Vne

[Lufthans]

Points taken!

[hrhodes2@comcast.net]

Used an RV4 tail on #3 F1 rocket with .020 elevator & rudder skins. Worked fine & always respected VNE. Too slow, twin turbo Glasair III RG close to flying. Flutter tested to 360 knots. Better.

[tjo]

Were the guys claiming 350(450) reliable hp out of a Sube car guys or airplane guys?

Tim

[vfrazier]

Originally Posted by RV8JD

Just out of curiosity, is that Vne 275 MPH IAS or 275 MPH TAS?

Thx,

VNe is true airspeed.

And someone long ago, maybe John Harmon, used 275 mph instead of 239 knots, for the Rocket. Easier to remember? Maybe. I'd prefer it in knots... so 239 knots for me.

For those reading this thread, also remember that TAS varies with altitude. It is very possible to seriously bust VNe during a descent if you're not doing the math to convert IAS to TAS. This applies to other aircraft too... not just the Rockets.

[hrhodes2@comcast.net]

You mean aerodynamic stuff works in other airplanes? I think you?re fibbing Vince. That TAS stuff is just CRAZY. Can?t wait to see the skunkworks side of the rocket house!

[Lufthans]

Originally Posted by tjo

Were the guys claiming 350(450) reliable hp out of a Sube car guys or airplane guys?

Tim

Admittedly - car guys. Endurance racing car guys that is, making fun of me for putting the bar at "only" this petty amount of power. Their words. But then, what they spend on these engines might make an IO-540 seem affordable...

I don't need the speed. All my buddies are flying Sequoia Falco's. We have 5 of them on our field. Beautiful aircraft, but can't keep up with our 160 hp RV4. So in formation flying, I have to hold back already. In a Rocket this would obviously be even worse. So I'm more interested in the vertical penetration capabilities of high hp engines, making the Vne thing more of a by-product of that than a target.

Typically, I fly my (normally aspirated) Subaru Jodel at 18" and 3950 rpm. 16" when I am not in a hurry, 22-23 when I am trying to stay in formation with the Falco's. This is also how I think I'd use a turbocharged version of it. At moderate power settings, with the occasional insane climb angle blasts in between.

Anyway, thanks guys for all the good info. At least now I know what I can work with and can decide to either stick a way too powerful engine on an RV4 that can only be opened up with the nose sticking way up in the air, or go all-out and build a Rocket - be it HR or F1 - to reap the benefits in level flight as well. Either way it will be fun :-)