---------------------------------------------------------- RV4-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 10/02/07: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:52 AM - RV4 Flap/Speed Brake (Gene Smith) 2. 03:12 PM - Re: RV4 Flap/Speed Brake (Lee Logan) 3. 07:26 PM - Re: RV4 Flap/Speed Brake (Steve Schlieper) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:52:54 AM PST US From: "Gene Smith" Subject: RV4-List: RV4 Flap/Speed Brake Hey gang.............Educate me, and discuss this situation I would like to do to my RV-4...I would like to fly a normal Fighter Pilot traffic pattern, but my fixed pitch prop still provides some thrust even at idle, so I have to be almost out of sight on final to ever get it to slow down...To install a speed brake somewhere is too much for me, (and where?) sooooooo how about this: Modify my flap system to allow the flaps to go down to 90 degrees so I can get the proper airspeed on final and still be able to see the airpatch...LET ME HEAR FROM YOU...Be kind! CHEERS, Gene Smith RV-4 flying 13 years ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 03:12:55 PM PST US From: "Lee Logan" Subject: Re: RV4-List: RV4 Flap/Speed Brake Gene: Fly your normal "fighter" pattern: High, tight, and coming down steeply all the way *by slipping it in*. Is easily controlled and looks way cool too. Watch Patty Wagstaff or any of the other Extra/CAP/Edge etc. pilots landing and you'll know just what I mean (they do some *serious*slipping). You can slip an RV-4 big time and it will come down quickly and under complete control. I turn off the 180 just past my intended touchdown point and slip it all the way to the ground, commonly from 700' - 800' AGL but close aboard, beginning if necessary, right off the 180. I figure if I ever lose the engine, I just ease off the top rudder, level the wings a bit and enjoy (hopefully) enough leftover energy to readily make the runway engine out... If I lose it high enough (you might want to experiment on this with a good engine), I plan to raise the flaps slowly giving up altitude at first but ultimately extending my glide ratio. If too low to take the initial flaps up altitude loss, just fly on with what you have, slow it to right above stall to lower your total energy package and then no matter what, fly it all the way to the ground. That's my plan, anyway...Hey! At least I have one!! Ciao! Shiloh... ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:26:30 PM PST US From: "Steve Schlieper" Subject: Re: RV4-List: RV4 Flap/Speed Brake Gene, Wouldn't change a thing except for me--changing my manual lever for the electric kit---would be an improvement. I HATE that damned manual flap lever. A speed brake or 90 degrees of flap seems excessive. I would think that swapping to a constant speed set up would be the preferable solution. Slowing the RV4 down is certainly a trick. I start well before the "standard" a-beam the numbers approach and pull the throttle back to about 1100 rpm (0-360, fixed pitch), dump all the flaps at once at 100 mph and hit a somewhat shorter turn to base then final. I use a touch of throttle to adjust descent rate and I am usually successful in crossing the fence between 65 and 70 without having to fly a long and risky final. It took me a while to get it right. My goal is a constant speed set up sometime in the future. D. Steven Schlieper 8 Homeplace Topsham, Maine 04086 ----- Original Message ----- From: Gene Smith To: rv4-list@matronics.com Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 1:51 PM Subject: RV4-List: RV4 Flap/Speed Brake Hey gang.............Educate me, and discuss this situation I would like to do to my RV-4...I would like to fly a normal Fighter Pilot traffic pattern, but my fixed pitch prop still provides some thrust even at idle, so I have to be almost out of sight on final to ever get it to slow down...To install a speed brake somewhere is too much for me, (and where?) sooooooo how about this: Modify my flap system to allow the flaps to go down to 90 degrees so I can get the proper airspeed on final and still be able to see the airpatch...LET ME HEAR FROM YOU...Be kind! CHEERS, Gene Smith RV-4 flying 13 years ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rv4-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RV4-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/rv4-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv4-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.