RV-9 performance

[petehowell]

Hi Bill,

Your numbers are amazing!

My 9A has been pretty consistent over its 2,100 hours:

High cruise: ~150KTAS @ 7500ft on ~6GPH (burns a little less at 12,500)

Low cruise: ~130KTAS at any altitude on ~5GPH

Loiter: stays in the air at ~3.5GPH, but is not in a hurry to get anywhere - good stetting for getting photos.

I'll get my yearly performance numbers to post in the next week or so.

With mogas after discounts and rebates in the $2.25 range now, low cost(for aviation) fun is possible!!!

Happy New Year!

[hydroguy2]

Originally Posted by N941WR

My O-360 powered -9 taildragger spinning a fixed pitch Catto prop will cruise right at 175 knots at 8,000 feet density altitude at 75% power....

Hey Bill, what is the fuel burn for this 175kts & 75%....just curious

[Kitplane Crafters]

Originally Posted by SpeedyMedina

Thanks for the quick response!! yes I see that one from Vans, but I was looking to some one that did it to see his opinion.! I see you use to have an RV-10, do you mind to tell me your opinion about that plane?
Thanks you again!
Eddy

I built an RV-9A with the Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 HP, and it does meet Van's numbers. It is N942WG.
I also don't totally believe it hurts resale value too much, as there are always people out there trying to get the best bang for their buck. An RV-9A or RV-9 with that engine is getting pretty good gas mileage and still has a respectable cruise!

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by hydroguy2

Hey Bill, what is the fuel burn for this 175kts & 75%....just curious

Brian, it is drinking fuel at that setting, almost 13 GPH at 100 RoP. With only 36 gallons on board, I typically fly it at between 150 and 160 knots. That works out to around 50% to 55% power and ~7.2 GPH. The numbers go up and down depending on the conditions and I never really worry about it too much. My typical flight sees me level off, pull back to 65% power, let it stabilize. If I'm above 6500', then I will go LoP, which drops me to 50 to 55% power, as I said.

The -9 is surprisingly fast. A couple of the local RV-7 guys and I did some formation work together and even with the fixed pitch Catto, they were stunned that all in, a lowly -9 could out run them. Even more surprising was that at some speeds, I could outclimb those with a CS prop. That wing is just amazing!

Rob and I need to go side-by-side to see who's is faster.

[rightrudder]

My -9A does about 155-157 KTAS at 7.5 gph, WOT & LOP at a DA 0f 9000' to 10,000'.

Stock 160-hp IO-320-D1A w/ Slick magnetos, FP Catto 70x70 2-blade prop, with a TOW of about 1500 lb.

[hydroguy2]

Originally Posted by N941WR

Rob and I need to go side-by-side to see who's is faster.

I have a pretty good idea how that'll end....but could be wrong.

My normal flight plan was 175kts @ 8.5gph above 8500', I usually beat those numbers chock to chock.
If I ran at peak, speed was over 180+kts burning 9.5-10gph.
Full power was 188-190kts

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by hydroguy2

I have a pretty good idea how that'll end....but could be wrong.

My normal flight plan was 175kts @ 8.5gph above 8500', I usually beat those numbers chock to chock.
If I ran at peak, speed was over 180+kts burning 9.5-10gph.
Full power was 188-190kts

Sounds like I'll get dusted!

I spoke to Rob the other day. He is still very impressed with your-7.

[db1yg]

Hi Bill,

I would agree with you that the RV9 wing performs incredibly well at all altitudes but excels from 10k up into the mid teens--even though power is going down at the higher altitudes that wing just does not want to give up speed.

I have no hard take off numbers but I do have a lot of data that I collected on climb and cruise while I was testing some of Craig's propellers.

My 9a does have a James cowl/plenum, a lot of detail clean up, and is powered by a stock compression parallel valve IO360/180 hp engine. My typical cruise with the fp 3 blade Catto was 63-65% power, lop (7.8 to 8 gph) which at 8 to 10k ft density gave me from 163 to 165 ktas. Several years ago while testing Craigs gen 3 carbon fiber 3 blade I ran some tests at wot (2660 rpm-prop was slightly over pitched for my plane) and saw a couple of ticks over 178 ktas at 9k density. The mixture was set at 125 to 150 degrees rop for that run. I have since converted to a WW RV200 constant speed propeller but have yet to run it at high rpm/high power. My current typical cruise with the WW is 2350 rpm, wot, lop (7.8-8 gph) and I see 165-168 ktas.

Been loving this RV9a-360 combo since 2006!

Happy New Year to all and of course,

Cheers,

db

[NinerBikes]

Originally Posted by Kitplane Crafters

I built an RV-9A with the Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 HP, and it does meet Van's numbers. It is N942WG.
I also don't totally believe it hurts resale value too much, as there are always people out there trying to get the best bang for their buck. An RV-9A or RV-9 with that engine is getting pretty good gas mileage and still has a respectable cruise!

What kind of kts cruising speeds are you observing with this low HP engine, and GPH consumption?

Also, is it a major PIA to adjust the solid lifter valves every 100 hrs, or at least inspect them? Full cowl removal for access?

[Dugaru]

My -9A, 160hp O-320 and a CS prop, gets about 158KTAS at 7000-8000, wide open, and about 7.7 gph, TOW maybe 1550.

Originally Posted by rightrudder

My -9A does about 155-157 KTAS at 7.5 gph, WOT & LOP at a DA 0f 9000' to 10,000'.

Stock 160-hp IO-320-D1A w/ Slick magnetos, FP Catto 70x70 2-blade prop, with a TOW of about 1500 lb.