REFLECTOR: MODIFICATIONS

[Douglas Holub]

Sounds good, but I can't help thinking about that test pilot who (after many
attempts) was able to put the Velocity into a deep stall, and then couldn't
undo it, even after adjusting the cg by climbing out on to the nose of the
aircraft. Here's the account from the April 1989 newsletter:

"On March 30, while participating in aggravated stall maneuvers, the test
pilot encountered a deep stall which resulted in 0 knots forward airspeed,
and a descent rate of 1300 - 1500 fpm. This was approximately the 37th stall
attempted at this CG and configuration. Starting at 9000 feet, the pilot
attempted to maneuver the aircraft out of the stall, but with no success.
Rudders and elevators were ineffective, while ailerons could induce
approximately a 40 degree bank, resulting in an increased sink rate. Power
settings had no effect at all. We theorized that the propeller had stalled
as well. At 5000', the pilot decided to bail out. He opened the door and
stood up in the aircraft, and realized that there was no wind, thus
confirming that the aircraft had no forward airspeed. He then leaned over
the windshield, far enought to reach the canard, in an attempt to shift the
CG, but to no avail. He then decided to ride it out, and returned to his
seat in the Velocity. After strapping himself in, he rode the aircraft down
into the ocean.

The test pilot is extremely competent and experienced, and thus I have to
believe him when he says that there was no recovery method at this CG and
configuration."


----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Derrick" <scott at tnstaafl.net>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: MODIFICATIONS


>
> >OH, and number 0, don't get into the situation where a flat stall can
occur.
> >I see too many people fly too close to limits, just above stall speed
when
> >in the pattern, and just practicing stalls.  Sort of practicing walking
on a
> >high wire.  You can learn how to do it but WHY????
>
> Actually the setup I described is so you can deep stall the airplane and
> then unstall it by shifting the CG back forward.
>
> Scott
>
> "Those who sacrifice freedom to get security, deserve neither."
> - Benjamin Franklin
>
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