[Wing] Spin Testing: RV-6/6A or RV-7/7A

[Tedd McHenry]

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005, Alan Cornyn wrote:

> Van strongly reccommends not ever spinning an RV-6.  He said he only did it
> once and hired someone else to do the testing.  They spin at an icreadble
> rate of speed, but they do recover using usual technique.  He has said this
> more than once in the RVator.   Al  RV-6 flying 400 hours.

Al:

I appreciate the desire for caution, but you've overstated Van's case.  Van's
latest word on the subject is Service Bulletin 02-6-1, which is available at
http://www.vansaircraft.com/pdf/sb02-6-1.pdf.  In it he says,

"We chose to recommend that RV-6 pilots concentrate on learning spin
recognition, immediate recovery, and spin avoidance rather than encouraging
them to explore the limits of spin recoverability. We also recommended that the
RV-6 not be used for recreational spins. Section 15 of the RV-6 Construction
Manual details spin testing, spin recovery techniques, and spin limitation
recommendations for pilots."

Section 15 of the RV-6 construction manual says,

"For the pilot anticipating aerobatic use of his RV-6, this will include stall
entries from steep pitch angles and banks, and accelerated stalls from similar
attidudes.  Similarly, spins should be practiced from various entry attitudes
and power settings.  Obviously, initial spin testing should be done with the
airplane loaded to a forward C.G. and entry attitudes should be moderate.  With
satisfactory recovery, loading and entry attidudes can be increased to
anticipated limits."

Clearly, Van is not recommending never spinning the RV-6.  To the contrary, he
specifically recommends spin testing for builders who plan on aerobatics, and
provides some detail on how to accomplish it.  Van also says that, with the
larger tail, "RV-7 spin recovery qualities are equal to or better than those of
the standard RV-6/6A, which have been service proven through fleet experience."

I hear a lot of loose talk about RV spin characteristics, and I worry that the
airplanes are getting a wholly undeserved reputation.  If that "meme" catches
on it will cause us grief down the road.  "I was going to buy an RV-7, but then
I heard about the spin characteristics."  We've seen it before with other
airplanes.

Tedd