Numbers Back Up Claims Of Long-Legged Capability

It may look like a motorglider, or even a sailplane... but Urban Air USA says its Lambada is also a first-class touring machine in the LSA category. Recently, company demo pilot and gliding expert, Jim Lee, flew a Lambada from Melbourne, FL to Moriarty, NM to conduct a series of demo flights for the newly certified motorglider.

Statistics from that series of runs prove the efficiency of a motorglider light-sport aircraft. Total distance: 1,550 nm; Total time enroute: 16.2 hours; Average ground speed: 96 knots; Fuel usage: 57 gallons 100LL; Fuel consumption rate: 3.5 gph at 5000 rpm.

Had it been readily available, Lambada could have used 87-octane regular auto gas, the company notes... and, it would have burned slightly less fuel.

"In an age of $3 a gallon auto gas and with 100LL reaching $6 a gallon, cruising the country in a long-gliding Lambada looks pretty good," indicated Urban Air USA importer, Joe Bostik. The two-seat side-by-side Lambada boasts a max glide of 30:1.

According to Lee's log, "During the return trip, we left Fort Worth, TX for Panama City, FL at 11:00 am arriving at 4:30 pm after a 628 mile non-stop run at altitudes up to 13,000 feet msl. We arrived with almost half our fuel remaining."

Lambada carries 26.4 gallons. Total stats for the Moriarty NM to Panama City FL run were Total distance: 1,396 nm; Total time enroute: 12 hours; Average ground speed: 116 knots; Fuel usage: 40 gallons 100LL; Fuel consumption rate: 3.4 gph at 5000 rpm.

In his trip summary, Jim Lee concluded, "Following 3,268 trouble-free miles, the 80-horsepower Lambada and I arrived home. On the final 322 nm leg to Melbourne, we averaged 115 knots over 2.8 hours of flying time."

Average enroute speed west and east was 105 knots. That's not very quick... but at less than four gallons per hour...

FMI: www.urbanairusa.com