Wouldn't Richard's single rotor be a great motor for a LSA legal RV-4!
OK, here is the rule quoted from SportPilot.org:
Experimental amateur-built or “homebuilt” aircraft require that the major portion of the fabrication and assembly tasks be performed by persons who are building the aircraft for their own education and recreation. (This is commonly referred to as the "51% rule".) These aircraft can be flown under the SP/LSA regulations as long as they meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft as called out in FAR Part 1.1.
I interprete this to mean that any Experimental that meets the LSA rules can be flown under the LSA pilot rules.
Ken Powell
----- Original Message -----
From: bktrub@aol.com
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 7, 2011 8:12:15 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Tracy's RV-8 Wings - LSA RV-4
You can do a couple of things to "limit" the top speed. Don't install wheel pants initially at least, and pitch the prop correctly to the anticipated top speed. The only other consideration I can think of is the gross weight. You might want to check out all the regs pertaining to LSA's.
Brian Trubee
RV-4 /13 BREW
-----Original Message-----
From: kenpowell@comcast.net
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Thu, Apr 7, 2011 5:22 pm
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Tracy's RV-8 Wings - LSA RV-4
I resolved my potential medical issues by switching to drugs that are OK by the FAA so my Medical is no longer in danger. However, I am still bothered by the possiblity of losing my medical. I still have my RV-4 kit (I just can't seem to give up!) and I think that I am going to build it as a LSA. If I use an O-200 with with EDIS-4 ignition and a light weight starter I can have 100 HP for under 200 lbs. It might be possible to build a 860 lb or less RV-4. With a longer wing to increase wing area from 110 sq ft to 125 sq ft (same as a RV-12) and a gross of 1320 lbs it should be LSA legal. There was a posting on Van's Air Force saying that the top speed of an O-200 RV-3 was only 150 MPH so it seems reasonable that a 100 HP RV-4 with 125 sq ft of wing should not bust the 138 MPH LSA speed limit. I will probably build a Fastback to regain some of the yaw stability lost from the longer nose.
What do you guys think?
Ken Powell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tracy" <
rwstracy@gmail.com>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <
flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 7, 2011 4:10:24 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Tracy's RV-8 Wings
Hi Ken, long time no hear!
I extended each wing 12.75 inches and used the "Sheared" wing tips which are 6" longer than the standard Hoerner tips. I think Van's may have switched to Sheared tips as standard now.
Tracy
On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 2:26 PM,
<kenpowell@comcast.net> wrote:
Tracy,
How long are your wing extensions on each wing?
Ken Powell