DakotaHawk
Well Known Member
Looking back at my logbook, I have over 450 hours on my RV-7. With the exception of the 40 hours of Phase One testing, most of the hours on my plane were with me and a passenger, which adds at least 100 pounds or more to my weight. I keep my tanks pretty full, adding another 200 pounds to the aircraft. And there is often luggage in the back for the cross-country trip, sleeping bags and tent for the fly-in, or just a heavy bag of tools - just in case.
I've noticed that my RV-7 feels and flys like a tired old elephant when it's loaded to the gills. Flights to Oshkosh are always the worst, with everything maxed out and flying right at gross weight in the hot summer! Even with the plane flying heavy, it still flys great, but...
I returned from a cross-country flight this weekend with only eight gallons left in the tanks. After unloading my passenger and luggage, I put the plane away for a couple of days.
Today, it's time to do an oil change. I only need to fly for twenty minutes to warm the oil up, and I have eight gallons of gas. Good enough for a couple of laps around the pattern!
My RV virtually leapt off of the runway!
The take-off roll was half of what I usually see! And the climb was amazing!
So lesson learned - build it light, and load it light when you want to go out and churn up the sky.
I've noticed that my RV-7 feels and flys like a tired old elephant when it's loaded to the gills. Flights to Oshkosh are always the worst, with everything maxed out and flying right at gross weight in the hot summer! Even with the plane flying heavy, it still flys great, but...
I returned from a cross-country flight this weekend with only eight gallons left in the tanks. After unloading my passenger and luggage, I put the plane away for a couple of days.
Today, it's time to do an oil change. I only need to fly for twenty minutes to warm the oil up, and I have eight gallons of gas. Good enough for a couple of laps around the pattern!
My RV virtually leapt off of the runway!
The take-off roll was half of what I usually see! And the climb was amazing!
So lesson learned - build it light, and load it light when you want to go out and churn up the sky.