Comparing the Venture with other very fast homebuilts


       Aircraft        Equivalent Flat Plate Area
Venture 1.46 sq ft
Lancair 320 1.63 sq ft
Glasair III 1.80 sq ft

Here's our opinion:

Venture advantages:
  • A normally aspirated engine - cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, cheaper to maintain, and substantially lower risk of early overhaul than with a turbocharged engine.
  • Suitable handling characteristics for cross country IFR - the Venture designers did the Piper Malibu before they did the Venture, so they knew what to do. Plus, they spent five million dollars in the early 1980s on Venture development. Possibly no other homebuilt has been so well tested and thoroughly developed.
  • Aluminum construction, so lightning is less of a concern than in a composite airplane.
  • High speeds at reasonable altitudes. Check the competition, and see what they advertise for cruise speeds at lower altitudes.
  • Well received by the aviation press. Numerous writers flew the plane, and many positive comments were generated. Some competing planes have hardly been written up, and some with mixed messages.
  • 61 knot stall speed, FAR compliant at 2000 pound gross weight. This low stall speed and the stout structure have safely protected Venture occupants from injury in off airport events.

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    What we read in the aviation press:

    1. Lancair IV series - A very well promoted, highly advertised, and very pricey airplane. Few objective pilot reports about it published.

    2. Performance Aircraft Turbine Legend - A very nice plane, faster than the Venture, but much more expensive. The turbine engine alone is $100K.

    3. Glasair III - Recently sold to a new company, this pioneer aircraft is a touch slower than a Venture. Many are overweight and tail heavy, making their handling less desirable, and limiting their payload. Aerobatic, but less comfortable -- you sit on the wing.

    4. Swearingen SX-300 - a rare bird, no longer available. Fast, but has an approach speed 20 knots faster than the Venture -- the SX approaches at 105 knots!

    5. Thunder Mustang - Much pricier than the Venture, this beauty is out of production and aft c.g. limited with two aboard. There's room for only a tiny instrument panel and snug cockpit, so IFR would be challenging.

    6. The RV series - great VFR sportplanes, lots of fun to fly VFR, but not built for long cross-country IFR. Much less expensive than the Venture, they are also slower and shorter ranged, and are excessively responsive for serious IFR.

    7. Lancair Legacy - a very new design, and there's not that much public knowledge about it. It's narrower in the cockpit than the Venture, 200 pounds heavier, and maybe as good in performance. About the same price as the Venture, once you buy all of the optional Lancair pieces that are standard on the Venture.

    Note: None of these aircraft, including the Venture, are suitable for flight in icing conditions. If your requirements include flight in icing conditions, we suggest you get a Cessna 210, a late model Mooney, or other aircraft certificated for flight in icing conditions. We'd rather lose a sale than lose a customer.

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