Return-Path: Received: from spdmgaaf.compuserve.com ([149.174.206.139]) by truman.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.1 release 219 ID# 0-52269U2500L250S0V35) with ESMTP id com for ; Fri, 5 Nov 1999 23:08:00 -0500 Received: (from mailgate@localhost) by spdmgaaf.compuserve.com (8.9.3/8.9.3/SUN-1.7) id XAA02201 for lancair.list@olsusa.com; Fri, 5 Nov 1999 23:12:21 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 23:11:38 -0500 From: Lynda Frantz Subject: Approach Speeds Sender: Lynda Frantz To: "INTERNET:lancair.list@olsusa.com" Message-ID: <199911052311_MC2-8BF3-BF5E@compuserve.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> I would second Dave Morse's comments and I too would not and did not recommend a single specific approach speed for the Lancair for the following reasons: 1.IAS and CAS differences between aircraft of the same type 2.Non-linearity IAS CAS errors between aircraft of the same type 3.Construction differences between aircraft of the same type 4.Airspeed indicator instrument errors between certified IAS indicators5. Weight differences 6. Bank differences 7. Turbulence 8. CG differences 8. Pilot technique At higher gross weights, steeper bank angles, in turbulence, forward CGs,and in higher "G" maneuvers, the stall speed will increase and your approach speed should increase too in order to maintain a constant margin above the critical AOA. The critical AOA is always the same for your specific aircraft regardless. My Lancair stalls at 15 degress AOA no matter what the weight, bank, etc. but I can stall it at any IAS. If you really understand this concept, you will also agree that I can fly my Lancair 360 at twenty (20) knots without it stalling. In fact, you can fly all the way down to one (1) knot without stalling if the wing is unloaded enough and the AOA remains less than the critical AOA.Guys like Dave incorporate this below "stall speed" flying technique in their aerobatic routines. Nearly one half of our Lancair fatalities to date have resulted in part from exceeding the critical angle of attack. This percentage is typicalof all experimentals. Recovery from Lancair spins require considerable altitude (thousands of feet). Lancair spins into the ground have proven to be 100% fatal. If you are flying all of your approaches at a fixed IAS, you are not getting it! And shame on the FAA who have been the principle conveyor that IAS is what keeps us flying. It's AOA!!! Jim Frantz >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>