The only thing squirrelly about my RV is the guy who sits in the left seat.

Dave

Maybe you should stop flying with him :-)

Probably gear alignment. Like Doug said aft CG makes for an interesting day. Had a bunch of OSH stuff in the baggage area of my F1 rocket on the return & it led to a go-around & subsequent wheel landing with some knots added for insurance.

An Rv8 is a lot easier to land than a 185. But, it does prefer a wheel landing, where the 185 doesn't much care. RV4s are fine with full stall landings, but an 8 has something going on where the wing with flaps down is messing up the airflow over the tail and making it a little squirrely in a 3 point landing.

Interesting... Most RV guys I’ve seen land the 8s 2 point.

The wing is still flying (I think) when three pointing an 8 and as weird as it seems it does like to bounce. Wheelers are the go. Your observations are well founded.

Wouldn't that depend on how fast you're going? ISTM if you're in any desired attitude and making more lift than desired, the solution is to hold that attitude and slow down.

We now own a 7 and absolutely love it! We loved the 8 also but the side by side configuration wotks better for us. Nothing more fun than a high performing RV!

Wouldn't that depend on how fast you're going? ISTM if you're in any desired attitude and making more lift than desired, the solution is to hold that attitude and slow down.

Wouldn't that depend on how fast you're going? ISTM if you're in any desired attitude and making more lift than desired, the solution is to hold that attitude and slow down.

A friend let me fly his Cassutt...It was like that, tailwheel first then mains.

Funny you mention them little critters. One of my good friends and RV8 pilot of much experience has just picked one up. Must be the only one down under, and he wheels it on.

Looks fast sitting still. I am not sure I could fit in it let alone fly it

I have 500 hours in a -4, but none in an -8. How does the -8 do in a 3-pt landing without flaps?

In the 4, I found it useful to stay proficient in the no-flap 3-pointer landing configuration. Its how you want to land if you ever find yourself in an aft CG situation.

I’m sure the landing behavior of the -8 is different in some ways, but with the same airfoil and seating configuration as the -4, I bet they have similar characteristics in the flare across the range of CG conditions.

M

Dunno.....but I am sure to find out.

All of the tail dragging RV's will land tailwheel first if they are full stall landed. The short gear leg -4s are the worst, and in a full stall, there is risk of splaying out the gear and getting the prop. That does not mean they can't be three pointed easily, just know the 3 point attitude and do not allow the nose to come up any higher than that. The tailwheel will touch first and the mains will come down reducing AOA, and you have a beautiful 3 point.

The other place you can get in trouble 3-pointing an RV or especially a Rocket is by adding power in the flare. In ground effect they will fly at a ridiculous AOA with power and when the tail touches, the game is over, and it can be a real crash.

The Cassutt is a wild machine. I owned a highly modified one before I got into RV's. To date, of all the airplanes I have ever flown, 200+, it is far and away the biggest adrenaline rush of all.... Mine had an O-290 with VO-435 cylinders. It turned 3300 rpm and you flew it all the time. No trim, it rolled crazy fast, I never let go of the stick. It 3 pointed at 100 mph. (not full stall, just flown on in the 3 pt attitude) Stall was about 80 it was wild...

It was also tiny, the spinner hit me in the belt buckle, and I could cup my hand around the wingtip and touch the fuselage with the other hand.

It was all good until the fire went out. Then it was a very quick ride to the dirt... this is why I say, Airplanes that arrive at the earth with the wings level under control have survivors onboard.