So how does Ireland's airplane fly?
...Fantastic!

During flight testing, the airplane was tested for one (1) ton — 2000 lbs. — of useful load. With 1000 lbs. of fuel on board, and another 1000 lbs. of payload, the heavily loaded aircraft easily maintained a cruise climb of 2000 fpm at 120 mph IAS to 10,500 feet. Oxygen wasn't available for that flight, so a low-level cruise of 10,500' was maintained. Even at that low altitude, a true airspeed of 220 mph was obtained using only 75 lbs of torque (127 lbs are available), with a fuel burn of 43 gph. Ireland, who has installed a permanently mounted 4-place oxygen system in the airplane, plans on cruising regularly at more optimal cruising
altitudes of 18,000 to 23,000 feet, where the airplane can easily cruise between 225 and 250 mph TAS, with a fuel burn of about 38 to 42 gph.

Dr. Ireland, who had never before flown a turbine engine, reports that adapting to the high performance engine was a thrill. Even though he'd owned some nice airplanes in the past (Mooney, Baron, etc.), he'd never had a ride like the one he got in the Comp Air 7. He participated in the factory-recommended comprehensive flight-test and transition-training
program. When we asked Dr. Ireland to summarize his impressions of what it's like to fly his new Comp Air 7, he quipped, "Now I don't ask for takeoff clearance, …I ask for launch clearance."

Watching the airplane's aggressive climbout, it's obvious what he means.
...Congratulations, Dr. Ireland!

Mr. Tommy Rose's CA7 Turboprop

Mr. Tommy Rose, Mississippi
Within a couple weeks after Dr. Ireland finished his airplane, a second customer- built Comp Air 7 Turboprop also took to the skies. This one was built by Mr. Tommy Rose, of Mississippi. Rose is an accomplished pilot, and owner of Top Flight Aviation LLC (an aircraft brokerage firm). He has flown a wide variety of civilian and military airplanes, with over 9000 hours total time logged. His personal fleet includes a couple of award-winning Cessna 185's, a beautiful V12-powered Thunder Mustang (seen widely at airshows around N. America), and a Bonanza, among others. The Walter turboprop-powered Comp Air 7 is the most recent addition to Rose's collection of outstanding aircraft.

During his type-familiarization and transition training on the Comp Air 7, Rose commented that the CA7 was surprisingly mild mannered and easy to fly. As an experienced and competent tailwheel pilot, Rose opted to stay with the conventional gear arrangement that was used on the factory demonstrator.

Rose's airplane is gorgeous. He spared no effort outfitting the airplane, and put a lot of extra effort into the fit and finish of the airplane. He credits the assistance of the Skybuild Builders' Assistance Program (Merritt Island, FL) with providing
invaluable aid during the assembly of his airplane. Although the cosmetic detailing resulted in an airplane that is heavier than the factory demonstrator, extra streamlining and drag reduction efforts enable it to achieve climb and cruise speeds close to those seen with the factory demonstrator. And flying in the quiet sound-dampened cabin, with its plush upholstery, autopilot, electric cabin heater, and full IFR modern avionics is pure pleasure.

Mr. Tommy Rose with his first Comp Air 7 Turboprop - N57TR

Even before the airplane made its maiden flight, Rose listed the aircraft for sale through his company. What? Sell this beautiful prize? Why?

Like all the airplanes in his fleet, Rose makes no exception for his Comp Air 7. He says, "everything's for sale." Does he like his CA7? Yes! In fact, he likes it so much, he's already well underway on the assembly of another CA7, which he expects to be flying within a couple months. His new CA7 has been dubbed a "Super Seven", because it will be about 2 inches wider than previous Comp Air 7's and Widebody CA6's.

Rose's first Comp Air 7 turboprop is listed for $295,000 - complete. It's sparkling metallic-finish paint and excellent craftsmanship would make it a welcome addition to any flight line. For further details, contact Rose by telephone at: 1 (601) 635-4500, or visit his web site at http://www.topflightaviation.com.