X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com X-SpamCatcher-Score: 2 [X] Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:35:48 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from vms048pub.verizon.net ([206.46.252.48] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1.7) with ESMTP id 1934011 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 21 Mar 2007 02:15:14 -0400 Received: from wbs ([71.177.5.156]) by vms048.mailsrvcs.net (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.2-6.01 (built Apr 3 2006)) with ESMTPA id <0JF800M28PCXW287@vms048.mailsrvcs.net> for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 21 Mar 2007 01:14:58 -0500 (CDT) X-Original-Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:14:24 -0700 From: "Skip Slater" Subject: Re: [LML] Unbalanced Fuel Load X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" X-Original-Message-id: <000d01c76b80$3d8ee7b0$0a01a8c0@wbs> MIME-version: 1.0 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3028 Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0005_01C76B45.7FA39190" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-priority: Normal References: This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C76B45.7FA39190 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dennis, I'm no aero engineer, but here's my take on the uneven fuel: Imagine two identical airplanes, one at max gross weight, and the = other with a light load and a single pilot. The heavier one will stall = at a higher airspeed, right? Now to state the obvious, if you have an unbalanced fuel load, one = wing is heavier than the other. This creates more aerodynamic load = (lbs/sq. ft) on the heavier wing, (which is why you'd need ailerons to = hold it up). So long as you maintain adequate speed, you can control = the plane, but the danger lies in getting slow enough that the heavier = wing will stall before the light one, which is a perfect scenario to get = yourself into a spin. The place where the most danger lies is during = takeoff and landing, where you have no altitude to recover from a stall = or departure from controlled flight. The IV's already have relatively high wing loading and intentionally = flying one far out of balance is a really bad idea. Skip Slater ------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C76B45.7FA39190 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dennis,

I'm no aero engineer, but = here's my=20 take on the uneven fuel:

Imagine two identical = airplanes,=20 one at max gross weight, and the other with a light load and a = single=20 pilot. The heavier one will stall at a higher airspeed,=20 right?

Now to state the = obvious,=20 if you have an unbalanced fuel load, one wing is heavier than the=20 other. This creates more aerodynamic load (lbs/sq. ft) on the = heavier=20 wing, (which is why you'd need ailerons to hold it up). So long as = you=20 maintain adequate speed, you can control the plane, but the danger lies = in=20 getting slow enough that the heavier wing will stall before the light = one, which=20 is a perfect scenario to get yourself into a spin. The place where = the=20 most danger lies is during takeoff and landing, where you have no = altitude to=20 recover from a stall or departure from controlled flight.

The IV's already have = relatively high=20 wing loading and intentionally flying one far out of balance is a=20 really bad idea.

Skip=20 Slater

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