REFLECTOR: Re: Glide Ratio

[Dave Bertram]

95kts is the best glide speed for my Velocity determined from flight tests. 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Date: 12/20/05 16:02:12
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Re: Glide Ratio
 
I'm glad it worked out for you. Thankfully no injuries. My only question is
the airspeed. I have a fixed gear and 70 kts at touchdown would prevent
allot of kinetic energy. Doubling your airspeed at touchdown quadruples the
energy you need to dissipate. My aircraft will fly at 60 kts indicated
depending on the weight in the front seats. The lower the airspeed at
touchdown, the lower energy there is to dissipate. The reality is only a few
knots difference at touchdown in an off field landing can save your life.
The lower the airspeed the better!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dave Bertram 
To: reflector at tvbf.org ; reflector at tvbf.org 
Cc: p51 at hotmail.com 
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Re: Glide Ratio


I too have had the opportunity to land a Velocity without power.  Here is my
advice based on 45 years of flying:
 
1.  Establish airspeed at 95kts
2.  Declare an emergency 
3.  Choose the most suitable landing area available.
4.  Try for restart except for engine fire
5.  When field is made lower landing gear.
6.  I would add that "fly the airplane" be added after each step
 
I personally held the 95kts through touchdown due to landing in a plowed
field.
 
Congrats on your safe landing.  
Dave Bertram
 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Date: 12/18/05 03:19:46
To: reflector at tvbf.org
Cc: p51 at hotmail.com
Subject: REFLECTOR: Re: Glide Ratio
 
Having survived a no engine emergency landing, I do remember that the plane
glides very well with the gear up, but sinks like a rock when you open those
gear doors (probably 6:1). The other thing that is surprising is how long it
takes to lower the main gear (the nose comes down and locks quickly). If you
really want to practice this, time how long it takes to get the mains to
lock, then go out and try to estimate when you need to start them down. It's
way more time than you think. Probably better to put them down at a higher
altitude and circle to land to get the feel of the sink rate before you have
to land.
 
The engine quit when I turned crosswind shortly after takeoff, and I just
made it back to the field, but too little time to lock the mains, so I
skidded in on the backside of the plane. Fortunately, no fire and damage was
not too much due to an iVO composite prop. I was very lucky.
 
 
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