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  #1  
Old 05-21-2011, 08:50 PM
SteveR SteveR is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hudson Oaks, TX
Posts: 25
Default Any tips for flying an 8?

A friend has offered to let me fly his 8. Before I go up for a checkout, I wanted to see if anyone here has any general tips for me on flying them. I have couple of hours in a -6 and -4, but that was a long time ago. I fly a Grumman Traveler and a Pietenpol regularly. I'm approaching 800 hours total time, probably 500 of those hours are tailwheel. The big differences I'm expecting with the -8 are much lower drag than the antiques I'm used to, higher landing and takeoff speeds and much better overall responsiveness.

So what general tips do you have for a guy getting in an -8 for the first time (i.e., three point or wheel land it? recommended speeds? Any bad habits to be aware of?)? This one has an O-360 with a fixed prop.

Thanks!

Last edited by SteveR : 05-21-2011 at 08:53 PM.
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  #2  
Old 05-21-2011, 08:57 PM
N941WR's Avatar
N941WR N941WR is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
Default

Don't use a lot of rudder!

I had an experienced TW pilot who had never flown an RV before almost put us in some trees on the right side of a 100' wide grass strip.

The rudder is always effective in an RV, there is no dead zone like on many high wing TW aircraft.

If you get it slow, it will sink like a Cherokee with the Hershey bar wing. Just fly it by the numbers the owner tells you and you won't have any problems.

Report back with your impressions.
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RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
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  #3  
Old 05-21-2011, 09:33 PM
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Neal@F14 Neal@F14 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Wichita Falls, TX
Posts: 2,182
Default

Wheel land it solo.

You can three-point one pretty easily with someone in the back seat, but I still like to wheel land it even when carrying a passenger.

This coming from a noob at flying tailwheel RVs. I only have 25 hours in an RV-4 and 50 in an RV-8, and only about 100 total tailwheel hours. And about 800 in a Cherokee

Like Bill R said, if you let it get too slow, it'll sink like a brick, and can fall out of the flare and bounce if you're not careful with the airspeed. In the RV-8 in my avatar, I like to keep about 85 MPH (~73-74 kts) down final and then fly it onto the runway with a little bit of power to arrest the sink. Yeah, I eat up a little bit more runway but it helps me avoid inducing a bounce on touchdown.
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  #4  
Old 05-22-2011, 12:22 AM
Terry Lutz Terry Lutz is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 182
Default Flying the RV-8

There is certainly a lot of good information on the VAF forum, but to fly a new airplane properly requires a proper checkout. It is more than just stick and rudder skills that make for a successful flight. You will need a good cockpit and systems checkout to be fully aware of how everything works in the airplane, because each airplane is different. As a minimum, you should consult the guidance of an EAA Flight Advisor, who will assess the airplanes you have already flown along with the RV-8. This is the same "differences training" you would do going from a B767 to a B777, for example. Then get the proper stick time in an similarly powered RV, with a competent instructor. Everyone here wants you to be good to go, not just hanging on for the ride. Fly safe!
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  #5  
Old 05-22-2011, 04:58 AM
A6PILOT A6PILOT is offline
 
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Posts: 52
Default

I can tell you what I did when I bought my RV8. I had 800 hrs in RV6A and 100 hrs tailwheel (Cub, Taylorcraft, Champ) I enlisted the aid of a friend who is a CFI and owns a RV7. For two hours we shot landings with me in the right seat (throttle in the left hand, stick in the right) He pronounced me ready to solo my new RV8. I did everything he told me to do and had an uneventful first flight. If you want his name send me a private message. Steve
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  #6  
Old 05-22-2011, 06:22 AM
JCFL JCFL is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Daytona Beach, FL
Posts: 63
Default But use the rudder a lot!

Quote:
Originally Posted by N941WR View Post
Don't use a lot of rudder!

I had an experienced TW pilot who had never flown an RV before almost put us in some trees on the right side of a 100' wide grass strip.

The rudder is always effective in an RV, there is no dead zone like on many high wing TW aircraft.

If you get it slow, it will sink like a Cherokee with the Hershey bar wing. Just fly it by the numbers the owner tells you and you won't have any problems.

