Van's Air Force
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RV-6 steps
- Thread starter 6 Gun
- Start date
Sam Buchanan
been here awhile
After flying my -6 several years it became apparent one of my occasional passengers was struggling to get up and down the wing. I put a tape measure to the step on a friend's -6A and determined it was too long to look good on the RV-6. It also located the step too close to the ground.
I purchased a standard step and shortened it three inches. This made it proportional to the -6 and located the step halfway between the ground and wing trailing edge.
It looks good and works great. I highly recommended the shortened step for anyone who needs some help stepping up or down the wing.
Greg Arehart
Well Known Member
I converted my 9A to a a 9 and left the steps on. Makes it much easier to get in and out without fear of stomping on the flap. Wife likes it much better (she is only 5'1"). Helps as a point to step on when leaning over the rail working on stuff in the cockpit. I'm glad I left them on. Might be a bit different on the 6.
greg
greg
Well in this case, you can have it both ways
I built our RV-6A with steps and they are S-o-o-o-o nice for the "A" version. However, I talked to John Huft about their drag one time and as a racer I couldn't stand it. So I drilled out the fuselage side plate mounting rivets made backup plates with platenuts and mounted them with #8 flat head screws instead of rivets, the under baggage compartment floor hardware stayed the same but I had to cut access holes and make cover plates for bolt access. When I race the steps are removed and a cover plate is installed. When we travel the steps are installed. When my wife goes to a race with me I take along a little plastic step stool I bought at Wall-mart and everything is fine. I removal of the steps gave me a 0.4 knot increase in speed.
Bob Axsom
I built our RV-6A with steps and they are S-o-o-o-o nice for the "A" version. However, I talked to John Huft about their drag one time and as a racer I couldn't stand it. So I drilled out the fuselage side plate mounting rivets made backup plates with platenuts and mounted them with #8 flat head screws instead of rivets, the under baggage compartment floor hardware stayed the same but I had to cut access holes and make cover plates for bolt access. When I race the steps are removed and a cover plate is installed. When we travel the steps are installed. When my wife goes to a race with me I take along a little plastic step stool I bought at Wall-mart and everything is fine. I removal of the steps gave me a 0.4 knot increase in speed.
Bob Axsom
Last edited:
I told my wife that our steps slowed us down by 0.4 kts and she said sorry the steps stay. We don't need the speed. Oh well I guess they stay. I cut about 3in off of mine also by measuring the distance from the ground to the wing and dividing it in half. I then put up a box to simulate the step to check the feel. I left the location as per factory. I also installed them using flush rivets. I didn't like the looks of the bumps. They are really handy when loading the airplane baggage compartment and when helping people unfamiliar with flying getting them settled in the cockpit. If you need the speed get a bigger engine.
Sam Buchanan
been here awhile
I don't have a photo of the shortened step.
Just look at the step on a -6A and imagine it being three inches shorter.
