Landing RV-7

[RudiGreyling]

Originally Posted by checkride

Hey Guys

I am flying a RV-7A in South Africa at the moment, but having a bit of a problem with the landing.

The aircraft floats down the runway, my speed are approach at 90mph and landing at 80mph. I think it speed is a bit fast but that what i was taught to use in the plane.

What speeds and technique do you guys use.

Regards

Stall speed in landing configuration x 1.30
What is your IAS at Stall in landing config? Check at safe altitude!

Vans Website Says Stall = (51 mph Solo) to (58 mph Gross)
x 1.3 = 64 - 75 MPH if airspeed indication is correct and corresponds to stall.

My IAS is correct and Stall corresponds with Vans
I land at 70mph ussually. 65mph on short fields.
FP tends to float more than CS
Also check your engine idle speed is nice and low.

[checkride]

like i said we will be testing on friday and the motors rpm is sitting around 500-700rpm so nice and low.

[checkride]

Hey Guys

thanks for all the help, did some testing today and the approach speed of
80mph works great and landing speed at 70mph just perfect.

Still floats but not so much. We could of dropped it to 65mph for landing but
had some strong winds with mild turbulence so rather safe then sorry kept it at 70mph

[Weslee]

I also have experienced problems with consistent landings. All your suggestions are extremely useful. I find a longer final approach helps too.
Lee

[RV7AV8R]

It makes a big difference which prop you have. The CS prop will slow you down easily while the Fixed pitch requires a lot more attention to your air speed on final for a short landing. I have had both on my RV7 and the CS is much easier to land where you want to.

[Mike Coady]

I like to be half flaps by base leg and then turn final. On final I like 70 knots and add the rest of the flaps there. By short final, I'm reducing power and slowing to 65 there. If it all comes together, I'm pulling power here and crossing the numbers flaring and touching down near 55 knots. (63 mph). Practicing this at altitude to insure your ASI is accurate is a good idea. The airplane likes to float as long as you are adding back pressure to the near stall point at touchdown. I personally find it very gentle at landing when compared to some standard aircraft. Have fun and be safe. I recently acquired hour number 25 on my 7A and am still amazed at this greats plane!
Mike

[Smilin' Jack]

I find with an IO360 and constant speed Hartzell Blended airfoil prop that 75 crossing the threshold in smooth air works great. Taking the power to idle really puts the brakes on and slows the aircraft down. There are some that believe that 1.3Vso is the right final approach speed.

I will interject my own thoughts on this. 1.3Vso was taught for short field landings speeds and this was the speed that the aircraft was suppose to be at 50' over a obstacle with a smooth flare beginning at this point to assure there was no float in the short field landing.

My RV7 stalls at 53 indicated with full flaps and an idled engine which equals 68.9mph. using 70 at the threshold and beginning a flare at about 10 feet will usually result in a nice touch down at full stall in a 3 point attitude. much slower or higher flare results in a sinking and the aircraft losing a lot of speed very quickly. During wheel landing basically use the same but carry a tad of power and usually target around 75 for the approach.

In any turbulence I will add half the wind to my approach speed. It gives better controllability to the aircraft.

Jack

[JPalese]

Originally Posted by RudiGreyling

Stall speed in landing configuration x 1.30
What is your IAS at Stall in landing config? Check at safe altitude!

Vans Website Says Stall = (51 mph Solo) to (58 mph Gross)
x 1.3 = 64 - 75 MPH if airspeed indication is correct and corresponds to stall.

FYI Van's transition training syllabus calls for a Vref {speed on final} of Vso x 1.35 or 1.40 vice 1.3.

As I recall the reason for Van caling for the higher Vref speed is energy management due the short wing span in combination with a landing gear system that is NOT designed to absorb unarrested impact from high descent rates.