Good Morning,
I saw your ad and thought I’d ask a few questions. I am a 1500 hr pilot with tail wheel endorsement and IFR rating. I have owned 15 planes among them 2 Stinsons and 2 Aeroncas. I currently own an RV3B. I have never done any aerobatics. My plane is certainly capable and the logs show the many aerobatic things done during the testing phase. ( it is a 2009 with only 90 hrs TT.) The owner passed away before he could fly it and a friend who does fly aerobatics flew off the necessary hours for the FAA and made necessary changes.
My question is this. I would like to do some spins, a basic barrel roll etc. just to be comfortable with them. I don’t plan to do them nor perform in my plane. I just would like to learn about the entry, recovery etc. and experience them.
Please advise me what this would entail and the best time to set this up. I understand its winter, so spring or early summer would be more feasible.
Thank you,
XXXXXX
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Mr. XXXXXX,
Sounds like you have a beautiful aircraft. I am somewhat familiar with the RV's and am very impressed with their stick and rudder pressures. I read your comment that, " I don't plan to do them, nor perform in my plane". Let me say that when you see how easy this aerobatic stuff really is, it would be hard not to pull up into a beautiful air show barrel roll in your RV.
You may want to take a moment and review FAR. 91.303 and 91.307 to acquaint yourself with the FAA's requirements.
Your aircraft is certainly capable of "light" aerobatics and spins. But please remember remember, capable vs. built for a lifetime endurance are two different things.
Citabria's, Decathlon's, Pitts and Extra aircraft (I know there are many other aircraft that fall into this category), were built to endure aerobatics over it's lifetime. G-limits for these aircraft were determined for that reason. My Pitts S-2C has a g-limit of +6 positive and -5 negative. This was determined to be the capability of this aircraft for it's lifetime.
Ask yourself how you would feel falling out of a maneuver and launching into a power on inverted power on flat spin in your RV.
You need to also consider the wear and tear on your machine. I budget $100K a season for maintenance, prop overhauls, engine rebuilds and fabric repairs on my air show aircraft. I have copies of bills and expenses to prove it.
Because you have an aircraft that is capable, please be aware that there is always a price tag attached.
Now back to your original question.
Teaching you spins (upright and inverted) would be easier than you could imagine. After the spin recovery program, basic aerobatics is a walk in the park. Let me emphasis that the recovery training is a vital part of your training. Teaching you a loop, but not how to recover if you fall out of the loop would be disastrous.
We could begin training as early as March. +20 F and warmer works in the Pitts.
I hope this helps, call me if you have any other questions as well as scheduling.
Respectfully,
Michael Wiskus
612-812-3873
