Another Radial RV-8R

[VA Maule]

Hello all I've just about talked myself into following in Brain Kelley's footsteps, but before I get too far down the "rabbit hole " I would like to get some advice from some experienced RV's. First I don't know anyone with a RV-8 I'm based at KFVX in Farmvile VA and I would like to meet and discuss some particulars that Mr Kelley had to overcome with his build. Second the standard gear is intended to accommodate up to a 76" prop while the Rotec R3600 is designed to swing an 84" I spoke with Grove Gear about the possibility of taller gear and they suggested using a one piece set that would also reduce stress on the fuselage if the gear web was 5" or more wide where it's mounted , Now on a quick build kit would it be advisable or possible to add additional gear towering ( example adding an additional front & rear tower panel about an inch fore & aft of the factory installed ones.)

Thanks in advance for your help, as many more questions will follow. Morgan D.

[Kahuna]

How about contacting Brian and going down for a visit? Seems he has the answers to the questions you have. Nothing beats standing there with the plane and noodling over whats required. He is the man to noodle with.

[flyboy1963]

..I'll bet with any project like his, he probably has Version 1,2, 3 or 4 of many components that just didn't quite work out!!
....you can benefit not only from his engineering, and design process, but his scrap bin too! ( if only for a starting point)

[xblueh2o]

Its not a scrap bin.
It is the prototype and engineering development storage center.

[VA Maule]

Thanks for the quick replies ,and getting up with Brian is defiantly on the list. He chose to deal with the prop issue by going CS-electric I'm thinking of taller gear and the recommend 84". As I read in here there has been some discussion about gear "weak links" my thought is this may be elegant solution as I would prefer to avoid electric prop control. So as to be as simple mechanicaly as posable. I have been fllowing Radial Conversions FB for about 18 months and am quite familiar with Brian's posts. Besides I do not want to copy his just to be inspired by it, after all the goal is to unique and have that radial KOOL factor.

[donaziza]

I'm pretty sure (not positive) Brian Kelly is in Port Orange, Florida, which is just south of Jacksonville. Find him here under the memberlist and start emailing him. Or better yet, get hold of Vlad. I'll bet he'll fly you anywhere.

[sblack]

I just wonder about whether or not 150hp is enough for an -8.

[F1R]

A 150 HP O-320 will fly an 8 just fine, provided C of G is kept proper.
If you lower the nose a few degrees in flight you will still exceed VNE.
Only climb rate will be reduced along with a slightly longer take off roll.

The only question is do you really want the radial and the work to build the aircraft.
I might go for a flight in a few different 8's if I was not 100% sure about the Rotec.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by VA Maule

I spoke with Grove Gear about the possibility of taller gear and they suggested using a one piece set that would also reduce stress on the fuselage if the gear web was 5" or more wide where it's mounted , Now on a quick build kit would it be advisable or possible to add additional gear towering ( example adding an additional front & rear tower panel about an inch fore & aft of the factory installed ones.)

Before someone starts modifying aircraft structure, it is a good idea to have an understanding of what the load paths in the current design are , and what the structure does to handle those loads.

If you used a one piece gear, the load transfer to the fuselage would be totally different than the original design so the additional structure you propose could very likely just be added ballast.

[brad walton]

Anybody know about the dependability of the Rotec, overhaul interval, etc.? I seem to recall there are some issues. Its hard to beat the Lycoming and its varients for dependability