E. D. Eliot
Well Known Member
With more than 400 RV-12 out there and flying, I'm wondering if any of you have any experience soaring in the 12? Just a crazy thought?
Van's Air Force
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Soaring An RV-12
- Thread starter E. D. Eliot
- Start date
I don't have an RV-12, I fly a Flight Design CTSW. At the invitation of a good good glider flying friend, I went up one day. He found the lift in his DG800 and I tagged along. I got 1200 fpm lift once in a while.
On the other hand, one day I went to 10,000 feet, shut off the engine and proceeded to glide down to 4,000 feet at book best L/D. My glide ration is about 9:1, much lower than I'd hoped (but a good number to know).
There is no doubt in my mind that many small aircraft can gain altitude in ridge or wave lift, but in thermal lift I think it will be a pretty special day to do much.
On the other hand, one day I went to 10,000 feet, shut off the engine and proceeded to glide down to 4,000 feet at book best L/D. My glide ration is about 9:1, much lower than I'd hoped (but a good number to know).
There is no doubt in my mind that many small aircraft can gain altitude in ridge or wave lift, but in thermal lift I think it will be a pretty special day to do much.
Soaring
I have used the 12 wing as a lift device on a few occasions. Taking off on a high density altitude day from an high mountain airport and not being at an altitude to get over the ridge, I have thermal climb several thousand feet to gain altitude. I put the engine at cruise power while thermaling. It works well and keeping the engine from getting hot. I have a lot of glider time and that helps.
Rich
I have used the 12 wing as a lift device on a few occasions. Taking off on a high density altitude day from an high mountain airport and not being at an altitude to get over the ridge, I have thermal climb several thousand feet to gain altitude. I put the engine at cruise power while thermaling. It works well and keeping the engine from getting hot. I have a lot of glider time and that helps.
Rich
flyboy1963
Well Known Member
hmmmm perhaps Mr. Van himself?????
Surely with competition glider time under his belt, Van has toyed with this more than once. If I recall, the RV-11 is a motorglider.
quite possible that someone else has done a little engineering, and added some span to the -12. Heck, the wings are obviously made to pull out just like the big brother gliders!
With an electric prop, or something else that will full feather, I'd think the -12 is clean enough to do some respectable thermaling...but I'm just a dumb power pilot...totally at gravity's mercy!
Surely with competition glider time under his belt, Van has toyed with this more than once. If I recall, the RV-11 is a motorglider.
quite possible that someone else has done a little engineering, and added some span to the -12. Heck, the wings are obviously made to pull out just like the big brother gliders!
With an electric prop, or something else that will full feather, I'd think the -12 is clean enough to do some respectable thermaling...but I'm just a dumb power pilot...totally at gravity's mercy!
Larry did it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xZmsxEewik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xZmsxEewik
