I was sitting in front of SuzieQ’s port wing the other day having just completed my pitot/static check and was on my short shop stool just looking at this well-designed aircraft from a different perspective. I suddenly became aware of just how amazing the airfoil on this airplane is! Not only is it a great functioning airfoil, but it is also just amazing to LOOK at. Ok: I’ll admit am somewhat of a dweeb. A wing happens to be a beautiful piece of sculpture that also just happens to lift an airplane into the air! How cool is THAT??
People would ask me why the RV series of airplanes flies so well, and I would tell them it was a great design from the outset but the specific airfoil that Van chose was an amazing part of that performance. It is the same airfoil that is used on the Citation jets, I would tell them. THAT would impress them.
Then I was thumbing through the October issue of SPORT and found a letter to the editor down in the corner of page 8. It had to do with the AMAZING 2/3 P-38 that Bud Davisson had written about previously. He was describing the airfoil used, the NACA 23000 series, and went on to describe how many other high-performing airplanes used variations of that series: multiple Lockheed models; the Douglas DC series; B-25. Even the German Fw 190! AND: the Grumman TBM; F-series of fighters including the Corsair! And their amphibian aircraft! Oh: did I mention all Cessna piston and turboprop twins, not just the Citations. Did I mention ALL Beechcraft from the Staggerwing up through the King Air? Wow! Must be something special about that 23000 series of airfoils! Personally, I think so!
SuzieQ (-4) will go 175kt full-tilt boogie, but I have also flown formation with an 85hp J-3 Cub who I swear was trying to get me to break! Stayed right with him, turns and all!! Full flaps? Yeah, but she just stuck there….
So: RV-3 through the -8 series are in good company! Just another feature of this AMAZING series of aircraft and all due to the genius of the designer! Thanks Van!
People would ask me why the RV series of airplanes flies so well, and I would tell them it was a great design from the outset but the specific airfoil that Van chose was an amazing part of that performance. It is the same airfoil that is used on the Citation jets, I would tell them. THAT would impress them.
Then I was thumbing through the October issue of SPORT and found a letter to the editor down in the corner of page 8. It had to do with the AMAZING 2/3 P-38 that Bud Davisson had written about previously. He was describing the airfoil used, the NACA 23000 series, and went on to describe how many other high-performing airplanes used variations of that series: multiple Lockheed models; the Douglas DC series; B-25. Even the German Fw 190! AND: the Grumman TBM; F-series of fighters including the Corsair! And their amphibian aircraft! Oh: did I mention all Cessna piston and turboprop twins, not just the Citations. Did I mention ALL Beechcraft from the Staggerwing up through the King Air? Wow! Must be something special about that 23000 series of airfoils! Personally, I think so!
SuzieQ (-4) will go 175kt full-tilt boogie, but I have also flown formation with an 85hp J-3 Cub who I swear was trying to get me to break! Stayed right with him, turns and all!! Full flaps? Yeah, but she just stuck there….
So: RV-3 through the -8 series are in good company! Just another feature of this AMAZING series of aircraft and all due to the genius of the designer! Thanks Van!
