| Both craft had approximately the same specifications for performance when using the Rotax 503. They also had approximately the same building times when covered in conventional aircraft materials. After careful evaluation of both he decided on the Excalibur. In September of 2003 he purchased his kit, only to have the transport company "loose my wing kit." With the assistance of Tom Karr of Excalibur he was able to settle with the Transport company and get another wing kit. Over the next 14 months and just over 300 hours he was able to complete his kit, with his only major problem being his wife "who insisted that he buy her a new iron." John's plane is powered by a Rotax 503 engine with a Rotax 2.58 to 1 reduction drive spinning a two blade 68 inch electric in-flight adjustable IVOPROP. According to John "when you apply full power for take off it will push you back in the seat." Flying from a runway at nearly 2,000 feet ASL he reports a climb rate solo of over 1,000 feet per minute. Cruise speed at 5800 rpm comes in a 65 mph. At this speed he burns just under 3 gallons of fuel an hour, while increasing to 75 mph will burn just over 4 gallons per hour giving him roughly 2.5 hours of flight time on the standard 10 gallon fuel tank. John report his plane flies neutral or hands off at cruise speed. Take off takes roughly 150 feet solo and 250 at gross. Lift off solo comes at 30 mph and he likes to hold the plane on the runway until 50 with two on board, but indicates the craft is ready to fly closer to 45 mph. Stall solo is 30 mph and 45 at gross. At stall "the Excalibur just mush's and falls over on its nose." John now has just over 130 hours on his plane has just finished building a heater and is in the process of installing doors. His future plans are to convince his wife that he would be safer flying on floats than ski's in the winter so that he can go out and do a little ice fishing. Good Luck John! | 
