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  • Australian Flying

    The Battle of the Big Vs

    Dec 16, 2021 9 minutes
    STEVE HITCHEN

    In general aviation, unless you've got the resources to run a TBM 940 or something with Gulfstream written on the side, the chances are that one day you are going to have to evaluate comfort against speed. Mostly, they work against each other, forcing you to choose sides.

    That goes back to the old aviation aphorism about choosing the right aircraft for the mission, so do you want to get there fast or get there comfortably? Or, is there a compromise available that will satisfy yens for a bit of both?

    To get answers I needed to look no further than my own aero club. Among aircraft owned by members were two light sport aircraft (LSA) that seemed to offer the best of each polar opposite. In the speed corner was a Pipistrel Virus SW, and representing comfort was a Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen.

    Both aircraft had the undying devotion of their respective owners, and both were powered by the same Rotax 912 engine. The similarities stopped there; the Virus was clearly a go-fast machine whereas the Vixxen was more spacious and comfortable, but slower. I proposed to the owners that we pit them against each other to see if speed would overwhelm comfort and got an enthusiastic "yes" from both before I even finished the sentence.

    The game was most emphatically on.

    The combatants

    The Virus

    • Aircraft: Pipistrel Virus SW 24-8657• Owner: Doug• Engine: Rotax 912 S3 100 hp• Propeller: two-blade constant speed• Useful Load: 269 kg• Fuel Capacity: 93 l

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