Rather than hijack the thread congratulating Bill, I thought I'd start a new thread. Scott, in that thread you wrote:
What were the challenges you found in your particular airplane (RV-8) that caused problems presenting a proper spin entry to the judges? You mention the need to educate the judges on "RV spin entries". Since there is such an extremely small sample of RVs participating in IAC competition, I have little experience watching and judging them outside of Bill McLean (RV-4) and Ron Schreck (RV-8). But both of them do very nice spins, supported of course by their high scores. Ron and his RV-8 do a beautiful 1-1/4 spin (in this year's Sportsman Known). My RV-3 spun fine once I learned its quirks. Even in my Pitts, I must employ some technique beyond simply holding full forward stick and rudder to get a decent inverted spin. It's all part of problem solving and learning what it takes to make the airplane do what you need it to do. Not sure how far you took this process.
I might caution against describing "RV spin entries" as being problematic and needing special consideration or accommodation by the judges...generally speaking. Every airplane is slightly different, but there are lots of little technique tricks you can employ to clean up the spin entry and rotation, up to even securing ballast to adjust CG. I just don't want anyone to think that RVs have problems or "special needs" issues when it comes to operating in the current competition environment. This could be seen as discouraging. There's been plenty of that in the past - not by you of course, just in general by folks with little or no experience with this sport. Although with the success of Ron and Bill, the naysayers really have no legs to stand on.
I flew Primary and then Sportsman in my 8 for a few years. Had a great time, only embarrassed myself once (hammer), had to "educate" the judges about RV spin entries or they would have zeroed me most of the time. :-( they were generally pressed with what the 8 could do. Then, as now, the IAC was trying to. Get more Rv's to compete, I even had a discussion with Vickie Cruz and some board members about RV's in Sportsman vs a type class. I liked Sportsman but they made the spin a 1 1/4 that year and I never could stop in consistently. I lobbied for a one or a 1 1/2 turn as the rotation picks up (at least in my 8) right at one turn and that made the 1 1/4 tougher than a 1 1/2.
Scott A Jordan
What were the challenges you found in your particular airplane (RV-8) that caused problems presenting a proper spin entry to the judges? You mention the need to educate the judges on "RV spin entries". Since there is such an extremely small sample of RVs participating in IAC competition, I have little experience watching and judging them outside of Bill McLean (RV-4) and Ron Schreck (RV-8). But both of them do very nice spins, supported of course by their high scores. Ron and his RV-8 do a beautiful 1-1/4 spin (in this year's Sportsman Known). My RV-3 spun fine once I learned its quirks. Even in my Pitts, I must employ some technique beyond simply holding full forward stick and rudder to get a decent inverted spin. It's all part of problem solving and learning what it takes to make the airplane do what you need it to do. Not sure how far you took this process.
I might caution against describing "RV spin entries" as being problematic and needing special consideration or accommodation by the judges...generally speaking. Every airplane is slightly different, but there are lots of little technique tricks you can employ to clean up the spin entry and rotation, up to even securing ballast to adjust CG. I just don't want anyone to think that RVs have problems or "special needs" issues when it comes to operating in the current competition environment. This could be seen as discouraging. There's been plenty of that in the past - not by you of course, just in general by folks with little or no experience with this sport. Although with the success of Ron and Bill, the naysayers really have no legs to stand on.