Return-Path: Received: from spdmgaae.compuserve.com ([149.174.206.138]) by ns1.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.3 release 223 ID# 0-64832U3500L350S0V35) with ESMTP id com for ; Sun, 13 Aug 2000 12:27:56 -0400 Received: (from mailgate@localhost) by spdmgaae.compuserve.com (8.9.3/8.9.3/SUN-1.9) id MAA11507 for lancair.list@olsusa.com; Sun, 13 Aug 2000 12:34:25 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 12:33:39 -0400 From: James Frantz Subject: Computed AOAs Sender: James Frantz To: "INTERNET:lancair.list@olsusa.com" Message-ID: <200008131233_MC2-AF98-9A10@compuserve.com> X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com Mime-Version: 1.0 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> In an earlier post an SFS employee was quoted as saying, gross weight had little or no noticable effect on stalling speed. This statement prompted several comments. We have spent a great deal of time dispelling the common misconception that aircraft stall at only one speed. We've given forums, wrote articles and have promoted AOAs and many other types of stall warning devices on experimental aircraft. We've discussed how bank angle, gross weight, CG, "G" loading, turbulance, and other factors affect the stalling speed and how the critical angle generally remains the same for any given configuration. We do this becasue the stall/spin is the most common single cause for fatalities in both experimental and Part 23 aircraft. An awareness or reminder of the facts helps many of us fly safer. The Marine and Navy guys like Skip and John are the ones who perfected AOA flying and we are all the safer for it. We must be vigilant and not allow the "little or no effect" comments to add to the misconceptions about stalling speeds. The physics will not allow it either. The facts are that stalling speed varies by the square root of the GW along with other factors. Aircraft, like the Lancair, that have gross weight changes of about 40% will have stalling speeds that vary by about 17% due to fuel, passenger, and cargo weight changes alone! The point is that Vs does not change by only two or three knots nor are the Vs changes minor. Gross weight is a major factor in stalling speeds. But GW is not the only factor. Jim Frantz >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>