Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 07:30 PM - Sam James Wheel Pants (Brian Cross)
2. 07:55 PM - Re: Sam James Wheel Pants (Kyle Boatright)
3. 09:53 PM - RV-9 Certified As E-LSA (Robert Hughes)
4. 10:51 PM - Re: Sam James Wheel Pants (Fiveonepw@aol.com)
Message 1
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Sam James Wheel Pants |
Hi Folks
I am in the process of ordering my finishing kit from Vans. I think
my only outstanding question is in regard to whose wheel pants to
use. I have read emails from you a few people that indicate that the
Sam James wheel pants have reduced drag so more speed or better
economy can be realized.
I guess I am wondering if this is so, why you don't see more of them
on all the RVs I have seen. Are they more difficult to install? Do
the majority of people believe they are a worthwhile upgrade?
Your facts & opinions are greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Brian Cross RV-8 #81844
Message 2
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Sam James Wheel Pants |
I have the SJ wheelpants. They were the only two piece "pressure recovery"
pants offered when I built my airplane. Back then, all you got was a set of
directions and two tuna shaped wheelpants. No brackets, no pre-made cutouts,
nothing except the pants themselves.
I *believe* Van's sells a more complete product for about the same $$, and
convenience sells.
As far as performance differences go, I've never seen a head to head
comparison between Van's current pants and the James pants.
Something else to consider is that the geometry of the James pants makes it
harder to get the recommended tire to wheelpant clearance around the
cutout..
Kyle Boatright
RV-6 N46KB
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Cross" <bcross2160@rogers.com>
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 10:27 PM
Subject: RV-List: Sam James Wheel Pants
>
> Hi Folks
>
> I am in the process of ordering my finishing kit from Vans. I think my
> only outstanding question is in regard to whose wheel pants to use. I
> have read emails from you a few people that indicate that the Sam James
> wheel pants have reduced drag so more speed or better economy can be
> realized.
>
> I guess I am wondering if this is so, why you don't see more of them on
> all the RVs I have seen. Are they more difficult to install? Do the
> majority of people believe they are a worthwhile upgrade?
>
> Your facts & opinions are greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Brian Cross RV-8 #81844
>
>
>
Message 3
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | RV-9 Certified As E-LSA |
A current thread in Doug Reeve's VAF Forums (and a First-Flight report
on Van's site) concerns the certification of an RV-9 in the ELSA
Category. I can't find any reference to the mechanism of such a
certification in the Final Rule on SP/LSA published by the FAA. Indeed,
all the references I have run across support Ron Wanttaja's summary in
his May 2005 'Kitplanes' article:
"There are three basic ways an aircraft can receive an ELSA
airworthiness certificate: (1) conversion of a former two-seat
ultralight trainer (through early 2008), (2) construction of the
aircraft from an ELSA kit or plans, and (3) conversion of an existing
SLSA.
It takes no FAA approval to put together an Ex/AB kit to sell to other
builders. A potential ELSA manufacturer, however, must build a
prototype aircraft, ensure it meets the LSA concensus standards, pass
the FAA inspection and receive the SLSA certificate. At that point, the
manufacturer can either begin producing ready-to-fly SLSAs or ELSA
kits."
Can anyone comment on this apparent discrepancy, particularly from the
Fed side?
Hawkeye Hughes
RV-3 Skyote
Message 4
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Sam James Wheel Pants |
In a message dated 5/11/2007 9:31:48 PM Central Daylight Time,
bcross2160@rogers.com writes:
Your facts & opinions are greatly appreciated!
>>>
Awright- you asked! It has been reported not only here on the list for many
years, but also from quite a few folks I have talked to that the wheelpants on
an RV are mostly decorative- look nice but unintuitively do little to reduce
drag. Most builders report that the primary speed improvement from f&glass
comes from the gear leg fairings themselves, with little added speed increase
after adding the pants. In my case, I saw about 9 mph increase with just the
main leg fairings installed & perhaps another 2 mph increase from Van's pressure
recovery pants, so if they appeal to your sense of esthetics more than Vans,
I'd highly recommend them! Either way you go, f&glass is a pain in the a$$...
Disclaimer: I haven't worn SJ pants, but I'm also an advocate of caveat
emptor...
Mark Phillips - RV-6A "Mojo" 400+ hrs and climbing
_http://websites.expercraft.com/n51pw/_
(http://websites.expercraft.com/n51pw/)
************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
Other Matronics Email List Services
These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.
-- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --
|