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10-25-2011, 08:28 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton, Nevada --- A34
Posts: 1,464
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I see what DanH means, but....
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanH
The height of the fastback mod is indeed near identical to the height of the stock fastback on the 6 and 7. Of course the 8 is far more narrow. Here's the eyeline view over my shoulder....
....which unlike a 6/7 is the same to either side.
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I see that you're right in the -8. I had been thinking about what it would do in the -3, where the pilot's head is immediately against the opaque back (as the passenger's head is in the -8). I, personally, wouldn't like that situation as either the pilot of a -3 or passenger in the -8 nearly as well.
__________________
Louise Hose, Editor of The Homebuilder's Portal by KITPLANES
RV3B, NX13PL "Tsamsiyu" co-builder, TMXIO-320, test platform Legacy G3X/TruTrak avionics suite
RV-6 ?Mikey? (purchased flying) ? Garmin test platform (G3X Touch, GS28 autopilot servos, GTN650 GPS/Nav/Comm,
GNC255 Nav/Com, GA240 audio panel)
RV8, N188PD "Valkyrie" (by marriage)
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10-26-2011, 07:57 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Taylor Texas
Posts: 811
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Option 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Louise Hose
I see that you're right in the -8. I had been thinking about what it would do in the -3, where the pilot's head is immediately against the opaque back (as the passenger's head is in the -8). I, personally, wouldn't like that situation as either the pilot of a -3 or passenger in the -8 nearly as well.
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Geez Louise
How 'bout a lil' maneuvering to see what's behind/below etc? Kick the tail over a bit if nothing else. These are kinda maneuverable ships, ya know...
Carry on!
Mark
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10-26-2011, 09:30 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Nephi, UT
Posts: 79
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Count Me In!
I plan on doing the showplanes conversion when I start my 8 in the spring. It will make it so the plane can be flown more often in the winter, as there will be less draft. I also like the fact that there is not a front crossbar about forehead height (for me) in front of the pilot. I have used the tilt up like this in the Pitts and it works nicely. Also emergency egress has been proved with this design already, as it tends to come off when opened for emergency in flight. If you are jumping out of the plane, you are not going to be too worried about messing up your empennage.
Is the rear visibility hampered. Absolutely, but it is still way better than a Mooney, Piper, Beechcraft, and Many Cessnas. Not to mention Cirrus, Lancair, and many other planes. As already mentioned, listen to position reports, and move yourself a little to clear and check you area. That is one of the first things I learned when I started to fly.
There is my 2 cents!
__________________
Mike Price
CFII/Multi Commercial
I'm gonna build me an RV one day soon
"The older I get -- the more I realize that sense is not common."
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10-26-2011, 03:02 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,544
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I think that the rear visibility issue is a total non issue. I very much doubt that if your shoulder harnesses are done up correctly that you could actually swivel your head 180 degrees; at least my head does not do that. As Mark Fredrick stated you can kick the tail a bit if you need to see directly aft. I have to admit that I have not been passed that often...
In looking at the show planes pictures it just does not seem that the line of the canopy and aft fuselage deck is correct. Either the bubble is too high or the turtle deck needs to be a bit higher. This is just personal preference but I never cared for the lines of the standard RV8 bubble and this modification just did not go far enough. Check out pictures of F1s and HRIIs to see what I mean, it really does make a difference.
__________________
Tom Martin RV1 pilot 4.6hours!
CPL & IFR rated
EVO F1 Rocket 1000 hours,
2010 SARL Rocket 100 race, average speed of 238.6 knots/274.6mph
RV4, RV7, RV10, two HRIIs and five F1 Rockets
RV14 Tail dragger
Fairlea Field
St.Thomas, Ontario Canada, CYQS
fairleafield@gmail.com
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10-29-2011, 05:25 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Flesherton, ON
Posts: 33
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I think if you use a todd's canopy for the f1 or harmon rocket in conjunction with the showplanes kit you'll get the appropriate rake on the canopy blending in with the fastback.
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10-29-2011, 05:53 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 89
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Rearview Visibility
As far as rearward visibility goes, I've seen mirrors, shaped a little like parentheses, on the canopy bows of tactical aircraft. I seem to recall seeing a picture of an RV-8 that had at least one of them. I mean, when I fly a C-172 I use a little handheld mirror to see the aft control surfaces move during my runup. Anyone have any thought, or maybe sources, for mirrors like this?
__________________
Jay Staub
Lt. Col., USAF, Ret.
N6565S Reserved
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10-29-2011, 07:25 PM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark12A
As far as rearward visibility goes, I've seen mirrors, shaped a little like parentheses, on the canopy bows of tactical aircraft. I seem to recall seeing a picture of an RV-8 that had at least one of them. I mean, when I fly a C-172 I use a little handheld mirror to see the aft control surfaces move during my runup. Anyone have any thought, or maybe sources, for mirrors like this?
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Do a forum search for "mirrors", and I bet you'll get lots of information - these are discussed fairly frequently.... 
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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10-30-2011, 03:22 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight
Do a forum search for "mirrors", and I bet you'll get lots of information - these are discussed fairly frequently.... 
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Thanks; the mirrors I remember seeing are on Don's RV-8 "Smoky". We couldn't put them on F-16s, but it wasn't a big deal. Simple solutions like Auto Zone or the local motorcycle shop are often the best...
__________________
Jay Staub
Lt. Col., USAF, Ret.
N6565S Reserved
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11-18-2011, 04:37 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 184
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Martin
...In looking at the show planes pictures it just does not seem that the line of the canopy and aft fuselage deck is correct. Either the bubble is too high or the turtle deck needs to be a bit higher. This is just personal preference but I never cared for the lines of the standard RV8 bubble and this modification just did not go far enough. Check out pictures of F1s and HRIIs to see what I mean, it really does make a difference.
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I agree. It would be nice if the turtle deck was just a bit higher to smooth out the top line. If you could get the smooth lines of the Tom Clark fastback in a showplanes tip over I'd be all over it. (I hope Deene doesn't mind me linking his picture) http://i48.tinypic.com/5d89u.jpg
__________________
Loves to fly
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11-18-2011, 08:24 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Martin
I think that the rear visibility issue is a total non issue...
...In looking at the show planes pictures it just does not seem that the line of the canopy and aft fuselage deck is correct. Either the bubble is too high or the turtle deck needs to be a bit higher. This is just personal preference but I never cared for the lines of the standard RV8 bubble and this modification just did not go far enough. Check out pictures of F1s and HRIIs to see what I mean, it really does make a difference.
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Agree on all counts.
A friend of mine has this drop dead sexy F1:
This configuration has to be the most ?limited? in visibility of any fastback configuration (windscreen bow, high turtledeck) and it is still vastly superior to most any other airplane out there. Certainly better than a Cherokee, Mooney, Bo, etc. Anybody want to see what limited visibility is like, try a Hiperbipe... It's like flying while looking through a cardboard tube.
To the OP?s question, though I don?t have a fastback, I don?t find the ?slider? canopy all that appealing in actual practice. I did get the ?opportunity? to add the flat wrap windscreen to the -8, and if (God forbid) I need to replace the canopy some day, I will seriously think about doing a fastback conversion. It will almost certainly feature a throw over canopy as well.
__________________
WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
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Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
Last edited by Toobuilder : 11-18-2011 at 08:26 AM.
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