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04-05-2012, 09:59 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,082
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Russ, good call on the trailing edge. I am actually building new elevators for just this reason. The original builder pinched them too much. I asked Van's about it a few months ago and they immediately indicated that was the likely culprit which I hadn't thought of prior. I flew my buddies RV4 that had a larger radius trailing edge and the elevators were significantly lighter in pitch.
__________________
Mike
JAMES AIRCRAFT.com
Flying - RV8 Hot Rod "Drone Killer"
Flying - RV8 "Look'n Good"
RV4 - FAST & FUN! Rebuilt, Flown, Sold
RV-7A Built, Flown, Sold
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04-05-2012, 12:52 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TX32
Posts: 1,891
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Weight a minute...
Pat,
Several 0-320 wood prop RV4 landings over 20 years taught me a couple of things:
1. If pax over 150 Lbs, make sure you have full fuel, makes a difference.
2. I always wheels-land 5 knots fast 70KIAS (runway length available)
3. Have a weight cutoff you won't exceed, I used 200 lbs max weight aft of the roll bar.
Practice makes perfect.
V/R
Smokey
PS: More aft CG=Lighter stick force per G. Basically you will over control in pitch if you're not used to it, as you found out. The HR2 solved this problem by bolting an IO-540 out front, 300 pounders in back didn't phase it. Note: I recommend taking girls vs guys for rides, more fun, lighter and cuter 
Last edited by smokyray : 04-05-2012 at 01:04 PM.
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04-05-2012, 12:53 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Posts: 1,213
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-4 passenger observations
I have been flying my-4 a little over a year (120hrs.), and first passenger ride was at 40.1 hrs on hobbs. I almost always have a passenger these days, as folks love flying in the -4. I did 2 tests with "weights" in back, simply using gym weights in a heavy duffel, secured by the harness. First was with approx 75 lbs, 2nd with 150 lbs. To date, heaviest passenger has been 220, and I had half tanks of fuel. The weight tests simply show the pitch force difference, and one must expect a lot of forward stick to get the tail up on T/O roll. The most noticable safety factor is the very light pitch control in an aft CG configuration...very easy to over control flare or zoomy manouvers. I like to 3 point with pax, as it seems to settle in nice and I like slower on my less than perfect runway. I do have the long gear, and all 3 touch about the same time. I do hold an extra 5 knots in the pattern .
__________________
Bill E.
RV-4/N76WE
8A7 / Advance NC
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04-05-2012, 04:18 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Vancouver, WA USA
Posts: 908
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Looks like Pat Long has sold his RV-4
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...660#post268660
Still a good discussion though.
Also my Dad was mentioning something I also do and learned way back as we probably all learned during our primary flight instruction, that is to park at the end of the runway or parallel taxi way and observe the picture down the runway over the nose, then during landing hold that picture tell it touches and if you did it right all three will touch at the same time. I think this is the most accepted method for landing any airplane and using it we all should be able to 3 point an RV-4 on command with a little practice.
For a nose dragger you would just hold the nose even or just above the opposite end of the runway but this thread is about tail draggers.
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04-05-2012, 06:26 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
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sand
60-lb sacks of sand are less messy than concrete. I put them in Hefty trash bags to prevent spilling sand in the airplane. I tested with one, two, and three bags of sand, Then I put a case of oil in the rear baggage and repeated.
__________________
Steve Smith
Aeronautical Engineer
RV-8 N825RV
IO-360 A1A
WW 200RV
"The Magic Carpet"
Hobbs 625
LS6-15/18W sailplane SOLD
bought my old LS6-A back!! 
VAF donation Jan 2020
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04-05-2012, 08:35 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Battle Ground, Washington
Posts: 138
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Wood pellets for ballast
I used 40 pound bags of wood pellets for CG testing in my RV-8. I put each bag in a plastic garbage bag to contain dust and stacked them on the rear seat floor and secured them with the seatbelts. Worked well.
Dan Miller
RV-8 1100 hours
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04-06-2012, 05:34 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lakeville, MA
Posts: 17
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rear seat passenger
Hi,
I am learning to fly an -8 and struggling with the same issues. I'm using the the gradual method. Have added weight to the rear baggage compartment, and the passenger seat, but would like to build up to taking a large rear passenger, 210 lbs (my husband). Keep me posted on your progress.
Barbara
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04-06-2012, 09:48 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
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Funny
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seabird
....... would like to build up to taking a large rear passenger, 210 lbs (my husband). Keep me posted on your progress.
Barbara
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This has to be a first!  A lady wanting to give her hubby a ride in the back seat! LOL.
Great,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
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