An RV for the Non Builder!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:01 am

Saw this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 59207&rd=1

It even has a tailwheel mod!

CJ

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:14 am

I noticed a few other RVs on ebay including a nose dragger that flipped over on it's back. Is that common with A models?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:33 pm

OUCH!!!

I think it is!

You know, those low time guys and their fear of tailwheels!

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:42 pm

It is not us who fear the tailwheel, its the insurance companies. Don't
pick on me because I am building an 'A', after all, I respect the
physics that say a trike is more insurable ... er .. I mean stable

Submitted via email

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 3:24 pm

Play nice everyone. It is not my intent to start a gear war here. I am curious as to what causes A models to flip. Does the nose gear collapse?

728GD · Post by **728GD** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:35 am

I would be willing to bet all of Spikes money that its the same reason tailwheels will flip over. Excessive speed and excessive brakes!! I think your right though, I would expect the nose wheel has to fail somehow for the A to flip. Of corse, you can still "ground loop" a nose wheel if you lock up one wheel and let it turn sharply with enough speed. Gear fails, wing tip hits the ground, over we go!!!

arffguy · Post by **arffguy** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:41 pm

Well put N728GD.

Or:

-A models flip over while tailwheel models spin in circles. Maybe the airplanes just want to bite off own their little wheel no matter where it is put.

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:04 pm

bmurrish wrote:I noticed a few other RVs on ebay including a nose dragger that flipped over on it's back. Is that common with A models?

Actually, the picture John posted is of a converted Tailwheel Grumman.
But they are similar in look to the RV-6.

They do not perform as good as the RV-6's though. But for a 1970's all bonded aluminum aircraft, they were pretty good for their time.

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:52 pm

As I stated earlier you need to have proper clearance on wheel pants on all airplanes! You also should stay off of wet slusht runways because the wet slush will turn to ice when you get to freezing tempatures. The only RV-A's that I have heard of having difficulties besides wheel pants bing to tight had a not properly bolted together nose wheel leg. He didn't use the washer's Van specified and over tightened the AN Bolt which broke and allowed the nose wheel gear leg and wheel to rotate 90 degrees or there abouts prior to a landing. Resulting in a ground loop. It was not pretty! I have heard of certified airplanes with nose wheels locking up when not proberly maintened or abused.

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:19 pm

Actually, the picture John posted is of a converted Tailwheel Grumman. But they are similar in look to the RV-6.

I realized it wasn't an RV in the picture, but after I followed his link I started searching around on ebay and came across a RV-6A that was damaged in a roll over. I tried to go back and post the link, but the auction ended yesterday.

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:01 am

That was an RV-7A that was listed on e-bay and somehow ended upside down when doing some highspeed taxi tests. No specifics were given other than that. There was considerable damage and I am not sure it was as easy to repair as listed on e-bay. That is one of those things only an RV-7 builder could tell with a personal inspection in my mind.