I have had more than a few PM?s from folks asking about the flying qualities of our new RV-3B, and thought I might as well share what I have observed so far (with less than five hours on the clock). I have quite a few hours in most of the RV line, but had never flown a -3 before this (no time in the -4 either), these truly are ?first impressions, and will probably mature with more experience. This aircraft is near the top end of the scale in weight for a -3, and carries an IO-320 with a Whirlwind 151 composite, constant speed, 3-bladed prop. Other configurations will, of course, vary. Impressions, in no particular order?.
1. In the two-seat RV?s, you feel like you are in an airframe, and there is an engine attached. The -3 is small enough that (at least with the IO-320), you feel like you?re flying an engine, and there is an airframe there to control it.
2. Comparing it to the -8, it is very light on the controls. The -8 I have always considered solid and capable (much, much lighter than a SPAM can, but more solid than the lighter -6) ? the -3 is light in a way that it takes no effort to point it where you want it.
3. Control movement is negligible at cruise speed ? mild pressure will give just about any roll rate you would want.
4. Pitch and roll are harmonious. Rudder pressure is a bit higher at cruise speed. All control movements result in very crisp responses ? rates start and stop almost instantaneously ? there is little build up ? you are level, then you?re in a sixty degree bank, just like that.
5. Power response in formation is exceptional ? moving fore and aft is instantaneous, and it is easy to stop relative motion quickly.
6. Visibility from the cockpit is great! So good that it is hard to develop a horizon reference for level flight, as no part of the airframe within easy view of the pilot is on the horizon!
7. Landing and take-off are conventional RV. Directional control is good, and even in a crosswind, it behaves fine. I felt at home in the take-off and landing immediately. With a silver bullet steering ink, ground handling is precise.
8. It goes like scat! We are breaking in the engine, so running high power settings (about 80% average) and are truing 182 KTAS at 4,000?. In order to come down, I have to pull power back to keep from exceeding redline. Climb rate is phenomenal ? the VVI on the G3X only shows +/- 2,000 fpm (as the EFIS designer says ?anything more than that is just for bragging anyway?), so I can?t tell you how fast it?s going vertically until we do some timed climbs.
9. Our cockpit is extremely comfortable, but no two -3 cockpits are alike ? we went overboard on cockpit design and appointments, and it paid off in terms of making the ?office? work for me.
10. Our CG is in the back half of the envelope, and it feels perfect ? not at all as twitchy as an -8 loaded in the back half. I haven?t done any quantitative stability testing yet, but I have noticed no tendency towards over-controlling as it gets slow.
I?ll keep folks updated as the test program moves along, but we?re having lousy weather this week in Houston, and have the holidays coming up. If you are building a -3, I predict that you?re going to love it! If you are thinking seriously about building a -3?stop thinking about it!!
Paul
1. In the two-seat RV?s, you feel like you are in an airframe, and there is an engine attached. The -3 is small enough that (at least with the IO-320), you feel like you?re flying an engine, and there is an airframe there to control it.
2. Comparing it to the -8, it is very light on the controls. The -8 I have always considered solid and capable (much, much lighter than a SPAM can, but more solid than the lighter -6) ? the -3 is light in a way that it takes no effort to point it where you want it.
3. Control movement is negligible at cruise speed ? mild pressure will give just about any roll rate you would want.
4. Pitch and roll are harmonious. Rudder pressure is a bit higher at cruise speed. All control movements result in very crisp responses ? rates start and stop almost instantaneously ? there is little build up ? you are level, then you?re in a sixty degree bank, just like that.
5. Power response in formation is exceptional ? moving fore and aft is instantaneous, and it is easy to stop relative motion quickly.
6. Visibility from the cockpit is great! So good that it is hard to develop a horizon reference for level flight, as no part of the airframe within easy view of the pilot is on the horizon!
7. Landing and take-off are conventional RV. Directional control is good, and even in a crosswind, it behaves fine. I felt at home in the take-off and landing immediately. With a silver bullet steering ink, ground handling is precise.
8. It goes like scat! We are breaking in the engine, so running high power settings (about 80% average) and are truing 182 KTAS at 4,000?. In order to come down, I have to pull power back to keep from exceeding redline. Climb rate is phenomenal ? the VVI on the G3X only shows +/- 2,000 fpm (as the EFIS designer says ?anything more than that is just for bragging anyway?), so I can?t tell you how fast it?s going vertically until we do some timed climbs.
9. Our cockpit is extremely comfortable, but no two -3 cockpits are alike ? we went overboard on cockpit design and appointments, and it paid off in terms of making the ?office? work for me.
10. Our CG is in the back half of the envelope, and it feels perfect ? not at all as twitchy as an -8 loaded in the back half. I haven?t done any quantitative stability testing yet, but I have noticed no tendency towards over-controlling as it gets slow.
I?ll keep folks updated as the test program moves along, but we?re having lousy weather this week in Houston, and have the holidays coming up. If you are building a -3, I predict that you?re going to love it! If you are thinking seriously about building a -3?stop thinking about it!!
Paul