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  #11  
Old 08-10-2014, 11:14 AM
RFSchaller RFSchaller is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
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I think spending some gas money to drive to a longer runway might be a good investment. I never like scenarios with little or no margin anticipated. Not saying you can't operate off short fields - just saying is the risk worth it? I know I don't do it enough to call myself proficient at short field technique.
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  #12  
Old 08-17-2014, 05:56 AM
TLYNCH TLYNCH is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mequon, WI
Posts: 114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill_H View Post
How short? I operate out of a 1260' "grass-is-coming-in" strip at 1200' elevation in Arkansas. On a hot day I operate solo-only as a conservative measure. The takeoff is the concern, not the landing. Heavy braking is not required. Use half flaps for takeoff. Install the $12 AOA mod, it is VERY useful for short field landings (audible, eyes-out, not looking at the display. Keep the AOA beeping frequency right where you want it!)

I originally kept the plane at an airport while the runway/hangar was in progress. I marked off 1200 feet and did a lot of practice using only that portion. If I had a generous 1400 feet like Joe G. I would feel better about gross weight operation! Adding the last 100 pounds of weight into a -12 seems to have a disproportionate effect on takeoff performance.

You DO want to adjust your idle speed so it down to about 1450 or so. You don't run it there but you want it to be full off for the landing. I have gone around twice, be ready to do that if things aren't perfect. Practice your slow flight.

I slightly adjusted my prop to favor climb. Cost me a couple of knots at the top end. I took off the wheel pants also. I can still cruise at about 115kt easy.

You WILL LEARN a lot about slips if you want to do a steep approach in an RV-12 and it slips really nice, full flaps, stick forward a bit. Dragging it in with power and cutting the power will let you put it down right on the end, if you are comfortable with that method.

The nose gear design is different than the other RVs you read about (search for anti-splat). There have been no fold-under reports. I don't know of anyone installing bigger wheels/tires. You would need a different nose wheel fork to do that. You should consider air-stop tubes.

Video (public link) of my first landing on the strip. The cell tower you see is actually 3 miles from the end of the strip in a direct line:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...31637449767301

Video (public link) of the next first-takeoff and second landing.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...24411869608154

They are better since then!
Bill
What are air stop tires?
What is the $12 AOA?

I'm a Neubie with an SLSA

Thankyou
Tim
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  #13  
Old 08-17-2014, 01:43 PM
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Bill_H Bill_H is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Marshall TX (KASL)
Posts: 1,783
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Air stop is a TUBE for the tire that resists puncture better than ordinary tubes.

AOA can be added to the Skyview for about $12 in parts by following the instructions in this thread. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=34040
Start with post #14, but read on to where the inflation needle can be replaced with a rivet.

I know you are SLSA. Maybe it is worth jumping through some paperwork hoops with Vans to get this as an approved mod. But consider:

The mod consists of:
1. Drill a new rivet hole.
2. Put in a rivet.
Now, so far have you done anything that takes your plane out of the SLSA category? no, you repaired a small hole in an acceptable way.
3. Connect some 1/8 inch tubing to the back side of the rivet (like on the static port rivets.)
4. Let it lay in the wing rib lightening holes and run it all the way back to the ADAHRS and connect it. The weight will be about 3 ounces. Put a plastic quick-disconnect at the wing root per the parts list. After 20 years or so the tubing might wear out since you didn't fish it through those snap bushings in the wings. Secure along the way with some cable ties.

Again, has the aircraft been rendered unairworthy by having some 1/8 " tubing laying in it?

5. Tell the Skyview you now have an AOA (it has software already built in for that) and run through the inflight configuration.

Kinda seems made-to-order to assist the FAA in their desire that more aircraft have AOAs!

BTW I cleaned a mud-dauber nest out of a flaperon that weighed more than this mod. Added metal tape covering the openings in the ends of the flaperons and aft spar holes of the wing (With small holes for air equalization just to be sure...) Another violation if you are an SLSA I guess... Note they can still get in through the tail cone...

Now, watch the responses about how doing this on an SLSA is illegal, immoral, fattening, etc...

Question - when you get an SLSA do you get a full set of plans with it? That would be a great resource.

Last edited by Bill_H : 08-17-2014 at 01:50 PM.
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