Finally figured out how to take off!

[Mark Burns]

I know that sounds ridiculous, but.
The two instructors I flew with for my transition training keep telling me to be gentle with the stick. I was used to flying a Decathlon and 172's.

So, I would lift the nosewheel at about 60-65 mph. it always seemed to go a little too nose high but the speed built fast and I was at 80 in an instant even though I was nose high.

Landings have been sooo easy! I've only bounced a little once.
But the take-offs always felt a little strange.

Now with 12 hours on my RV-7A I've figured it out!! When they say lift the nose wheel at 60-65 it means lift it about 1 inch and that's all. When you barely lift it the airplane flys off like it should.....much better.

I probably shouldn't admit it took me 12 hours to get the hang of it but maybe this will help someone else.

Mark

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by Mark Burns

I probably shouldn't admit it took me 12 hours to get the hang of it but maybe this will help someone else.

Mark

I am sure it will, thanks for sharing.

[Radomir]

60-65 is way too late to pop the nosewheel off the ground.. IMHO, of course.. .

[Mel]

You should start the takeoff roll with "UP" elevator. When the nose wheel comes off, hold it about 6" off the ground and let the airplane fly off.

[zilik]

Just like Mel I find that holding up elevator during the role will lift the nose around 30 mph, releasing back-pressure to just keep the nose tire off the ground. Around 60-65 mph she flies off. Lately I have been using the first notch of flaps (manual) for takeoff and she flies sooner and is more stable once airborne. Of course I'm flying a 6A.

[AZtailwind]

Originally Posted by Mel

You should start the takeoff roll with "UP" elevator. When the nose wheel comes off, hold it about 6" off the ground and let the airplane fly off.

third that Mel, I also use 20 deg flaps to get off as fast as possible. After the 6A, flying the 182 is like a rumbling tank!

[Mel]

Try using about 15* of flap. If you have electric flaps, align the flaps with a "down" aileron. The differential ailerons are normally rigged for optimum lift to drag ratio. On the RV this works out to about 15*.

[Steve]

Normal takeoff:
I use 10 degrees of flap on my 9A for take off. Neutral pitch trim. Neutral elevator. Feel for lift. Lighten the nose. Climb out at 80 mph. Retract flaps.

Steve

[terrykohler]

Mel:
The differential ailerons are designed to minimize adverse yaw when turning. The down aileron (top wing in a turn) generates induced drag as a result of increased lift. This causes the nose to pull in the opposite direction of the turn. Van's has designed the up aileron to have greater travel, thus partially offsetting the high wing drag. In addition, look at the pivot point of the ailerons and you'll see that the up aileron also protrudes below the wing when deflected, also to provide additional drag. This is why the RVs require so little rudder in and out of turns as opposed to most Cessnas, where you have to really stomp on the pedal to keep the turn coordinated.
Terry

[Captain Avgas]

Originally Posted by Mel

You should start the takeoff roll with "UP" elevator. When the nose wheel comes off, hold it about 6" off the ground and let the airplane fly off.

When I did my RV7A transition training with Mike Seager in Oregon he encouraged me to start the take-off roll with elevators neutral and ease back when there was sufficient speed to provide enough authority to just bring the nose off the ground (about 15 knots). The idea was to bring the nose off the ground at the earliest possible moment and hold it JUST off the ground until the plane flew itself into the air.

I discovered that RVA transition training with Mike was 90% about just protecting that flimsy little nose gear.

Most RV pilots I see take-off the same way they've been flying Cessnas and Pipers...... they accelerate to about 65 knots with the nose gear firmly planted on the ground and then suddenly pull back on the yoke and rotate.