lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

I had previously believed that all of us Legacy pilots should practice stalls, but after reading the comments in this important thread, I now understand why the LOBO instructors here advise against it, and I now agree with them. In fact, some of the comments in this thread scared the bejeezus out of me! (I hope that it was because I misunderstood what they wrote. Thanks, Jarrett, for reminding us of the definitions.)

However, I do want to correct implications that a Legacy is an inherently dangerous airplane to stall. Another poster already referred to the CAFE flight test report for the Legacy, but here is the relevant paragraphs from their flight test of the Legacy:

Stalls were explored at 9,000 ft using 8" MP to

establish an approximately a 1 knot per second

rate of deceleration. The clean configuration

stalls occurred crisply after mild aft stick force

build-up and with little advanced warning. A t

the moment of stall the right wing dropped

approximately 30 degrees but this became

controllable using both rudder and aileron as

the angle-of-attach (sic) was reduced. The resulting

nose drop would cause only about 150 feet of

altitude loss provided that the stall recovery

input was commenced immediately.

Stalls with full flaps were explored with results

similar to those obtained in the clean configuration.

The deceleration was quicker due to the

drag of the flaps and the nose attitude was

lower prior to the stall. The wings maintained a

more level attitude during the stall and recovery

than they had during the clean configuration

stalls. The stall was equally crisp and warning

was very brief (less than one knot). A l t i t u d e

loss during recovery was 400 feet due to the

nose-low attitude obtained during the post-stall

phase of controlling angle of attack.

Accelerated stalls and high angle-of-attack

maneuvering were sampled at airspeeds as

high as 130 KIAS. Mild buffet occurs just prior

to accelerated stalls and the stick position is

well aft giving the pilot an excellent cue as to

the wing’s aerodynamic condition.

Stalls in both configurations were comfortable

and controllable throughout. Stick force build

up and stick movement were mild but adequate

during stalls.

Here's the link to the complete flight test report:

http://www.cafefoundation.org/v2/pdf_cafe_apr/legacy.pdf

The CAFE guys were experienced test pilots and I'm not recommending anyone trying it out for themselves. Go up with an instructor who has Legacy and acro/military experience if you want to practice stalls.

The CAFE test report of the factory Legacy's stall behavior is similar to my Legacy. I fly with an angle of attack indicator (AOA Pro), which I think is an essential instrument for an airplane that gives "little advanced warning" of a stall.

Dennis

Legacy, 560 hours