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

[Micheal Freund]

Thanks Tedd for making the correction regarding spin recovery.As I am ready
with C-GZGV to make the first flight I am particularly interested in this
issue.I agree with you it is important not propagate false information.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tedd McHenry" <tedd at vansairforce.org>
To: "Van's Air Force Western Canada Wing" <wing at vansairforce.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 8:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Wing] Spin Testing: RV-6/6A or RV-7/7A


> 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
>
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