Biennial in anRV8

[lqbanotxano]

I got my biennial today in my buddies 200HP, blended constant speed RV8. My checout included... (2) 3000FPM takeoffs, (1) 3 plane formation landing, (1) 1000" AGL on short final landing (constant speed prop flatened is like an anchor), did formation flying, rolls, Immelmans, dove on unsuspecting planes & visited a Christmas boat light show at Clear Lake, Texas. I did most of of the flying. We flew 1.3 hours...cost both our "lunch" at an airport restaurant ...a $20.00 bill. We did pull 4.5 g's & I almost got sick.

Ivan from Sugar Land.

[schrome]

Sounds like a lot of fun, Ivan. So what's bigger, the RV grin or the Sonerai grin?


Ed

[oahupilot]

I dont know about the grin but I don know which has the larger fuel ticket

[lqbanotxano]

Fuel ticket is double what mine would have been. His plane costs 10 times what mine costs...my grin is just as big as his.
Takeoff...RV8 throws you back in the seat when you apply throttle. The climb is more than double of mine’s
Cruise.....RV8 165-185mph...WOT 200mph. My Sonerai 135-150mph…WOT 160-170mph.

Ivan from Sugar Land, Texas.
Maneuvering....Sonerai slightly quicker. Stick input distance about equal. Stick input force for the Sonerai is about half.
Landing....Speeds about the same but, when he flattens his prop it is like having air brakes.

Once flying the maneuverability’s are very similar....but in an up & down war forget it. Also the throttle response while flying is amazing on the "8".
Is it 10 times better?...no way. $100,000.00 vs. $10,000.00..no hull insurance, half the fuel costs & NO hanger rent for me. I will go with mine.

[n3480h]

Gee Ivan, your biennials sound a lot more fun than mine.

I've also flown rear seat in an RV-8 based at our field. It is a thing of beauty and power. But your comparisons are right on. Pretty sure my Sonerai grin will be just a big as the RV grin, and a lot less expensive. Another reason to grin more often.

Tom

[hans]

This year I was so lame as to arrange for my bi-annual way too late. So I had to take a full prof-check sometime end of October. Even if that was on a lame C152, it was fun!

cheers
Hans

[peterzabriskie]

Dec 12, 2011 18:11:44 GMT -5 n3480h said:

Gee Ivan, your biennials sound a lot more fun than mine.

I've also flown rear seat in an RV-8 based at our field. It is a thing of beauty and power. But your comparisons are right on. Pretty sure my Sonerai grin will be just a big as the RV grin, and a lot less expensive. Another reason to grin more often.

Tom

Hurrah....back to work we go, hi ho hi ho. ;D

[juergen]

Here are the dates for my Sonerai1 grin:
180mph cruise speed
1600ft/min climb
4 gal/h

juergen
(working on more grin ;D )

[schrome]

WOW! Nice numbers, Juergen! Does it really do 180 on 4 gph?

Jealous,
Ed

[juergen]

Hi Ed,
this are the numbers I had flown to Tannkosh in 2010. This was my first "long leg" and so
it was a must to see the fuel consumption. The leg was exactly 180miles and 1hour to fly from start to land. Before this leg, I had no idea about the fuel consumption and so, I had a alternate airfield on half distance and my thinking was, if there is more as half tank empty, I want to land on this airfield, but there was enough fuel at this way point.
with best regards
Juergen

[mayday]

Jan 4, 2012 4:16:40 GMT -5 juergen said:

Here are the dates for my Sonerai1 grin:
180mph cruise speed
1600ft/min climb
4 gal/h

juergen
(working on more grin ;D )

Do you have a build page or pictures and specs of your aircraft somewhere? I would like to know more about your sonerai, like what have you done for fairings/engine/tail and wingtip designs/prop?

[juergen]

Hi ?mayday?,
most of my changes, you find on the Sonerai.net archive.
with best regards
Juergen

[mayday]

Thanks I'll check that out.