Slipping an RV-6A on final

JCSmith · #1 09-30-2013, 09:43 PM

Hi all! I've noticed how nicely my RV-6A loses altitude in a slip on final. But I only use about 1/2 rudder / aileron since I'm not sure about using full cross controls. Any slipping advice out there for an RV-6A?

turbo · #2 10-01-2013, 07:38 AM

Just go to altitude and practice. Keep the speed up and and don't slip up. I usually do my slipping during the turn. By the time I roll out I am 90% there. Abeam the numbers, full flaps, slip in the turn, hit the spot. Good practice.

I usually don't need full controls.

Mel · #3 10-01-2013, 07:56 AM

RVs slip great with full controls. Normally full control is not necessary, but it works fine.

rv6ejguy · #4 10-01-2013, 08:26 AM

I do it often as I often land clean or with 1/2 flaps. Bleeds speed and altitude nicely. The -6 slips awesomely.

sandifer · #5 10-01-2013, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCSmith

But I only use about 1/2 rudder / aileron since I'm not sure about using full cross controls. Any slipping advice out there for an RV-6A?

Put that rudder to the floor and don't tack on extra speed. Full flaps is fine too. Don't worry about spinning...just about impossible from that configuration if you're power off and you don't for some reason make a big fast yank back on the stick. I really love how RVs fly, but I'm not crazy about how they slip...just not very effective compared to many other types. They are rudder-limited, and don't have much side area or drag to exploit during a slip. There's a reason Cubs, Stearmans, and Pitts' slip so well...and there's also a reason why they are slow.

IMO, in RVs it's almost not worthwhile unless you're using full rudder. But of course the nice thing about the slip is that you can use them to even small degrees to fine-tune your approach. As far as effectiveness goes, I guess it's all relative. I flew an RV-6A after flying the Pitts for a few years and was idle, full flaps, 80 mph with the rudder on the floor down final, and the dang thing just didn't seem like it was coming down at all.

Went around and tried again.

CODon · #6 10-01-2013, 09:15 AM

Good technique to have in the bag of tricks for precautionary landings. As mentioned above do some fam at altitude, as you get comfortable, combine in normal pattern work. Plane slips great, effectiveness is certainly there. Perhaps others do it better and some worse.

N941WR · #7 10-01-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandifer

... I flew an RV-6A after flying the Pitts for a few years and was idle, full flaps, 80 mph with the rudder on the floor down final, and the dang thing just didn't seem like it was coming down at all.

Went around and tried again.

Try my -9 sometime! While it slips like an RV, that long wing just keeps on flying and flying and flying!

sandifer · #8 10-01-2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CODon

Plane slips great, effectiveness is certainly there. Perhaps others do it better and some worse.

I figured I might catch flak for that.

I'm not bashing RVs. As mentioned, they don't slip nearly as well as many others due to the nature of their design. Effectiveness is a relative term. There's little you can do from a technique standpoint to improve the effectiveness of a slip if you're on airspeed, with full deflection....other than adding a turning component to the slip. I slipped my RV on every landing for years. Did the same in the Cub and Pitts. Sorry, but the RV is a pig (relatively speaking) in that respect.

But I'm on record saying that that RV was overall the best flying airplane I've ever flown. I know I'm stirrin' the loyalist pot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

Try my -9 sometime! While it slips like an RV, that long wing just keeps on flying and flying and flying!

Bill, if I flew your -9, I bet I could hit the numbers on the very first try...the numbers on the opposite end of the runway.

ChiefPilot · #9 10-01-2013, 09:59 AM

Part of it is technique. If you've got full flaps, a full slip, and still aren't coming down fast enough, it seems odd to blame the aircraft.

Just sayin'....

Neal@F14 · #10 10-01-2013, 10:09 AM

While my -6 doesn't slip as dramatically as my old Cherokee 140 would (that plane was a piece of cake to do "slam dunk" approaches in), the -6 does indeed slip just fine. I rarely find the need to slip it however, since if you just slow down to about 75 MPH on final, then it'll drop like a rock plenty quick enough