Vans RV8

[rvn817j]

Meshman - Not in WVa?

Just yesterday I got an invite to ride in a real RV8! Too bad it's 2,400 miles from the house...

Looks like it'll be a cool plane!


P.S. What's the scenery in the background?

West Virginia is only about 40 miles from where I am. You are the West Virginia Meshman aren't you? Are you not in West Virginia? (You must be somewhere out west!) Regards

 

[rvn817j]

Looking Forward to a Simulated RV-8

Expedite. Thanks.

 

[rvn817j]

200mph iirc.

And reasonably aerobatic too.

+6 / -3 G capable...we call that fully aerobatic. Because all RV-8s are 'custom' built aircraft, each aircraft is slightly different. I would say 200 mph is an average top speed, some are faster (by 40 or 50 mph) and a few (with less than 180 hp engines) may be slower.

 

[kilo delta]

+6 / -3 G capable...we call that fully aerobatic. Because all RV-8s are 'custom' built aircraft, each aircraft is slightly different. I would say 200 mph is an average top speed, some are faster (by 40 or 50 mph) and a few (with less than 180 hp engines) may be slower.

I didn't realise that they could sustain those sort of G loads. Most of the RV's here are 7's, though I do know of an 8 that is being currently assembled


Ohh...and you might appreciate this video ..

http://www.vimeo.com/11623266

 

[rvn817j]

I didn't realise that they could sustain those sort of G loads. Most of the RV's here are 7's, though I do know of an 8 that is being currently assembled

kilo delta - I only pointed that out because of a high profile RV-8 accident when the aircraft was in its infancy (mid-1990s). A factory demonstrator was out doing aerobatics with a factory pilot and a passenger who was an ag pilot (if I recall correctly). The aircraft was involved in a crash that killed both occupants and it was discovered that the main wing spar had failed. Richard VanGrunsven ('The' Van in Van's Aircraft and the RV in RV-8), being the careful designer and engineer that he is, bought a customer built wing (from a Van's customer....duh) and subjected it to wing load testing. The ultimate failure of the wing occurred at +9 Gs and -6 Gs (150% of the rated wing loading). It is likely that the crash aircraft pulled in excess of the +9 / -6 G ultimate load in an improperly performed maneuver.

The RV-8 is fully acrobatic, but due to design considerations the manufacturer recommends that operators refrain from putting torsional stress on the wings by avoiding lumshevaks and snap rolls. Most other maneuvers performed by properly trained pilots are OK.

When you guys get your hands on the RV-8, fly carefully!

 

[hews500d]

kilo delta - I only pointed that out because of a high profile RV-8 accident when the aircraft was in its infancy (mid-1990s). A factory demonstrator was out doing aerobatics with a factory pilot and a passenger who was an ag pilot (if I recall correctly). The aircraft was involved in a crash that killed both occupants and it was discovered that the main wing spar had failed. Richard VanGrunsven ('The' Van in Van's Aircraft and the RV in RV-8), being the careful designer and engineer that he is, bought a customer built wing (from a Van's customer....duh) and subjected it to wing load testing. The ultimate failure of the wing occurred at +9 Gs and -6 Gs (150% of the rated wing loading). It is likely that the crash aircraft pulled in excess of the +9 / -6 G ultimate load in an improperly performed maneuver.

The RV-8 is fully acrobatic, but due to design considerations the manufacturer recommends that operators refrain from putting torsional stress on the wings by avoiding lumshevaks and snap rolls. Most other maneuvers performed by properly trained pilots are OK.

When you guys get your hands on the RV-8, fly carefully!

Jay, do the -8A's have a slightly longer nose in front of the windscreen as compared to the -8's? It looks like from photos I'm seeing of different configurations, the nose is somewhat longer. Of course, it might just be a perspective thing.

Darrell

 

[rvn817j]

-8 / -8A from same basic Kit

Jay, do the -8A's have a slightly longer nose in front of the windscreen as compared to the -8's? It looks like from photos I'm seeing of different configurations, the nose is somewhat longer. Of course, it might just be a perspective thing.

Darrell

The fuselage, wings and empennage dimensions on -8s and -8As are all the same and come from 'similar' kits. You are likely seeing a perspective thing. With that said, however, each -8 and -8A is unique because they are each custom / home-built aircraft subject to modification by each builder (e.g., there are some Super -8s (and Super -6 / -7s) that have six (6) cylinder engines requiring an extension of the cowl and other modifications). Generally speaking, no two (2) Van's aircraft are the same, but they are all similar (and loved by their builders and/or operators as aircraft that give you great return for your modest $$ investment).

Edit - If you would like some dimensions, I can pull out my plans this evening and give them to you. All RV-8 builders have a construction manual of about 200 or so pages.

 

[Meshman]

West Virginia is only about 40 miles from where I am. You are the West Virginia Meshman aren't you? Are you not in West Virginia? (You must be somewhere out west!) Regards

Dat's me. But I'm in SoKali, soon (?) to be headed to NorKali.

Remember my days driving through WV. Seems I ALWAYS had a heavy load! Up the hill, down the hill, up the hill,...

 

[hews500d]

The fuselage, wings and empennage dimensions on -8s and -8As are all the same and come from 'similar' kits. You are likely seeing a perspective thing. With that said, however, each -8 and -8A is unique because they are each custom / home-built aircraft subject to modification by each builder (e.g., there are some Super -8s (and Super -6 / -7s) that have six (6) cylinder engines requiring an extension of the cowl and other modifications). Generally speaking, no two (2) Van's aircraft are the same, but they are all similar (and loved by their builders and/or operators as aircraft that give you great return for your modest $$ investment).

Edit - If you would like some dimensions, I can pull out my plans this evening and give them to you. All RV-8 builders have a construction manual of about 200 or so pages.

Thanks for the info! Don't worry about pulling your plans and getting dimensions. I'm already want one LOL !!! Just trying to convince "she who controls the $$" it's a good idea

Darrell