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I have a feeling pretty close. I mean really, what’s going to happen when an FAA inspector actually goes for a ride to confirm the stall speed of a ‘Coupe?
I can see it now…
The throttle is all the way out and the steering wheel is all the way back, your IAS is holding steady just over 40 MPH, and you’re sinking at about 550 FPM. The inspector looks over at you and says “OK, let’s see the stall.” At which point you reply “Sorry, that’s as close as she gets,” you pause for a minute as a grin splits your face, “but while were here let me show you something.” The inspector looks at you in brief alarm as you drop the right wing and roll into a steep turn. After a few seconds, having convinced himself that you are not, in fact, about to drop out of the sky, he records the numbers: IAS shows about 30mph, Sink rate is 750fpm, in a 45 degree bank and in perfect control….
Granted, you and I know that the indicated airspeed is WAY off in high AOA maneuvers like that, but what criteria are they using to define “Stall Speed”. If it’s IAS then we’ve got it made. If they really mean the speed below which you loose control of the plane, well, we can’t really get there from here; our plane was just designed too well.
We’ll probably just have to wait and see where we stand when the dust settles. I’m sure the Ercoupe community will find a way to get in under the Sport Pilot umbrella somehow.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Percy Wood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, October
12, 2003 10:47 PM
To: Ed Burkhead; Coupe-List;
Coupe-Tech
Subject: Re: [COUPERS-TECH] Flight
test question for LSA Coupes
At 03:21 PM 10/12/03 -0500, Ed Burkhead wrote:
I m wondering just how far a Coupe at 1232 lb. and 13° up travel (20° up travel with the split elevator) comes to qualifying as a LSA under the NPRM s guidelines. Here s a challenge for you to try when you are out flying.
"A flight test is worth a thousand expert opinions" "Tex"
Johnson,
Who rolled a Boeign 707 over the Seattle Hydroplane races in front
Of God, the FAA, his boss and the spectators (previous list not
necessarily in order of Power)
I have heard, Ed, that the Ercoupe stall speed was placed in the manuals
because "we need one of those," and has not really been
verified. Yeah,
you're not the only one who wishes they'd forget about those 28 pounds
and let us stay in the air in one of the mosr forgiving planes ever designed.
Percy in Portland
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