Just thought I'd post an update now that I have 85 hours on the SSC.
I do have the 29" tires on it. I won't belabor the point they are way better, everyone that has ABW's knows this. Wish I had the 31"s now, well live and learn.
The engine is fully broken in now and oil consumption is very low ( execpt temporarly when a few of the rocker cover bolts worked loose)
I was pretty worried initially about the small fuel tanks. I would still like bigger ones but I am consitantly suprised by the low fuel burn.
It will do about 85 mph tas on 4 or less gal/hour. 5-5.5 gal/hour seems to get about 95-100 mph it will still drag itself up 125 mph or a little more with the 29" tires but thats really working it. I havent flown a trip at those speeds to test, (probably won't) but I would guess its might be as high as 10+ gallons per hour.
The fastest trip i have flown was at about 110-115 mph and that burned 7.5-8 gal/per hour.
I would point out that I live at 5000' so all these numbers are cruising in the 5-6.5K range except the one 110-115 mph trip that was at 10k on a very cold day.
Speaking of cold the heater just sucks, on a cold day the guy in front needs a good coat, decently warm boots and long johns to be comfortable and the guy in back pretty much needs artic exploration gear.
On the plus side the handling and fun factor just gets better everytime I fly it. I really understand now why you guys rip on everything noncub. Nothing i've ever flown comes even close to giving the feed back and just general confidece in flight.
Speaking of ripping on other planes I let Ladd a retired crop duster fly it. He has been wanting a cub for a while. Anyway his friend Steve who owns a 3 year old husky was there as well they both took a turn. Ladd ordered one about a week later. I havent talked to Steve but Ladd told me he has his husky up for sale and that he plans to order a SSC after he sells it. I did try to get Steve to take the husky out (I've never flown in one) but after some short field take off demos in the SSC he just grumbled it wasn't even close and refused.
I not sure how to post them in the forum but I did download a few pics with the bigger tires in a few off airport places to my profile.
One other comment its not really a complaint since I understand the reason why but the battery is just bearly powerful enough (its a little one like you put in a four wheeler) if it is cold it can't really crank the engine to any effect without being pretty thurly preheated.
I've been reading some of the old posts about Johnson Creek. I've got to say it looks like a great time. With any luck i'll be there this summer. I'm looking foward to meeting some of you and checking out all the planes expecially some of the experimentals you guys have.
Blu
I see the strip at Mack Mesa is paved now, too.
