Matt Chapman Airshows- Lazer Z230

[gene6029]

Man, this is good stuff! I love the Lazer, not to mention i grew up not really far from where Matt lived, (Pottstown Pa.) I used to see him from time to time while flying my models at the old Quakertown field.....Gene

[flying skunks]

this plane ended up in Dennis Sawyers hanger for a little while here in Florida for an annual , great looking plane .

[nate540]

Matt

Haven't seen you up in the cap lately next time you are up on a saturday afternoon buzz the mushroom bowl Bruce and myself and the racers would love it. See ya later

Nathan

[3dav8r]

Hey Matt, Brian Norris from Sean's team said to say hello. Brian always told me to see one of your shows, I did at the shootout this year and as expected, first rate!!
Hope ICAS didn't get out of control this year...ha...ha
Have a great year!

Steve S.

[Matt Chapman]

Zee,
this is so funnny to see you on here! When I picked up my project out in Washington, I tried to locat you but never could. When I got my plane it was pretty much just a frame, tail, landing gear and wing. As you know, it was not your wing, but a barton wing of oringinal Lazer (Laser) design with square/rectangle lightening holes with no span wise stringers. Barton believed that putting in double the amount of ribs would take care of the problem. All it ready did was make twice as much wood fall out of the wing! I did ened up modifiying the leading edge before we flew it, but all of the rids aft of the spar failed in the end.
I think I must have had one of your nose bowls for the cowl. It was the single best looking oneout there. After a couple years I made a new cowl and nose bowl. I got new nose bowl from Bob Davis (TR-720 Laser) Whe it showed up I hated the bottom half of the shape. It was too square and flat. I ended up splitting the bowl and using just the top half and carving a new bottom half to match my original.
When I started sheet metal and instmt panel, I had no info to go by othe than photos of the Wiggins Z and Lee Manelski's Z frm Sport Aerobatics mag. So, I really just winged it! It turned out ok. I think it was a good looking plane. After talking to Lee out at Fond du Lac in 88, I came home and chopped off a my stab and elevator. It made a huge differance. All of what would normally be sheet metal ened up being glass. I used blocks of blue foam and formed them to give me the shape I wanted. This included the turtle deck. The cowl however, other than the nose bowl was aluminum.
An added note, after Lee's death, a buddy of mine bought his Laser Z-200 and it shared a hanger with me here in Penn.
I hope this info is of interest to those reading!

[ULTIMATE1]

	Quote: Originally Posted by SleepyC
	Man.. I want a lazer now. With that Z230 cowl.. looks killer.

Sleepy it may be closer than you think?

[Fred]

This is GREAT stuff !!!

[ULTIMATE1]

Guys check out Devin Yorks company he builds these ZEE line of aircraft and is a member here on F/G
www.yorkaircraft.com

[plaster93]

Good stuff Matt ! Are you still out in Kennet or did you finally move?
A book would be a great idea. Matt Chapman, the man,the myth, THE LEGEND. NY times best seller! lol

[Mithrandir]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Matt Chapman
	Oh, God....not that video again!? That was one kick butt plane though. Nothing I have flown since has snapped like it. For those who may remember, this was the Re/Max Lazer...I was sponsored by them many years ago. (well...I had their stickers on my plane...) I really like my spiffy red pants and shirt! That was about 16 years and 25 pounds ago! Wow...I did a lot of pushing back then....I was sick... or maybe that explains why I'm still dizzy. I think I was better back then....or was it stupid? Not sure..but at least I'm still alive! And that snappy music...very cool. Ehuuu....Inverted ribbon cut.....taxing with the tail in the air.....wow..... I wasnt that good.... just lucky!

Did you ever try the "Zworble Turn" (spelling...***???) where you rolled and pulled with an inverted flat spin at the top instead of right-roll-push-left rudder-upright spin???

[Matt Chapman]

Yes, In fact I did. Kind of an inverted spin, going up, then transition to an inverted spin down. I also did the same thing going up... but would stop it at the top and fly off inverted. After watching it on video a few times...it really wanst that interesting. (at the time anyway)

[TheTank]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Matt Chapman
	Zee, this is so funnny to see you on here! When I picked up my project out in Washington, I tried to locat you but never could. When I got my plane it was pretty much just a frame, tail, landing gear and wing. As you know, it was not your wing, but a barton wing of oringinal Lazer (Laser) design with square/rectangle lightening holes with no span wise stringers. Barton believed that putting in double the amount of ribs would take care of the problem. All it ready did was make twice as much wood fall out of the wing! I did ened up modifiying the leading edge before we flew it, but all of the rids aft of the spar failed in the end. I think I must have had one of your nose bowls for the cowl. It was the single best looking oneout there. After a couple years I made a new cowl and nose bowl. I got new nose bowl from Bob Davis (TR-720 Laser) Whe it showed up I hated the bottom half of the shape. It was too square and flat. I ended up splitting the bowl and using just the top half and carving a new bottom half to match my original. When I started sheet metal and instmt panel, I had no info to go by othe than photos of the Wiggins Z and Lee Manelski's Z frm Sport Aerobatics mag. So, I really just winged it! It turned out ok. I think it was a good looking plane. After talking to Lee out at Fond du Lac in 88, I came home and chopped off a my stab and elevator. It made a huge differance. All of what would normally be sheet metal ened up being glass. I used blocks of blue foam and formed them to give me the shape I wanted. This included the turtle deck. The cowl however, other than the nose bowl was aluminum. An added note, after Lee's death, a buddy of mine bought his Laser Z-200 and it shared a hanger with me here in Penn. I hope this info is of interest to those reading!

I think its cool to see you guys put all this history togethor! Great stuff!

[TimDavie]

I never knew you had a Lazer. Saw Leo perform in the Bud Light 200 several times..loved the computer roll....I'm still trying to do a decent Cuban 8 in the aerobat.

Saw the Shark in an obscure hangar at Osh-Kosh this year. Any known plans for that to ever fly?

BTW, you really wrapped up some speed in your entry at EAA. Great Show....with harrier rolls for a finale!

[Matt Chapman]

Cuban 8's in an Aerobat? Dude...you rock! Now THAT is aerobatics. That kind of flying is the most fun. If you can do it in that plane than there is not an airplane in the world you would have trouble with. Have fun with that. Enjoy the time climbing back up to altitude after each one as well.

The Shark is a sad story; Leo was killed only a few weeks before he was to start test flying it. Once he was gone, the company that had it in the shop, put it under cover and locked it up in the back of the hangar. They did not want he plane flown by anyone due to...yes ..you guessed it... liability. It sat there for a year or two while family and the company faught it out... the plane as you know, ended up in the EAA Museum in Oshkosh.

This is a real shame. This plane was a dream of Leo's for years. He worked on it for a long long time. The frame was made up from welded titanium clusters, with extruded carbon fiber tubes glued into each cluster. It was very light. The engine was built just fro Leo by Mattitcuk... It ended up on an Edge and is a MONSTER engine.

It would have been a real treat to see Leo fly that plane. I know a lot of his friends and family wanted to see it fly before it went to a museum.

such is life. (stay off motorcycles)

[TimDavie]

I bought the Aerobat in September, and started following William Kershner's syllabus. Never knew there was so much work to keep heading during rolling maneuvers. Mostly saw Leo when he came to Aerospace America when Tom Jones was still around.

Anyway, you and David Martin had some great routines. I think everyone else scratched their heads during your harrier rolls. Of course the collaborators were looking in Sync.