REFLECTOR: barn door speed brake

[Dave Philipsen]

The CS prop will help quite a bit in slowing you down.  From my 
experience with a CS prop, you could possibly do without the speed 
brake.  But, if you really want to be able to do a nice steep approach, 
build the speed brake.  I have an FG with CS prop and one time ATC asked 
me if I could make short approach ahead of a regional jet that was 
coming in.  I was just about abeam with the approach numbers at patter 
altitude.  I pushed the prop all the way in, pulled the throttle all the 
way back, deployed both rudders, extended the speed brake, and dove for 
the runway.  It dropped like a rock and I made it in and landed with no 
problem.



Steve Goldman wrote:
> Terry Miles wrote:
>   
>> For anyone who has the XL-RG-5 and is considering a speed brake, know
>> that all the "stuff" that has to go into the drop-down keel on the dash
>> 5 version does not allow a normal install of the speedbrake mechanism.
>>     
>
> So this is a perfect chance to ask my question. I've been wondering about
> a speed brake on my RG XL-5. I'm not sure I really need one since I don't
> intend to have a fixed pitch prop but that isn't my real concern. I'm wondering
> if there are XL-5's with speed brakes flying? The reason I ask is that with
> the cut-down keel in an XL-5 it seems like the keel isn't as stiff as the
> normal keel and with the speed brake being cut into the bottom of the
> fuselage in a nearby location that there could be concern about the fuselage
> flexing during landing. I am a known worrier though...
>
>
>   

-- 
Dave Philipsen
STDFG
N171SP