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  #1  
Old 11-06-2013, 07:37 AM
shimuneka shimuneka is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 34
Default True takeoff and landing numbers of rv7/9

My plan is to fly my airplane (when completed) from a grass strip on my farm. I have 1,200' of grass to land on with trees on each end. I could easily have trees removed for additional clearway for approach/departure and plan on doing so. My main question is, regardless of your opinions on which engine is the best, how accurate are the performance numbers that are posted on Van's website. My background: I am a CFI,CFI-I, MEI, ATP, airline captain with over 7k TT and ZERO time in RV's. I have enough experience to understand I still don't know it all and really appreciate the help from you guys with the RV knowledge.
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  #2  
Old 11-06-2013, 07:44 AM
JDRhodes JDRhodes is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Taylorsville, GA
Posts: 748
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1200 feet with trees / obstructions will be a challenge. The airplane will do it, but you will have to do it perfect every time.

I fly a -7 and a -9 off 1800 ft with a 50 ft obstruction on one end and a clear approach path on the other. Plenty of margin on the clear approach. It's difficult on the obstructed end.

You'll have to throw out your airline stabilized approach with power to a 10,000 ft runway training.
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  #3  
Old 11-06-2013, 07:46 AM
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Low Pass Low Pass is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,012
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Van's numbers very realistic. For further info on short/soft/obstacle clearance performance, search the archives here. Good discussions with some pearls of info, if you can wade through the noise. BTW, where's your farm (range of density altitudes)? Get the -9 with a CS -360 (or speed brakes!), and you'll have no problem.

Last edited by Low Pass : 11-06-2013 at 01:13 PM.
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  #4  
Old 11-06-2013, 07:46 AM
DEWATSON DEWATSON is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Quincy, Florida
Posts: 680
Default numbers

From my experience Van's numbers are pretty accurate. Everything has to be as Van describes for the numbers to work though. It hasn't always been that way for me, but in ideal conditions, his numbers are very, very close.

Just for the sake of butting into your business in a polite way......I'm sure you will remove the trees. 1200 feet open on both ends will work if you always pay attenetion. Having the credentials you have, I'm sure you always will.
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  #5  
Old 11-06-2013, 07:56 AM
shimuneka shimuneka is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 34
Default Thanks

I have every intention of having trees removed from both ends. I definitely don't want to crumple up an airplane. I think I can get an easy 300' added to either end to get around 1800 total length. BTW I am in southeast AL with field elevations in the 340-400' range.
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  #6  
Old 11-06-2013, 08:04 AM
Sid Lambert Sid Lambert is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: North Atlanta
Posts: 1,120
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When solo and smooth air... 400' rolling distance is no problem with a good approach.

Lots of good youtube videos if short field RV landings. Some are too crazy but most are safe.
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  #7  
Old 11-06-2013, 08:19 AM
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DougJ DougJ is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prather, CA
Posts: 191
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shimuneka, I'm kinda like you. I bought my RV-6 with VERY little light airplane time. Mine didn't have a checklist, POH, performance data of any kind, etc. I'm working on some of that for mine now. It's slightly unsettling to have no TOLD data, but it's normally not an issue.

With that said, my airplane with a FP prop and 150HP O-320 varies significantly based on conditions of course. Somewhat more than I might expect, likely due to the FP prop which I'm just not used to yet. At sea level or close to it on a hard surface it'll be close to the Vans numbers. Departing two-up from long grass at 2100' on a warm day it's a totally different critter than down at your altitudes and on pavement. As I said, I'm still getting used to it, and collecting data for some basic TOLD guidelines.

You're in LA (Lower Alabama) so you're GTG altitude wise there. Lose the trees and you probably won't have an issue once you adapt to the airplane, even off the unimproved surface. The 160 hp CS RV-7 I flew with Mike Seager is a totally different animal in the initial takeoff roll than the 150 FP airplane, especially in the grass. It just accelerates much harder. Landings shouldn't be an issue.

Disclaimer: I'm very to the type, so take the above with a grain of salt...

Doug

Last edited by DougJ : 11-06-2013 at 08:21 AM.
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  #8  
Old 11-06-2013, 08:31 AM
don.olandese don.olandese is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
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maybe I am stating the obvious, but at least for the -9 FP, tendency to float especially when you are light will be significant if you have ANY excess airspeed at all. that extra wingspan coupled with any excess airspeed will probably send you around if you cross the threshold at anything over about 60 mph. my opinion only, and based on my airplane only...
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  #9  
Old 11-06-2013, 08:54 AM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 3,179
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You will find this topic has been discussed a few times - eg "I and building X and want to fly off of a grass strip that is <number less than 2000'> long".

The decision is yours and yours alone. What follows is my situation ..


Under ideal conditions, I achieve the Vans numbers. I rarely enjoy ideal conditions - a couple knots too fast or any variance to the wind or a bird or or or ...

I fly an fixed-pitch RV-8 solo off of a pretty smooth 1900' grass runway with trees at one end. It's hard to get "everything" just right. On a good day, if I am no faster than 64Kts on final (1.3x stall and not behind the power curve), I can be down and rolling to a stop by mid field when landing toward the trees. BUT, it does not take much to use 2/3rds or more. Landing over the trees I can expect to use 2/3rds. That means 1275' with no margin for error.

With the exception of a lone Cherokee, no one but me has ever landed coming over the trees and no one but me has ever taken off toward the trees. There have been a number of RV pilots who have visited. Some has CS props. There have been 9A, 7A, 6A, 7, and 8 representatives. The CS guys tend to do well; the 9A driver is a very experienced pilot with short grass strips. All are still rolling past mid-field and on the brakes.

If I had a shorter field with the trees at one end, I'd have more no-go flying days.

Last edited by humptybump : 11-06-2013 at 08:58 AM.
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  #10  
Old 11-06-2013, 08:57 AM
DennisRhodes DennisRhodes is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Taylorsville, Ga
Posts: 798
Default What Don says

Is exactly right with the FP RV-9 and a short field. The approach over the threshold has to be on airspeed target or you will eat an 1800 ft runway up.
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