SPEED BRAKES

[Andrew Griffin]

I recently had the opportunity to fly a Columbia 350 which has the Precise Flight SpeedBrakes installed.

http://www.preciseflight.com/viewpage.php?pID=8

I really enjoyed the flexabilty that the speed brakes added to the aircraft.

I was wondering if anyone has (or has considered) installing these on an RV? And whether people think they would be as affective as they are on something like the Columbia or other aircraft like mooney's and cessna's that I saw fitted with them at OSH.

I emailed the company with this query and have to date recieved no response.

What are peoples opinions of speed brakes on RV's? I know that RV's aren't normally considered high performance enough to need speed brakes, however the Columbia I flew only did 180 knots and some of the aircraft that I have seen with them fly at speeds a lot lower than a RV.

On top of all of this I just think they look really good... Which is of course a reason in itself!!

[aadamson]

You know that the costs of these suckers are about 3.5K! Plus then utilize a pretty large controller and you'd have to make room for that. I'm building a Legacy, that even has the box all ready built in the wing for them and I"m not going to install them. If you are a highperformance aircraft, then maybe, but when I say hi-performance, I'm talking 200+kts and flight level altitudes. *and* need the ability to "rapidly" change altitudes.

Oh, they'd work on an RV, but it begs the quesiton..... "Why?".... Yes, I know... "cuz you can"...

[Cam Hartman]

I suppose the question really is "what would I like on my aeroplane and do I have a use for it?" Those speedbrakes certainly look good, would provide a new aspect to its performance envelope and would be good fun to operate so GO FOR IT!

Regards.

[pierre smith]

Why??

More weight, more cost, more complexity............kinda like having a ballistic recovery parachute on a Skyhawk.........RVs are not THAT fast,
Regards,

[Cam Hartman]

Why not? The issue of cost is irrelevant considering any amount of money can be expended on flight instruments, navigation equipment, paintschemes, interior fit (to name a few) not to mention the weight penalty that those items incur.

Does anyone have any technical data on speedbrakes that they would care to contribute? Links to websites containing such information would be greatly appreciated. It would be very interesting to hear from anyone with hard facts borne from personal experience concerning the fitment of speedbrakes to their own aeroplanes; handling advantages or otherwise, difficulty of fitment, ease of operaton, type of stick grip used, weight penalty, cost, tricks and traps for young players etc.

It is very hard to argue with science; last time I checked the world was still round.

Thanks in advance.

[hevansrv7a]

Not that I would do it, but I recall someone putting a speed brake on a Moni Motorglider which deployed from the belly. It would not be a spoiler, but it would have lots of drag. He used a plate with lightening holes and a simple cable actuator. FYIO.

[RV8RIVETER]

I gave them alot of consideration. One unit under the fuselage, seemed the best choice on the -8. But, Alan is right, they are very very expensive. I called the company a few years back and they were not interested in selling any one at a time. They only wanted to support their 2 units kits.

Also, remembered that I will have a pretty good speed brake up front, CS prop, especially with the 3 blades.

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by hevansrv7a

Not that I would do it, but I recall someone putting a speed brake on a Moni Motorglider which deployed from the belly. It would not be a spoiler, but it would have lots of drag. He used a plate with lightening holes and a simple cable actuator. FYIO.

This was also a part of the design of the Smyth Sidewinder, an old home built - EAA Best Design in 1969 - which along with the T-18, might be considered a "precursor" to the RV-6A and later RVs...



gil in Tucson... remembering being impressed with T-18s in 1973...

[osxuser]

DIY. Thats the best shot if you want some. The kit just isn't worth the money (the shop I work at installed one on a 210 recently), to complex and pretty much annoying to install. I like the belly idea the best, the one upside of the precise flight ones is that they, when installed correctly, don't affect the airflow in a climb, just in a decent.

[aadamson]

I don't know all the facts, but there are actually 2 companies that make speed brakes... They are also somehow related as they have sued one another before over design right, etc.

Here's the other one.... Oh, and they aren't any cheaper here vs Precise Flights version..

http://www.speedbrakes.com/