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05-09-2020, 10:32 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Sandpoint, Idaho
Posts: 70
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Landing attitude in the RV9A
My granddaughter and I flew my RV9A today. On the Vans' RV Webinar a few nights ago we were told that we should not be able to see out the window straight ahead in the landing flare. I am finding that I can see out the window just fine, yet my nose is left quite high off the ground in the flare and my approach speed seems right - 55 Knots.
I ask you, my RV flying friends, when you are landing your RV9A, can you see out the window over the cowl in the flare? Or must you look left of the cowling almost with your head tilted (I guess) to be able to get depth perception?
I am really worried that I will prang the nosewheel on, but I know that I am keeping it off the ground until very slow. I am confused by this advice of not being able to see over the cowling in the flare.
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05-09-2020, 11:42 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 12
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Watched too.
I was on the interweb watching and listening the webinar too. I heard the same comment regarding looking down the side of the plane when landing...but I don?t think the comment applies to you. I believe they were speaking of landing a conventional, i.e., taildragger configuration.
Perhaps some one else can validate that.
__________________
Barry Wallace
Wannabe -9A Owner
'65 A-23 Musketeer (sold)
'41 PT-17 Stearman (sold)
A Happy Contributor
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05-10-2020, 12:04 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livermore, CA
Posts: 6,797
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Nose wheel planes tend to be quite forgiving of nose attitude at touchdown. That being said, you generally want to touch down at minimum possible speed, which means a nose high attitude. In my experience as a cfi, I?d say the vast majority of nose wheel pilots touch down with the nose lower than optimum. Next time you land, try to keep the main wheels 6? off the runway. Do not let the plane settle until the stall horn is on, or the stick is full aft. I think you?ll see the nose is higher than what you?ve been used to.
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05-10-2020, 01:18 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: AUSTRALIA
Posts: 749
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl Findlay
my approach speed seems right - 55 Knots.
I am really worried that I will prang the nosewheel on
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Touching down at minimum speed is good but if you are approaching at 55 kt then just about any decent flare should have the mains touching before the nose wheel. Then it is just a matter of keeping the nose up till you run out of elevator. I am a bit wary of holding the nose up too high towards the end of the roll out as the nose wheel can drop down quite heavily when you run out of elevator. I prefer to control the nose wheel drop before the elevator gives up. Also if you are very nose high in the flare you will want to be just above the runway as the 9A can stall without warning and drop heavily.
Provided you approach at 55 to 60 kt, the mains touch first, you hold the nose up and the surface is firm you are very unlikely to “prang the nose wheel on”. The nose wheel/strut is actually quite forgiving and robust. I have well over 1000 landings in my 9A with most on my short, somewhat marginal grass strip. Often I have to prematurely lower the nose and with moderate to hard braking, the nose wheel/strut takes the punishment OK.
Fin 9A.
Last edited by Finley Atherton : 05-10-2020 at 03:22 AM.
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05-10-2020, 06:33 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bay Village, OH
Posts: 886
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Missed it!
I would have loved to have seen that webinar. Can someone connect me with a link, or know if replays are available? Thanks.
__________________
Rick
RV-9A N183RC/90432: tip-up, O320H2, Ellison, Dynon D180, CPi2, Sen GA, at KLPR
RV-8 83718, wing kit, tanks done, with a four year plus plan - on hold due to home move
2011-2020 VAF contributor
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05-10-2020, 06:47 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL KCLW
Posts: 1,281
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I would think some of that depends on height and seating position. I'm short, and even with some extra seat cushion I can't see straight ahead in the flair. In transition training we worked a lot on getting the right sight picture out the left side, about 45 degrees ahead of the wing. If you are taller or sitting up higher you may be able to see over the nose.
Chris
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Chris Johnson
RV-9A - Done(ish) 4/5/16! Flying 4/7/16
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05-10-2020, 06:47 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Port Orange, Fl
Posts: 931
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If it's the "Critical RV Flying Skills" webinar, you can find it here: https://www.eaa.org/Videos/Webinars
__________________
Tom
Port Orange, Fl
EAA #51411
RV-12 N121TK ELSA #120845; first flight 06/10/2015; 700 hrs as of 02/2020
RV-12 N918EN ELSA #120995 Eagles Nest Project; first flight 05/18/2019
SPA Panther N26TK; First Flight 03/13/2020
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05-10-2020, 07:01 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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If I approach at 55 knots and three point my -9, is. full stall landing, then I can see straight ahead, but not directly in front of the plane like I can with a wheel landing.
The point is, you should strive for full stall landings, which gets your nose up high, regardless if you are flying a tricycle or taildragger because the stall attitude should be the same.
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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05-10-2020, 07:01 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YellowJacket RV9
I would think some of that depends on height and seating position. I'm short, and even with some extra seat cushion I can't see straight ahead in the flair. In transition training we worked a lot on getting the right sight picture out the left side, about 45 degrees ahead of the wing. If you are taller or sitting up higher you may be able to see over the nose.
Chris
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I would agree on the seating position. During transition training with Mike I could not see over the nose and would lose sight of the end of the runway. I told him that before he suggested to look out the side. Allowing me to discover this myself, before suggesting, created a lasting memory.
I do have a 7, so that is a huge factor in the last second before touchdown. It sits at 12 deg on the ground.
I was a little surprised Mike did not mention in the webinar but he always said target for 10 ft over the threshold and 65 kts of less.
I need more practice in landings myself. 
__________________
Bill
RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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05-10-2020, 07:38 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Taylorsville, Ga
Posts: 798
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Have someone video several of your landings and take a look at the nose wheel position with maybe a small varity of different approach flap /speeds and you will develop a better " feel" for that nose wheel position.
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DRRhodes
2020 VAF Supporter
RV9 N908DR
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