Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #48842
From: Mike Wills <rv-4mike@cox.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: off subject - RV spin characteristics
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:55:55 -0700
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Dave,
 
 I dont have an over the top fear of spins. I've done a lot of them, mostly in gliders. Including an unplanned one at 400 AGL in an unfamiliar glider that turned out to be tail heavy. If you add a glider rating at most schools spin training is required prior to first solo.
 
 Having said that, Van's prohibition against spins, along with your description of spin recovery in your airplane, would make me a little uncomfortable about spinning mine. Maybe I misread your description but it sounded like the recovery technique was not particularly straightforward nor very forgiving of error.
 
Mike
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:02 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: off subject - RV spin characteristics



On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 7:53 PM, Mike Wills <rv-4mike@cox.net> wrote:
 
Sorry I don't have any video.  Anyone want to come along and hold the camera?

Ummm..... No thanks! And I thought I was living on the edge as a current sailplane pilot/ex-hang glider pilot...
 
Mike
You guys, its just a spin.  Lots of people do them.  Lots of people do them in RV's.  The RV is fully capable. I have never heard of an RV that got into an unrecoverable spin.  Its a cool thing that airplanes do.  I worked up to it 1/2 rotation at a time.  I had spin training in the Navy and go into spin flights mentally ready.  Many airplanes that spin recover by just letting go of the controls.  The RV, along with a lot of other planes, takes some positive inputs to recover from a fully developed spin.  No big, you just have to remain calm and go through the procedures.
 
Yep, Van doesn't recommend doing more than 2 turns if at all.  He also doesn't recommend installing anything other than a lycoming.  He also doesn't recommend making any changes to the plans. 
 
One really cool modification to the plans that I made other than the rotary engine) was to move the flap motor out of the middle and over to the side.  This simple mod allows me to carry 2 snow boards down the middle (along with a pax), or I can carry a full size mountain bike.  I'm flying up to Chico this weekend to go riding at my buddies cabin.  You can't beat that... it is what it is all about.
--
David Leonard

Turbo Rotary RV-6 N4VY
http://N4VY.RotaryRoster.net
http://RotaryRoster.net
Subscribe (FEED) Subscribe (DIGEST) Subscribe (INDEX) Unsubscribe Mail to Listmaster