Dom: The answer to your question, "Does
you 360 really stall at 50 KIAS at gross AUW?", is, probably not!
My ASI is not calibrated and at low- altitude cruise seems to lag the GPS by
12 to 13 mph. The ASI is, however does indicate
"approximately" 57 mph when lift is lost both on landing and at
altitude flying heavy.
The reason I
mention this is that there is perhaps one additional, unmentioned advantage
to the long wing 360 and that is the stall behavior; it is quite
benign. In fact, my 360 just mushes downward and does not drop a wing
so long as the ball is centered. Did the loss of altitude
(mush) begin at 60 mph.. or 59.. or 58? I'm not sure because
when stall testing and calibrating, I'm watching the ball, ASI, VSI, LRI (my
version of AoA), GPS, the rest of the world outside of the aircraft,...
and my ass. Still, the stall behavior of my long wing is quite nice
with no surprises. Perhaps the long wings help to retard any sharp drop
of wing OKA, snap roll.
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Dan: Having flown frequently in various 200
and 360 style of Lancairs,I find copious advantages to the long wing and just
a few mild disadvantages.
The long wind advantages are:
-less tire wear (takeoffs are
shorter)
-less brake wear (landings are
shorter)
-lower stall speed (57 mph in my
360 at gross)
-all of above permit more options
to use short fields
-faster climb (more wing lift)
-longer glide (more wing area)
-faster speeds at all altitudes
(lower angle of attack
at all speeds)
-slower lateral roll rate (makes
chop and turns more comfortable for pilot and passenger)
-safer accident speeds (minimum
landing speed is reduced)
-accidents are more survivable
(no one would get hurt at 10 mph)
-traffic pattern flying is safer
(slower speeds possible because of lower stall speed)
-time to climb to altitude is
reduced
-engine out glide is improved
(more time to "think" and maneuver to alternatives)
-more fuel capacity (I don't
recommend this option; 1000 mile range is plenty)
The several disadvantages are:
-reduced maneuvering speeds
(potential to overstress our quite strong wings)
-reduced wing loading causes
(nearly) imperceptible reduced comfort in chop
The above lists are not exhaustive and surely others
will add or subtract.
Remember that Lance endorsed the long-wing which
suggests that the longer wings don't challenge structural
integrity in our planes. Also remember that it was not by accident
that Nature designed long-distance birds to have long, thin, narrow
wings; they are simply more efficient and energy efficient at
flying. OTOH, if you fly gut-wrenching, severe "G's", then
long wings will not answer.
Dan, I recommend that you not make those longer
wingtips removable; you won't remove them after you fly them.
Greg Nelson (LNC2)