scooter boy
“Fixed gear hanging down into the slipstream (even the most aerodynamic gear fairings are still worse than doing what the birds do and tucking the gear away).”
Most of the modern studies would disagree. By the time you have added in the extra weight and the compromised wing design you break even on performance but lose out on useful load. You also have increased maintenance and insurance costs.
“Composite - I still don't trust it when there is any chance of lightning”
A modern carbon fiber aircraft designed for IFR is likely to survive a lightning strike much better than a 1950’s metal machine.
I find it hard to understand how you can compare a 1950;’d design with a modern aircraft, it is just a shame that it does not use a modern engine.
Rod1