RV-10 Taildragger Study

[rocketman1988]

Originally Posted by Richard Connell

Well said. My 10 is an absolute delight.
It impresses me more and more every flight.
After 10y in a RV7, I was nervous about the 10 being inferior.
I shouldn’t have worried. It’s better in almost every way other than not being able to go upside down. The TD aspect has never entered my mind.

Interesting discussion though!
I speculate that reinforcement in the tailcone is unnecessary because flight loads far exceed ground loads. After all, the rest of the vans fleet have largely identical tailcones whether they are conventional or TD. With the exception of reinforcements for the actual tail wheel leg mount.

You may be surprised at the loading with a couple of adults and 100 lbs of baggage in the back…but that is what a detailed engineering analysis is for…

Again, no place for TLAR engineering or much speculation…

[woxofswa]

I have no problem with tail draggers.

I have no problem with mustaches.

Every airplane ever flown has been a concoction of design compromises.
Having said that, IMHO, the RV-10 is the best airplane that I have ever flown at meeting its design goals. Near perfection for what it was intended to be, which is a comfortable and efficient cross country cruiser that can carry a very useful load.
It was never intended for sand bars, but it still does an amazing job getting in and out of unimproved strips if the need arises.

Yes it can use different power-plants than originally intended but what was originally intended has proven to be the most successful.
Yes it could be put on floats or fitted with retractable gear, and yes, it would be possible to move the nose wheel aft. All of which are theoretically possible, and perhaps fun to fantasize about, but also IMHO, MAKE NO SENSE! There are other products on the market already designed to scratch those itches, including soon, the RV-15.

Don't mess with a masterpiece. It would be like sketching a mustache on the Mona Lisa.

[glider_rider]

Originally Posted by woxofswa

the RV-10 is the best airplane that I have ever flown at meeting its design goals. Near perfection for what it was intended to be, which is a comfortable and efficient cross country cruiser that can carry a very useful load.
It was never intended for sand bars, but it still does an amazing job getting in and out of unimproved strips if the need arises.

I think the same would be true for RV-14A, which when it was announced got all the rave reviews. Then the 14 taildragger appeared and was just as fast with IO-360 engine. That is at least 10HP difference for the same performance.