Report back with your impressions.
Don't use a lot of rudder may be good advice. However, as with any TW aircraft, I would advise "use the rudder a lot" for landing. By that, I refer to the traditional "foot dance" requiring rapid but small applications of rudder to control heading. This is simplistic advice but we must always remember the principle that a "little bit early" is better than "a lot late".

As an old instructor told me back in the sixties, "You gotta keep the airplane pointed the way its going." Two very high time pilots who experienced ground loops in the 8 made the same comment to me, that once the heading passes a certain point no amount of rudder and/or brakes will stop it. That would probably be true of any TW aircraft of course.

The point is that prevention is often the only cure. The best single bit of landing advice that I have continually reminded myself of and have passed along to many students and copilots is to keep your eyes focused on the far end of the runway. This is only a reminder of something we probably all learned early on. That, in my opinion, will go a long way towards solving problems with both heading control and altitude control on landing, whether its a heavy jet or a light sport or anything in between.

I'll close with a stab at humility: Free advice may be worth just what you pay for it!
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  #7  
Old 05-22-2011, 06:28 AM
Louise Hose's Avatar
Louise Hose Louise Hose is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton, Nevada --- A34
Posts: 1,464
Default

Good advice here. The only thing I would emphasize is that the -8 is MUCH easier to land solo and I'm very glad that Paul and some others convinced a very reluctant me to first fly it solo. I had a very thorough check-out on the ground and hundreds of hours in my -6, then went out for some manuevering, slow flight, and simulated pattern work up high before returning for the landing. That went fine. I'm still not fully comfortable with a passenger ('cause I haven't flown the -8 often enough).
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  #8  
Old 05-22-2011, 08:15 AM
pvalovich pvalovich is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Posts: 432
Default -8A Not the End of the World Rapture

I'm finishing the final stages of my -8A Phase 1 flyoff. Still in the "Where did this airplane come from?" rapture stage (much more real than the recent end of the world stupidity). Not a lot of expert hints - but treat her like a fighter. Respect her limits, but yank and bank and enjoy yourself. Pay attention to where she really stalls, and be careful of Vne in a steep dive - but explore the rest of the envelope. She will tell you if you're doing something she doesn't like.
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  #9  
Old 05-22-2011, 12:51 PM
gasman gasman is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sonoma County
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Louise Hose View Post
I'm still not fully comfortable with a passenger.
Junior will solve that issue......................
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  #10  
Old 05-23-2011, 03:19 AM
Andy Hill's Avatar
Andy Hill Andy Hill is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 976
Default

Steve...

Terry's advice is sound, but might be "impractical".

500TW hours sounds good to me, and if you approach the RV as you are, doubt you'll have any issues. I'll confine my comments to RV(-8) specific, rather than general airmanship (weather / runway length).

Quote:
Don't use a lot of rudder!
Take a look at the rudder chains / link arrangement - they vary by owner choice / preference. I am used to / prefer "loose" chains - and as a guide someone showed me, the rudder can move about 1/2 a horn width each way before the chain comes taut. This will be less "squirrly" in steering than tight chains / a solid link which will require more "finesse".

As with most TW aircraft, grass is preferably for your first few landings. Lots of it over here, seems somewhat rarer "over there".

Quote:
Wheel land it solo.

You can three-point one pretty easily with someone in the back sea
Could not agree more Do your W&B, if the CG is fwd of 80", it will not be "pleasant" to fly (all relative!). If you're not doing aeros etc., but flying solo, put 30-50lbs in the rear baggage area.

First few landings, esp with a 3 blade VP Prop, do not "cut power" until you're down.

Short Finals ensure "your feet are up" (covering the brakes) in case a "jab or 2" needed.

Recommend flapless takeoff for the first few goes to ensure you don't bust the limit speed. Later either climb steeply, or raise them immediately you're airborne.

At height, 75% power, lower nose about 10degrees, and just watch the ASI wind up. Best do it intentionally

Brief for engine out, we use 80K, absolute minimum of 75K with flap for glide. It will glide slower than that, but as you flare, you will lose all speed, and sink like a stone

Andy
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