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01-26-2012, 07:50 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 138
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Is it possible to slow
The elevator is very sensitive on the RV7 is very sensitive. Seems like if the rate were slowed down just a little, it would make take off and landing in gusty conditions a little easier. I know when I'm landing, the stick can't move more than what feels like an inch for the flare. It's nearly pressure sensitive.
This is a very well built 7. I was just wondering, when being built or rigged, if the builder has an option for different throws/rates.
If there is, what's involved to change it? This RV7 is full IFR and used for x-country and normal flying. No aerobatics.
Thanks,
Steve
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01-26-2012, 08:02 AM
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been here awhile
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve91t
The elevator is very sensitive on the RV7 is very sensitive. Seems like if the rate were slowed down just a little, it would make take off and landing in gusty conditions a little easier. I know when I'm landing, the stick can't move more than what feels like an inch for the flare. It's nearly pressure sensitive.
This is a very well built 7. I was just wondering, when being built or rigged, if the builder has an option for different throws/rates.
If there is, what's involved to change it? This RV7 is full IFR and used for x-country and normal flying. No aerobatics.
Thanks,
Steve
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Steve,
I don't know your history with your presumably new-to-you RV-7 so some of this may not apply. But what you are describing is the wonderful control response that has captured the fancy of most RV pilots. More time in the aircraft will make control response feel more natural.
To address your question, there is no provision for altering the geometry of the elevator control circuit short of redesign of components. The only mod that is sometimes made is to the length of the control stick but usually that is to shorten the stick.
If indeed your plane is more sensitive to elevator input than it should be, it might be due to a couple of things. When the plane is flown with the CG in the aft part of the range the elevator will become much more sensitive.
The other reason, and I suspect this may be valid if you are new to the plane, is that you are landing the plane too far above stall speed. If you come whistling down final several knots above 1.3 stall, you will have a plane that will easily zoom with minimal elevator input.
As Mike Seager told me during transition flights, "The RV is easy to fly but difficult to fly precisely". My 13 years in the RV-6 have proven him correct. The plane must be landed on speed in order to have the outcome you desire.
Hope this helps and enjoy your new plane!
Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 01-26-2012 at 08:04 AM.
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01-26-2012, 08:04 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 426
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CG?
Is your CG toward the rear as you get with the rv7 and a fixed pitch prop?
__________________
John Adams
Seattle
RV7 600+hrs
Paid 12/2014
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01-26-2012, 08:06 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 454
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How much time do you have in it?
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01-26-2012, 08:50 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 138
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First off all, not sure what happened to my title, sorry about that.
I know I didn't give much information, I just had a quick question.
I didn't mean to imply that it was necessarily a bad thing, but more of an option to customize the feel of the plane.
This is actually my dad's plane. He got it about a year and a half ago and couldn't be happier. He owned a Cessna 170B for something like 15 years. It's actually what I learned to fly in when I was 15.
We both have lots of experience in tail draggers, but this is definitely the most amazing plane I think either one of us have flown. I'm hoping to be able to get a 6 here in a few years.
About the landing speed. I don't think that's the issue. We've been doing 3 pt landings, and not floating much at all. It's not like we're doing wheel landings and trying to force it down. Trust me, that 170 was very good at embarrassing anyone who tried to make it stop flying before it was ready to
This is the only RV that we've flown, and had nothing to compare to. We'll get the hang of it!
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01-26-2012, 09:15 AM
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fugio ergo sum
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Carlsbad, NM
Posts: 1,912
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If the stick length has been reduced more than necessary you can get this. I find a cut-down stick can give quite an unpleasant elevator feel.
I helped modify an RV-6 stick to try to get the length back. After completely replacing the sticks and grips, clearance issues made it so the actual length gained was pretty minimal and I was discouraged about doing all that work for so little gain. The little bit made a big handling difference though. The airplane is much more pleasant to land now.
__________________
Larry Pardue
Carlsbad, NM
RV-6 N441LP Flying
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01-26-2012, 09:41 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve91t
...This is actually my dad's plane. He got it about a year and a half ago and couldn't be happier. He owned a Cessna 170B for something like 15 years. It's actually what I learned to fly in when I was 15...
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Just a data point, but I fly a 170B every once in a while and it takes quite a bit of time to get comfortable again. My Hiperbipe makes the RV-8 controls feel heavy and slow by comparison, so jumping into the 170 is a whole different world. The Cessna is so slow to react that it almost seems dangerous to fly. It isn't of course, but with time you will come to appreciate the quick response of the RV. I'll stick the RV or Hiperbipe into crosswind landings the Cessna driver would never DREAM of.
Give it time.
__________________
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
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01-26-2012, 09:57 AM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve91t
I know when I'm landing, the stick can't move more than what feels like an inch for the flare. It's nearly pressure sensitive.
Thanks,
Steve
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I like to add a bit of down trim in the pattern, it helps give me a better "feel" during landing. Just load up the stick a bit, couple pounds of force is all.
My landings have gotten much better after doing this, much more consistent too.
This is not without its hazards though, you must not let go of the stick for any reason on final, as you can imagine what would happen
If you decide to try this, I suggest you practice a simulated pattern a couple mistakes high.
It works for me, but as they say YMMV
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
Last edited by Mike S : 01-26-2012 at 09:59 AM.
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01-26-2012, 09:58 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Townsend, Montana
Posts: 3,179
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It took me a fair number of hours to feel my airplane....and I'm still learning after 100hrs RV.
when I did my transition trainiing with Mr. Seagar, he said I was a typical Cessna/citabria driver. Over controlled it badly. I mentioned to him that I felt I was barely moving the stick and was too sensitive. He said the problem is you are thinking about the stick when you should be thinking about moving the plane. So I started thinking about the plane and how it moves and quit worrying how much I moved the stick. Seemed to work a little better later that day. the next morning I arrived for my lessons and I told him I had thought about it all night.
My actual response was: normally I'm the guy, people call to move a piano, not play it!  so once I started playing the piano, things improved.
BTW-I'm big boned or husky if you prefer. 
__________________
Retired Dam guy. Life is good.
Brian, N155BKsold but bought back.
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01-26-2012, 10:01 AM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hydroguy2
normally I'm the guy, people call to move a piano, not play it!  so once I started playing the piano, things improved.
BTW-I'm big boned or husky if you prefer. 
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You looked perfectly normal to me 
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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