Grigson said:Curious how many do and don't wear a 'chute when doing acro. If you don't wear one, why? Any good models to reccomend for the RV? I haven't done any acro in my new 6, but I will soon. Thanks for the info.
Any good models to reccomend for the RV?
Just today I read about an RV8 having trouble at takeoff. Some stuff in the cockpit started interfering with the rudder pedals and the control column.AntiGravity said:Food for thought though; the guy that recently bailed from his aerobatic aircraft after a control malfunction. It was on Avweb and posted here; can't remember the details. But note that he bailed after discovering an issue just after take-off, and before any aeros. The fact he was an earobatic pilot in an arobatic plane isn't really relevant to the time and circumstances in which he had to bail...
Chris Meredith said:I'm not sure I understand why you can't open a slider in flight. World War II aircraft did it all the time, so what is it about the RV that prevents it.
This is true, but in my opinion it is cheap insurance. In the skydiving world it is relatively rare that people are *unable* to deploy their reserve parachute and being knocked unconcious is not that common. Yet all around the world dropzones are mandating the use of automatic openers for the reserves. Of course, the main reason I believe is that people are losing altitude awareness and thus not deploying their parachutes in time, and the automatic openers thus save their life. If you compare the number of successful jumps (those being where either parachute was opened properly) and the number of 'saves' by automatic openers, the numbers are actually very low. Nonetheless, cheap insurance, and thats the reason I will wear one in my -8A. You never know, one day it may just be the difference that allows you to go home to your family...rv8ch said:Having something jam the contols in flight could be a good reason to bail out. I know of course that an uncontrolled engine fire would also be a good reason to punch. However, based on my reading of NTSB reports, these are very rare events.
Bunker Hill said:I'd be curious to hear more from RV-4 owners regarding their take on the side-tip canopy and how well (or not) it's supposed to open in flight under bailout conditions. My plan has always been to get a decent chute, but I've had some concerns that the RV-4 canopy was simply not designed to open and stay open during a bailout.
Hundreds of pilots managed it in various wars (before ejector seats). With round chutes there's little that can go wrong. Even so, a briefing from a skydiving instructor that is familiar with round canopies and how to 'land' them wouldn't go amiss. Can you say PLF anyone? Sadly lacking from modern training :-(rv8ch said:Quick question for you experienced jumpers - what are the chances of someone like me who has essentially no jumping experience being able to safely parachute using one of the "safety chutes" in the event of a bail out?
Is there a lot to learn with those things, or are they essentially pull the handle and enjoy the ride?
rv8ch said:Quick question for you experienced jumpers - what are the chances of someone like me who has essentially no jumping experience being able to safely parachute using one of the "safety chutes" in the event of a bail out?
rv8ch said:Quick question for you experienced jumpers - what are the chances of someone like me who has essentially no jumping experience being able to safely parachute using one of the "safety chutes" in the event of a bail out?
Is there a lot to learn with those things, or are they essentially pull the handle and enjoy the ride?
airtime said:Check out www.silverparachutes.com Allen has alot of info there.
tadsargent said:Chuck why would you not include fuel in your aerobatic gross weight calculations. I believe you should include everything, even the keys in your pocket. Please explain I must be missing something.
Tad 7A flying
tadsargent said:Chuck why would you not include fuel in your aerobatic gross weight calculations. I believe you should include everything, even the keys in your pocket. Please explain I must be missing something.
Tad 7A flying
13brv3 said:If anyone can find something that says the other models can disregard fuel weight for aerobatic limits, that would be great. I just haven't seen that except for the RV-3.
Why not? All fuel (except unuseable fuel) contributes to weight and structural stress. Are you thinking that fuel in the wing doesn't contribute to wing bending moment like that in the fuselage? Every aerobatic aircraft I've owned or flown specifies acro weight with useable fuel included. Do you have some new or different info from an authoritative source? At least in my flying, all useable fuel is included in the weight calculation. I'll continue to do it that way in the future. One RV'er I know who is also an aeronautical engineer flies acro at weights well over the one specified by Van's. He calculates a safe "G" load based upon his actual weight and appropriately decreases the maximum "G" allowed. He then carefully remains within those modified limits for that flight.chuck said:When calculating acro weight, don't include fuel.
According to a report which I think was in an old RVator, an RV-4 canopy ripped off in flight. All the rivets along the hinge line tore out. The pilot landed his plane safely. Bill DicusBunker Hill said:I'd be curious to hear more from RV-4 owners regarding their take on the side-tip canopy and how well (or not) it's supposed to open in flight under bailout conditions. My plan has always been to get a decent chute, but I've had some concerns that the RV-4 canopy was simply not designed to open and stay open during a bailout.
N131RV said:Yes, a slider will open in flight.