| Volume 3 Issue 1 | ONLINE EDITION | Spring 1999 |
Builder Report: John Valldejuli
Jupiter, FL
John Valldejuli is currently building a
Comp Air 7 that will be powered with a 660 hp Walter 601D turbo-prop. Mr. Valldejuli is an
IFR rated commercial pilot who has previously owned a Beechcraft A36, a P35 V-Tail
Bonanza, and a Cherokee 180. This is his first homebuilt airplane project, however.
Valldejuli says that he looked long and hard at a lot of different airplanes before deciding to build his Comp Air "Turbine 7". He wanted a comfortable "sport utility" airplane, and determined that the best way to accomplish his goals would be to build the airplane himself.
Here are a few things Valldejuli mentioned that influenced his choice:
he wanted a roomy airplane that would be comfortable, quiet, and able to easily carry a substantial load.
he wanted a customized luxury interior.
he wanted modern avionics.
he wanted outstanding climb performance, respectable speed, and low stall speeds for safety during landing.
For comfort, Valldejuli is installing a luxury leather
interior with air conditioning, acoustical soundproofing and thermal insulation. He’s
installing 4 forward-facing modified bucket seats from a Chevy Astrovan (see photo
below) plus an easily removed canvas "sling" seat in the rear for occasional
use. The permanent seats will be reclining, fully adjustable, and fitted with armrests for
passenger comfort. To make it easier to load all the comforts of a long trip on board the
airplane, Valldejuli also installed an extra cargo door.
While his passengers enjoy CD stereo music on their headsets, Valldejuli plans on enjoying the use of his Garmin 430-series avionics for piloting duties. Oxygen will be available for flights at higher altitudes, where the insulated cabin and thermostatically controlled climate control system will certainly be appreciated. He has built in a 146 gallon fuel capacity, which Valldejuli anticipates will provide at least 4 hours or more of flight endurance.
In summary, Valldejuli says that he expects his airplane to have all the roominess, comfort and approximately the same fuel consumption as a luxury E55 Baron, but he expects his airplane to be faster, to be able to take off in about 400 feet, and to climb at 4000 to 5000 feet per minute with the turbo-prop engine. For passenger comfort, Valldejuli says that he expects his airplane to compare favorably with his friend’s Lincoln Navigator sport utility vehicle.
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