Spinning in the New Year

[Saber25]

Wishing all you buckers and riveters a Happy and Healthy New Year. The final product is well worth the effort and never a flight goes by that I don't land and stand in awe of that little beauty and the enjoyment she has been for us. Maybe this video can provide the bit of incentive to get 'er done and flying. This bird is coming up on 25 years young, 2400+ hrs and still going strong.

Cheers to all,

Cobra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzfHGVb_DwA

[RV4UK]

Cool video thanks for sharing.

Can't wait until my kit arrives to get started. With a bit of luck I might get out to play with a friend in his RV-4 tomorrow and do some looping and rolling.

Happy New Year.

Simon

[pitts flyer]

My RV-4 is a ways from flying, but doing some calculations with the W&B indicates that with 2 aboard (of course with parachutes), you almost have to fly without any fuel to be within the aerobatic envelope recommended. Even then the CG is pretty aft. My guess is you are taking a risk doing anything more than a 1 G barrel roll in an RV-4 with 2 people. Again just basing it on some calcs I did...I could be wrong.

[dealfair]

Great video Hans!! Excites me to go flying this first day of the New Year.

Cheers to all,

[Low Pass]

Excellent video!!! Thanks for sharing. Next time, cut in a shot of your face after 6 or 8 of those turns.

[Ed_Wischmeyer]

Lotsa rolls to the right, most folks roll left...

[WAM120RV]

Hi Dave

My 4 came out at 1011 lbs from memory and I have already reduced that by 7 lbs by fitting a lighter battery. According to my W and B I can do aeros with my wife on board and 10 gallons (UK) each side. I am about 170lbs and she is 114 lbs.

I am currently making some carbon wheel pants to reduce weight further and may remake the tips in carbon later.

[AlexPeterson]

Very, very nice, thanks. What altitude were the spins started at? Looks to be near the 14k peaks in altitude.

[Christopher Murphy]

Originally Posted by Ed_Wischmeyer

Lotsa rolls to the right, most folks roll left...

Nice video Hans!

Ed,
Just curious, how do you know which way most people roll?

I fly with either hand on the stick and it feels more natural for me to roll right regardless of which hand is on the stick. I think it's a visual/brain thing more than a stick thing.

IF one puts someone in the backseat of the-4 and blast off with min fuel to do acro one better know where ones cg is Or you might have an unpleasant flight.

Chris m

[Saber25]

Hello guys,
Hope you all are having a good New Year day. Some comments I can answer here.
I do almost all my acro solo since my enthusiasm for that activity exceeds the enjoyment factor for most PAX. Occasionally if the rear seater is a small person I will do rolling maneuvers but not any vertical.
The Sangre?s are my playground and high altitude flight here is common as is acro flying. I entered my left turn spins at 15000ft and the RV4 is very stable in that configuration with a predictable recovery. I felt comfortable enough to continue past ten but did not want to exceed viewer interest. The right spins are not as easily entered for some reason since it requires a slightly accelerated spin entry to make her spin to the right. Recovery from the right spin takes just a moment longer.
My continuous rolls to the right followed an equally long series of rolls to the left but in the interest of expedience, that was left out of the video as was quite a bit of that flying session. I agree, rolls to the left are easier for me simply for the ergonomics of a palm pushing the stick, verses fingers pulling for a right roll. I guess after thousands of orbits covering my little bird and the troops in the jungle, left hand maneuvers come more naturally. As for a shot of my face, it normally is frozen in that RV4 grin that only goes away after several hours on the ground.
I?m an advocate of learning and training spins in spin certified aircraft. Not only are they fun but they add another skill set. It also brings you along the trail of wearing the airplane rather than just flying it.
Cheers and happy flying 2014,
Cobra