Hello all,
I've kicked around the idea of building a part 103 for more than 15 years now. My dad and I used to look over plans and daydream when I was young. After leaving Army Aviation where I was a UH-60 NRCM Standardization Instructor, I've since decided to finally make headway on the dream and have settled on a Legal Eagle.
My question, however, is what is the difference between the LE and the LE XL? I understand the XL has greater legroom and is marginally heavier with a higher Gross Weight, but are there any real performance differences between the two? For instance, does the smaller, slimmer model climber more quickly or does the XL burn more gas? Is there any reason at all the build the original LE if the XL is identical in performance?
I intend on either powering it with a 1/2 VW (32 or 37 HP depending on what deal I come across) or a 4A084-A (again, depending on what I can find).
For what it's worth, I intend on flying low and slow around the local area and taking some longer trips when able. I've accumulated a good amount of hours as a crewmember, flying everything from NAP to loitering to cross-country VFR and my favorite times were just bombing around fields and low-altitude cross country.
