RV-8 Stick Bending

[N444JN]

I noticed the battery is located where the fuel pump is normally located. Where is the fuel pump now? Injected or carburated engine?

[Eddie P]

Originally Posted by MCingari@gmail.com

I have passed the torch to Karlo Gatdula, karlo.gatdula@gmail.com

I have provided him the die and equipment I use to bend the sticks.

Please send him an email if you would like your RV-8 front stick bent.

Thanks,

Mike

Any PIREPS from RV-8 guys who have purchased a bent stick in the last year or so, from Karlo? Was considering this option and a Tosten or Infinity grip to replace the stock straight stick and Ray Allen grip in my 8. Or as an alternative, sticking with the straight stick and just going with the Tosten or Infinity and cutting to fit as necessary.

My RV-8 with the lower and more forward stick (no aft bend) is really nice for maneuvers and landings due to the body mechanics of the normally straight stick but it does lack a little comfort in straight and level as the stick seems just a bit too forward and low. I understand what some of the guys in this thread were talking about regarding too much of a stick bend - while being more comfortable in straight and level flight, for some it might not be as nice for aerobatics and 3 point landings due to arm and shoulder body mechanics. I flew Bruce Bonnahan's RV-8 for a transition course and it has a very tall, very aft bent stick in it. It was actually just a bit too tall for my liking, so I held the stick on the lower part of the grip to mitigate that issue... while it was still OK for 3 pointers I could see the trade off being a disadvantage in aerobatics and full aft movements. In cruise it was great. Thanks again if anyone has some recent experience with this.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Eddie P

Any PIREPS from RV-8 guys who have purchased a bent stick in the last year or so, from Karlo? Was considering this option and a Tosten or Infinity grip to replace the stock straight stick and Ray Allen grip in my 8. Or as an alternative, sticking with the straight stick and just going with the Tosten or Infinity and cutting to fit as necessary.

My RV-8 with the lower and more forward stick (no aft bend) is really nice for maneuvers and landings due to the body mechanics of the normally straight stick but it does lack a little comfort in straight and level as the stick seems just a bit too forward and low. I understand what some of the guys in this thread were talking about regarding too much of a stick bend - while being more comfortable in straight and level flight, for some it might not be as nice for aerobatics and 3 point landings due to arm and shoulder body mechanics. I flew Bruce Bonnahan's RV-8 for a transition course and it has a very tall, very aft bent stick in it. It was actually just a bit too tall for my liking, so I held the stick on the lower part of the grip to mitigate that issue... while it was still OK for 3 pointers I could see the trade off being a disadvantage in aerobatics and full aft movements. In cruise it was great. Thanks again if anyone has some recent experience with this.

Eddie, have you tried sitting lower. After flying a -4 for 20 years I have felt Van's never got the ergonomics right for the -8. Straight stick too low and too far forward. I kept lowering my seat height until I found a comfortable position I could live with wrt arm/hand but could not quite see over the nose in a 3 pt stance. A few days ago with 200 hrs on it I put a folded towel under the seat cushion so I could just see over the nose and flew for a few hours. Didn't like it and went back to my original position. I am only talking an inch or so in change. Also might experiment with the thickness of your seat back cushion.

[Eddie P]

Thanks Jim, great ideas to consider.

My sitting eye height feels absolutely perfect right now, in that I can just see over the nose in a 3 point attitude - makes for ease in maintaining exact runway alignment for me during flare in gusty mountain conditions on 3 point landings. However, with more seat time, perhaps I’ll find I don’t need such a commanding view over the nose.

As you mention however, a relatively slightly higher and less forward hand position would be nice to try and that may in fact involve a combination of things. I have adjustable rudder pedals so it’s relatively easy to sort out the fore and aft part... maybe just a tad lower eye height would not be too much to ask and it might just about make for a good combination.

PS I hope I have not over stated any “discomfort” with the present stick. I still love the 8 and even if I kept it as is, there would be zero regret or hesitation at any point. It’s just that I think it could be slightly better “for me” since this is an Experimental aircraft - and in some ways it can be slightly modified for fit and finish!

[Low Pass]

After 3 iterations over 19 years, I have found that the best configuration for the forward stick is an aft offset with mitered joints. A bent stick cannot physically reach the best configuration due the radiuses and height/geometry limitations. I also use an Infinity grip.

[Saville]

Originally Posted by Low Pass

After 3 iterations over 19 years, I have found that the best configuration for the forward stick is an aft offset with mitered joints. A bent stick cannot physically reach the best configuration due the radiuses and height/geometry limitations. I also use an Infinity grip.

About how much is the offset aft from the stick centerline?

[RhinoDrvr]

Originally Posted by Low Pass

After 3 iterations over 19 years, I have found that the best configuration for the forward stick is an aft offset with mitered joints. A bent stick cannot physically reach the best configuration due the radiuses and height/geometry limitations. I also use an Infinity grip.

Low Pass,

Can I get a couple pictures of your setup? Looking to do something like that on my airplane.

[Low Pass]

Originally Posted by RhinoDrvr

Low Pass,

Can I get a couple pictures of your setup? Looking to do something like that on my airplane.

Here's a link to a Google photo album with pics. Let me know if it's not visible. (Google photos always seems to be a pain to reference with a link.)

https://goo.gl/photos/pTHNqyGFR9YLuwU68

[fl-mike]

Scott Hersha did a miter and weld offset, so I borrowed his design. Here is Scott's jig and notes, and my jig.
Note that the miter cut is not 45 degrees, rather 65 degrees.
In my installed photo, the instrument panel is shifted down one set of holes, so that is not the bottom of the panel in the normal installed position. I will trim the stick to clear with the Tolsten grip. The cut will probably be just above the weld.

Scott's:

Scott's notes to me:
"The dimensions for making the cut are at the bottom of the page. There are two cuts about 2.2? apart and that piece is used as the offset piece - rotated 180 degrees. This gives you about 2? offset. The grip referenced is the infinity grip. The bushing boss on the stick goes into the hole at the bottom of the welding jig, drilled straight through the board (on a drill press). There is a mirror image of the jig on the flip side so you can tack weld one side, flip it over and tack weld the other side. This assures a straight parallel alignment between the upper and lower sections of the sick with no twist.
The first cut is 5.5? above the top edge of the bushing boss. The second cut is at 7.7? above the top edge of the boss. Mark both lines before you make a cut. I just used an angle finder and a sharpie to mark my lines. I made the cuts with a cut off disc in my die grinder. Then I cleaned up the cuts on my disc sander using a 65 degree line drawn on a board laid on the disc sander table. It fit together in the jig very well with a couple pieces of tape to hold it there temporarily for my welder. Hope this helps.
Scott"

Mine:

[RhinoDrvr]

Originally Posted by Low Pass

Here's a link to a Google photo album with pics. Let me know if it's not visible. (Google photos always seems to be a pain to reference with a link.)

https://goo.gl/photos/pTHNqyGFR9YLuwU68

Awesome, thanks for the share!