AEROBATICS
Note: The RV-9/9A is NOT designed or intended for aerobatics.
Note: Aerobatic maneuvers as defined by the FAR’s include bank angles greater than 60 degrees relative to the horizon and nose-up/nose-down pitch angles of 30 degrees relative to the horizon. These maneuvers must be performed above a minimum altitude of 1500 feet AGL and all participants in the aircraft must wear a parachute.
RV airframes are stressed for aerobatics up to a gross weight of 1050 lb.for the RV-3, 1375 lb for the RV-4/6/6A, and 1600 lb. for the RV-7/7A and the RV-8/8A with the “Dash One” wing (included in all RV-8/8A kits shipped since January, 2001.) Earlier RV-8/8As with the original wing have an aerobatic gross weight of 1550 lbs.
This means that they have design strengths of 6 positive and 3 negative Gs (plus a 50% safety factor) at up to this weight. The key word is WEIGHT. RV structures have a certain amount of strength and are capable of carrying a given load at given G load. If the weight increases, so does the stress. As the empty weight increases, the useful load decreases —less fuel and pilot/passenger load can be carried within the aerobatic weight limit. For this reason, a heavy 2-seat RV may become a single place aerobatic airplane because it cannot carry two people and remain under the aerobatic gross weight limit. We expect that the empty weights of many RV-4s and RV-6/As will be over 1050 lbs. because of optional equipment installed. These will definitely be single place aerobatic airplanes. Some RVs have been built with such high empty weights that when flown by a pilot weighing much over 200 lb., are no longer structurally qualified to perform aerobatics at all. Check the specific aerobatic gross weight given in Section 14. Always remember, RVs are not indestructible. Like all other airplanes, they have been designed with finite limits which must be observed. As a homebuilt, any individual airplane may have different limits which in all probability will be lower than design limits.