable, even disregarding R&D costs... My favorite example is the fully recessed quad-flap system - still best in class 25 years after the aircraft was designed. Furthermore, there were critical issues with the cylinders: faulty casting caused a high failure rate, compounded by lack of knowledge in the field. As a result, the aircraft is notoriously a hangar queen. But when it flies...

@@N807DS Thanks for the explanation! Enjoy it!

You got the reply already. But my brain said "German Marvel", therefore, it must have been very expensive to produce.

Indeed, I trust the engine, since I manage maintenance myself and work with my mechanic on every occasion.

@@N807DS would love to discuss your thoughts on the extra ea400, as I've always wanted to own one, but am hesitant.

@@dimsler7934 You are very right to be hesitant. This is not a normal aircraft in any way. It is suitable for only a few types of owners. Happy to discuss - flyingfish28 at google’s email service

You’re welcome!

I won't argue with a Mooniac ;-)

@@N807DS Do own this plane ? Or it is hired ?

@@gliderfs621 Hello Glider FS! Plane owns me !

@@N807DS How much does it cost to fly ?

@@gliderfs621 150 hours per year 60'000 Euro , excluding engine & prop provisions

Absolutely! and certainly no wind factored in! Ground speed is essentially meaningless... This video was no more and no less than a fun exercise - it did put a biig smile in my face and I am very grateful! safe flying!

Thank you John Jacobi. I am in love, 5 years and 600 hours. the more I learn, the more I admire the magnificent engineering that went into this aircraft.

I am honored that you like watching these videos in slo-mo. Flying Galatea is an absolute blast. It is like driving one of these sporty SUVs - big, but amazingly agile. I kind of got used to the high workload you observed. One day I’ll make a video of a very high speed arrival and approach, with TAS well over 250 in the arrival and shooting the ILS at 160 KIAS. Lots of adrenalin! Wishing you success with your patent transaction. Fly safe. A.

Sorry Scott, I missed your comment ... while busy working on Galatea's owner assisted annual. I have moved away from larger shops and work with a pragmatic solutions-oriented A&P IA who really focuses on what we're doing instead of servicing 4-5 planes simultaneously like they do in big shops. I wrote and manage my own "KARDEX" and don't skimp on proactively replacing parts that are nearing the time where they MAY cause downtime . You must be very interested in technical matters to operate an E400 and willing to act as maintenance manager or else your aircraft will be grounded for months in a row waiting for parts in a never ending sequence. If you cannot do this, you should look at a PA46 instead - a good enough alternative.

Indeed! With today's weather planning tools such as Windy, you can pick your cruise altitude at will. I sometimes fly very low to minimize the headwind. The E400 is very happy at any altitude...

Hello and sorry for the late reply! This video was not meant to offer Galatea for sale but I am generally open to the idea as I would love to redo the project that produced this aircraft. I can also help you find your own among the ones that are advertised. Please be aware that owning and flying an Extra 400 is not for everyone. This is for technically interested pilots with good skills and enough experience.

@@N807DS Hi Antoine.. I would like your input on upgrading an Extra 400! Lets talk, you can contact me on storcken@gmail.com..

@@N807DS And flying a kind of personal jet with one engine, even not a turbine engine. The plane is great and highly recommend for performance. The Type Rating costs some money, and you have to trust and fear in this kind of flying IFR and at night with one engine.

@@mr.ginnationfunlifestyle3891 Hello Mr Ginnation. Thanks for your comment. Indeed the E400 offers cockpit and cabin in the same comfort and size as a small jet. Performance and reliability are not at the level of a turboprop, so the Extra 500 is clearly more reliable and one should favor this if flying over water or inhospitable terrain. If you are willing to accept this restriction and the fact that YOU are the maintenance manager, the E400 is pure genius... PS - no type rating required.

Thank you. Only 22 left worldwide! Rare and precious as a warbird, wants to be pampered like a movie star and flies like a thoroughbred. Get one if you dare, but you're warned: this baby keep you hooked for life. No coming back from an Extra 400 !