---------------------------------------------------------- Lightning-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 12/27/10: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:12 PM - Thoughts on flying at the edge of the envelope (flylightning) 2. 07:27 PM - January 2011 Lightning Newsletter (N1BZRich@AOL.COM) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:12:43 PM PST US From: "flylightning" Subject: Lightning-List: Thoughts on flying at the edge of the envelope I have thought about this for a few days and if I should share this or not, but I think it will provide an experience to think on. We hear pilots talk about the edge of the flight envelope in movies and tv shows, and think it sounds really cool but what does it mean? Each aircraft has a flight envelope based on several factors, speeds, G-load, weight, configuration like flaps, ect. One I would like to think about is Maneuvering speed or Va, and what happens if you over G the aircraft below it? We all know a plane can stall and any attitude and any airspeed as long as the critical angle of attack is exceeded. When at or below Va a full and abrupt control movement results in the aircraft reaching it's load limit, it will most likely stall, or at least they are designed to, several things are happening here but the long story short is if below Va the plane will stall before exceeding the load limit and breaking. The lightning is a responsive aircraft in all control axis but stable. The wrong control movements can result in the above at an unexpected time. I became aware of an instance recently with a Lightning that experienced this. The pilot flying the aircraft was not familiar with the aircraft but was flying it with no problems during normal flight, there also was a check pilot onboard. The aircraft became dangerously close to another in-flight, a near mid air. The pilot flying (not check Pilot) promptly pushed the stick full forward while in normal 80knt or so climb out. The resulting pitch attitude was unexpected and undesired as you can imagine, the pilot than abruptly pull the stick full to the up stop. What happened next correlates to the discussion above. The aircraft shuddered hard than pitched down, the pilot did not change the stick input but kept the stick full up at the stop. Several oscillations resulted until the check pilot neutralized the stick. Neutralizing the stick unloaded the aircraft, decreased the angle of attack and allowed the wing to fly again. After this happened I was told that I needed to check the design over for a flutter problem because that is was the shuttering and pitching was about. Clearly that is not what happened, had it been truly flutter we probably would not have gotten to talk about it with the pilot as they would have heard a high frequency vibration followed by a nice quite sound as the control surface departed the aircraft. That is a discussion for another time, but considering the pitch system is a push pull tube, and the related components do not allow any slop in the system, and the flight testing done prior to release of any kits, makes flutter very unlikely. The pilots aboard experienced a high speed/ accelerated stall. The pitching was a result in lost tail down lift and the aircraft attempting to correct the pilot induced condition. The vibration or shudder that was felt was a stall buffet. The POH explains that proper stall recovery is to relax the stick pressure not to pull or push the stick to the control stops. The designed Flight envelope kept the aircraft in one piece, this happened below maneuvering speed and resulted in a stalled condition instead of an in-flight break up. The Pilots of the aircraft got to experience the edge of the flight envelope, thankfully it was not the other end. Nick Otterback ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:27:31 PM PST US From: N1BZRich@AOL.COM Subject: Lightning-List: January 2011 Lightning Newsletter All, The January 2011 issue of the Lightning Newsletter, and the last that I will be responsible for writing, was sent to the websites that carry our newsletters on Tuesday, 28 December. This issue should soon be posted on the sites that carry the newsletters . Here are the sites where you can read the latest "Hangar Talk" newsletter. _http://www.flylightning.net/_ (http://www.flylightning.net/) _http://www.greenlandings.com/_ (http://www.greenlandings.com/) (http://www.flylightning.net/) _http://moonshineaviation.com/_ (http://moonshineaviation.com/) See a synopsis of the January issue's contents below: Featured in this issue is the results of the voting for Lightning of the Year for 2010. Next is a "Great News for the Lightning" article that I think you will enjoy reading. It will also give you an idea of what will be keeping me busy in the near and distant future. There is also an update article on the first Lightning being built in Germany. Gerd Nowack sent us a great report and some excellent photos on how his build is going. The News From the Factory Section had an update on Lightnings and kits sold from Mark Stauffer. Arion had a very good year in 2010 and 2011 is looking even better. There are also some good inputs in the other various sections - News from Builders and Flyers, Technical Tips, etc. Thanks to all of you that sent things for the newsletter. In the Safety section this month I cover a review of AOA, stalls, and particularly, accelerated stalls. You will understand why I felt the need to cover this after you read the article. Remember, unless someone steps up to "take the stick", this will be the last issue; certainly the last issue that I will write. I have written the newsletter for 3 years now and I feel it is time for someone else to take over to provide new leadership and new energy. I will still be occasionally writing for the newsletter, but will leave the leadership of the newsletter up to the new editor. Who will that be? Please let me know your thoughts on this, and all other past issues of the newsletter. Do you think it has been helpful and informative? I'll pass your comments to the next newsletter leader. And remember to continue to send articles to the newsletter. Without your inputs, it would not be as useful or informative. Thanks for your support in the past. Blue Skies and happy flying, Buz Rich ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message lightning-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Lightning-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/lightning-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/lightning-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.