Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 14:23:55 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-2601965@logan.com>
From: RWolf99@aol.com
Subject: Limit Load vs Ultimate Load
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Ric, Ric, Ric --

Please be careful!  The Lancair 360 does, in fact, have a 9G *ultimate* load. 
 That means when you hit 9.1 G the airplane is supposed to break into little 
tiny pieces.   What we should be careful not to exceed is the *limit* load.  
This is the load above which the airplane will bend rather than break.

For an aluminum airplane a safety factor of 1.5 is typical.  This would give 
the 360 a limit load factor of 6G for an ultimate load factor of 9G.  However, 
composite structures don't fail as gradually as aluminum so we usually use a 
safety factor of 2.0, which would result in a limit load rating of 4.5G.  More 
like a utility category airplane.

Myself, I intend to install a 2 inch G meter with a redline of 4.5G, and do 
the occasional loop and roll.  (After receiving instruction from my builder 
buddy who is a CFI and has done competition aerobatics and instruction thereof.)

- Rob Wolf