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PLANES magazine January 2000, pages 46-49 Reprinted with permission. WHEN I FIRST saw the Comp Air 10 last year at Sun ‘n Fun, I tried to figure out why it had twin tails. When I asked this question of Steve Young, one of the owners of the company, he explained that the plane’s designers decided to use this configuration so that the Comp Air 10 would fit inside standard-size hangars and the plane’s fuselage wouldn’t be too long. Company engineers and designers arrived at the shape, size and design of the twin vertical stabilizers by using computer-generated information and putting it into practice. All Aerocomp aircraft have undergone a long series of rigorous and exhaustive tests of the strength of their components and to prevent the possibility of problems with flutter. Every Aerocomp plane passed these tests with flying colors. The Comp Air 10 I first flew was the original demonstrator and proof-of-concept aircraft. |
In
preparation for my next flight, I was taken to the factory, where I saw the new Comp Air
10XL (Xtra Long) that measures 30 feet 9 inches. A new cargo pod with a more streamlined
shape replaced the previous one to improve aerodynamics and ensure an even closer fit to
the bottom of the plane’s fuselage. The new pod is so big, it can hold 10 sheets of
4x8 plywood. The capacity of the Comp Air 10’s cabin has grown by 23.25 cubic feet.
The cabin measures 13 x 5 feet. While it’s possible to install a 350hp to 700hp
engine in the Comp Air 10, the Walter turbine seems to be the perfect powerplant for this
huge aircraft that can carry up to 11 people. Even with added drag and a huge payload, the plane will still maintain a fast cruise of 150 to 200 mph, depending on the engine installed. The takeoff run is less than 250 feet, and even at gross weight, the plane will still climb at 2000 fpm. With the Walter installed, the cruise speed will be between 185 and 210 mph. Loading may |
be
accomplished in a number of ways, one of which is full fuel, six or more people and ample
cargo. The Comp Air 10's windscreen is fabricated of strong 3/8inch-thick Plexiglas. With
its all-composite construction, you can order your Comp Air 10 in your choice of versions:
taildragger, trigear, or configured for floats. While examining the new Comp Air 10XL, I sat in the back seat, stretched my legs forward as far as they would go and tried to reach the seat in front of me with my toes. The Comp Air 10 XL is so long, and there was so much room between the seats, no matter how much I stretched, I still couldn’t touch the seat in front of me, As I relaxed in one of the well-upholstered seats, I said that they looked a lot like those in my Suburban. My guide replied, "They should; they’re from a Chevy van." I was also told that this new production version had a "new-and-improved" nosegear, designed so that it would not allow the prop to strike the ground should the bounce be too great. |
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