Recent content by Skyport

Scott- The pressure carb will function in negative G's, while inverted, as will fuel injection. Pressure carbs were used extensively on large radials, fuel injection was rare on radials, many of the larger horizontally opposed engines, in the 50's-early 70's, used pressure carbs also but they...

Diana- Nothing to be seriously concerned about, as we have discussed before it is always good to be gentle with the throttle, avoid rapid full ON/OFF power changes as much as possible, BUT always keep in mind that safety is more important and aerobatics will at times require rapid power...

Diana- I have always used full throttle in a Hammerhead, the throttle position wouldn't be the cause but the fact that you have a float carburator, which relies on gravity for proper function, as you go negative the float will rise and cut of fuel then when positive G's return the fuel comes...

Diana- Interesting, that's quite a cloud, I suspect the engine was briefly running rich as you went over the top and what we see is actually coming from the exhaust rather than the breather. Tom-

Richard- You will often see similar stakes on Tiger Moth's, forward of the vertical fin on the top of the fuselage. They were a wartime modification and have often been removed. British built Chipmunks had similar anti-spin stakes just forward of the inboard ends of the horizontal stablilzer...

FYI- In one very interesting example of spin testing, recovery, and surprises, the prototype Cessna T-37 was lost in spin testing, the nose strakes apparently cured that problem and T-37's delivered to the USAF were approved for spins. I met the former USAF instructor who entered an...

Diana- To answer your question obliquely since spins are PROHIBITED the manufacturer doesn't publish a recovery technique, in fact the technique may be different for different configurations and one of the reasons for the prohibition may be that the technique is so unusual, or that there is NO...

FYI- It's good to remember that there have been fatal accidents in a number of GA aircraft because pilots have ignored a spin prohibition. I know of one in a Yankee where an experienced pilot was sure he "knew better" than the test pilot and entered an unrecoverable spin. Apparently the Yankee...

FYI- One VERY important thing missing from this discussion of Mooney spins is that SPINS ARE PROHIBITED in all models........................anyone spinning a Mooney has became an Experimental Test Pilot. Tom-

FYI- In addition to Diana's 91.307 list the FAA requires parachutes, with current packing date, be worn during an airshow performance....................I seriously doubt my ability to pop the door, release my seatbelts, exit, and open my chute if something happens at...

FYI- At one time chute were required for spins, the old turtle-back 150's lower seat cushion could be removed and the pan was designed for a seat pack. In the early 60's, not sure of the exact year, the FAA removed the requirement at the instigation of the industry. By that time there was a...

Kellyo- I expected your response, note I used the word "didn't", not don't. There are exceptions to every rule, and I'm not exactly certain what the NTSB policy has been from year-to-year on this issue, I believe the policy has changed over the years just as FAA oversight of Ultralights has...

Kello- Nothing strange, the NTSB didn't investigate Ultralight accidents. Tom-

Diana- While you are correct that I'm averaging the turns the CG, and type of entry will have an effect on the altitude loss per turn. The varibles make the most difference in the altitude loss during the first turn. Ed- While I must admit that I've never spun a Mooney, nor is it the type...

Diana- My GCAA looses 300-500' in each turn, I budget 500' per turn and usually have change on the recovery that can be converted into extra energy for the next manuver. The eye-popping Mooney number of 2000' was, no doubt, written by an attorney concerned about liability. The actual...