Landing the RV4. Wheel or 3 pointer?

[@davemercer2180]

Interesting to watch landings in your RV-4, I just did a first flight in my RV-4. I did 3 point and they were very good, thank god. Once I get comfortable, I’ll do wheel landings. Enjoy the videos and am looking forward to more.

[@stevemiller2210]

Nicely done thanks for the video

[@stevemiller2210]

Nicely down thanksCan’t wait to go fly my 3B

[@billbrisson]

great video. looking forward to making a few wheel landings at CJS4 as soon as the weather warms up some. I need to work on my 3 pointers... :)

[@petergreydanus6912]

Centre line discipline; I like it!

[@paulrenny8388]

I prefer to wheel on my RV4 as well. 3 point with my wife and some bags in the back. I am using 70 kts as an approach speed bleeding off slightly over the fence to wheel it on and just hold it a bit longer in the flair if I want to transition to a 3 pointer. Bumped into Anthony and your previous RV8 the other day.

[@jimfogarty4123]

Great job with your RV4. My RV9A is hard to slow down, I need to continue to work on that. Thanks.

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

Yup slowing down an RV can be challenging

[@thomasaltruda]

Jim, what’s your idle speed? I also fly an RV-9a at times, and it does like to float a bit, but if you plan ahead and pull the nose up, she’ll slow down. I prefer a low idle speed no higher than 650RPM. I’m going to sneak it down to 625 next time I have the cowl off and see if it runs smooth enough.

[@jimfogarty4123]

@@thomasaltruda I'm going to say about 750. If I have the runway made I go to idle, however, sometimes I still add a little power prior to touchdown.

[@taltruda]

@@jimfogarty4123 if you are adding power yet saying it doesn’t slow down, that seems like all you have to do is close the throttle. I almost always land at idle. 750 idle rpm on the ground is way too high.. I would lower it to 650 rpm, adjust your idle mixture such that you get a 50 rpm rise at cutoff and that’s about perfect. What prop do you have? Metal? Wood? Fixed pitch? Sometimes it’s hard to get a decent (smooth) idle with a light weight wood prop, but you’ll get much shorter landings with the proper idle speed setting

[@a627m1124]

Do you land with full flaps on your wheel landings - and when do you start dumping the flaps? - it looked in the video like you wheel landed and just added power and went around for another - just wondering when you take out the flaps for the go around - thanks - love your videos

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

Thanks for asking. Yes full flaps always for me. I have them full down before the final turn otherwise this slippery airplane is hard to keep below 85 kts. For a touch and go I add full power then travel flaps up as soon as possible. I have my elevator trim right next to flaps so I run that also - works well

[@jamessoutar4354]

Nice video explaining your perspective on the two types of landings. I was surprised that you like wheel landings more than 3 pointers. Curious, do you often talk yourself through the pre-landing just to engage yourself or was that just for the video?

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

Mostly for the video but voicing airspeed is a great habit. Wheel landing are much better for this airframe engine combo.

[@LimaOneNiner]

Great video. Are your speeds really in knots? I use same numbers but they are mph. My stall is 55mph, 3point 65mph over threshold, 72mph wheel over threshold. Anything above that and im floating forever even just 3 to 5 mph. I can imagine 3 pointing at high 60s knots.

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

Yup knots. I do have a heavy engine prop combo so I need a little more speed to arrest rate of decent. I prob do fly it a couple knots fast but it works for me

[@thomasaltruda]

Fixed pitch vs CS? With a fixed pitch, idle speed is very important, a little too high idle speed, and approach speed will float forever. I like 650RPM at idle, no higher. With a Constant Speed prop, speed doesn’t matter as much, as too fast, it’ll still slow down,

[@isergey0404]

Great landings ! I want to install wooden Gear Leg Stiffeners on my RV-7, how do you feel about them ?

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

I’ve never needed them actually after owning 7 RVs. It if you’re getting leg shimmy on taxi it may help. Make sure the shimmy isn’t coming from loose gear legs/bolts

[@j.gregory5669]

Welcome back!!! YESSSSSSS!!!!

[@a627m1124]

Not sure the site picture and how far to put the stick forward after touching down on a wheel landing - any pointers?

[@thomasaltruda]

The answer is “whatever it takes”. You are trying to lower the AOA so that the plane doesn’t fly again. No need to push the nose over too far, also keep in mind gyroscopic forces will yaw the plane with pitch changes. All you need is a little pitch change on touchdown to keep the plane stuck to the ground.

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

Yeah it’s very small and progressively forward as the airplane slows. As far as site picture it takes some practice and too fast may cause a bounce. Start with early morning and evening flights with calm winds. Lock in the site picture during takeoff with tail up. Remember as CofG and wind conditions change it gets harder and humbling :)

[@stevemiller2210]

Rocket link or chains ?

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

Steering link all the way!!!! Flyboyaccessories.com

[@M27-f4f]

Hey! I enjoy all your videos. I live in Ontario and fly out of Brantford Airport (172). I’m interested in moving to a rv4 or rv8. Any advice would be greatly appreciate. Thanks.

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

Ask any question you want. They are fantastic airplanes. What do you fly now?

[@M27-f4f]

Fly a 63 172e right now. More friends are going the non-certified route now. Lots of vans around here and I found them super fun to fly. I don’t fly with my wife/daughter so room and load isn’t a concern. Haven’t flown a 4 or 8 yet but those are the ones I’m interested in. A long trip for me would be North Bay! Haha. Did you build your first rv or did you buy one built?

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

@@M27-f4f I built the first one. Was a learning experience. I subsequently built 5 of them and bought 2 others. For personal affordable flying non certified is hard to beat - and the performance is amazing

[@M27-f4f]

Thanks!

[@stupidanimal5739]

Does this apply to the RV8 too? Heard that it was almost impossible to 3-point her for some reason.

[@stusaircraftfactory6592]

I wouldn’t say impossible but you are correct. Because the gear is further aft I found it almost did the slight check forward itself on touchdown so wheel landings seemed easier. It also had a heavy engine so was forward CofG when I was solo.