with their kit. NWA also provides a video that illustrates how to
follow their directions on installing VG's. In the NWA video, they show
an aerobatic plane that happens to have VG's on BOTH the top and bottom
of the horizontal stabilizer. Perhaps this is where the person that
installed them on this Rebel went wrong.
For sure, the VG's should only be on the bottom of the horiz stab on a
Rebel.
Ted
-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Bob Patterson
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 8:02 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: The 'Ultimate Rebel' flies !
Hi Scott !
I asked the same question ! Didn't know it had vg's when I went
down to fly it....
I suspect that the drawings for positioning the vg's were vague -
can not believe that they should be on top ! You're right - if
anywhere,
they belong on bottom, farther forward ... there were none underneath.
However, decided to fly it anyway, prepared to abort quickly if any
problems. There were no handling issues - and no obvious benefits
either, for the tail, anyway ! The vg's on the wing do seem to be
better than the other one I flew long ago - I feel that they helped to
reduce
the stall even lower than the combined Fife tips & McKenzie STOL kit -
which is getting a bit ridiculous !! :-) This reduction cost a lot
in drag, and reduced cruise - I would guess at least 5 - 8 mph - hard to
judge, though, as the prop is definitely way too fine. They
definitely did not hurt the handling, and it flew hands AND feet off,
perfectly, and roll stability is pure Rebel ! The climb angle is
AWESOME !
I think the vg's stopped it from spinning properly, but the
combined wing alterations made it so safe, it's hard to imagine getting
into trouble with it ! It will tolerate just about any abuse you could
throw at it, and just nod on down !! Stick back slowly, and it will
sit below 40 mph, with the stick full back, sinking about 1,000 fpm,
with full control !!!! Almost a helicopter ! ;-)
......bobp
-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Monday 05 September 2005 06:54 pm, Scott Aldrich wrote:
Congrats to Pierre and you for the first flight.
Looks really nice.
Do you know if it is common for the NWA VG kit to put them on the top
of the horizontal stab? Assuming he has them on both top and bottom?
Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Bob Patterson
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 4:25 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: The 'Ultimate Rebel' flies !
Hi guys !
Another one in the air !! I flew Pierre Mevissen's Rebel on
Saturday for it's first flight - after many years of work.
It's a beauty !! We call it "the ultimate Rebel", because
it should be the best performing Rebel on amphibs EVER ! He has
a custom Ameritech Eagle XP-360 injected IO-360 engine with a
lightweight carbon-fiber intake manifold, molded fg air plenum,
custom paper air filter, external oil filter, dual lightweight
alternators, feeding dual electronic ignition, driving a Prince
P-tip carbon fiber prop - putting out about 195 hp., and weighing
about the same as a regular O-320 with a Sensenich metal prop !!
All that in a custom metal 2 door (big doors !) cowling.
To 'improve' the performance "a bit", he added the McKenzie STOL
kit, Fife Hoerner wing tips, and NWA VG's !! The cockpit is pretty
fancy, with a Blue Mountain EFIS, and Advanced graphic engine monitor
! (A 'glass panel' Rebel !) And a very nice custom upholstery job,
with high, wide back seats, by a local guy who will COME TO YOU to
work !! :-) Landings are gentle, at very low speeds, cushioned by
Wayne's die spring gear mod - and, of course, the firewall has Wayne's
reinforcing plates too. The paint & finishing were done by John Goris
& his boys at Purple Hill Air.
Some pictures posted to Files, Rebel, areas 217,220,207,208, 205,
& 221.
Alright, already ..... YES ! It IS a skyrocket !!! On the
second flight, I saw 2,100 fpm climb !! It's quite happy at about
1,400 - 1600 fpm with me and full fuel (49 gal.). And it will climb
at ..... 45 mph !! Rock solid at 60 mph, and 1500 fpm....
The climb angles are breathtaking, to say the least. (I have a 9.4 MB
video clip for anyone who wants it ...)
Clean stall is at 42 mph, but if you bring it back gently, it
will just mush below 40 mph, with NO nose drop, and full control !!
This is THE gentlest Rebel I've ever flown !! It won't spin more than
custom-painted Murphya quarter turn, no matter how you provoke it, so you'd really have to
work at it to hurt yourself !!
Still a lot of testing & flying to do - only 5.7 hr. so far. It
looks like Mr. Prince seriously underestimated this engine, though -
the 74 x 46 prop, although doing its 'constant speed' trick, is still
'way tooooooo fine for all this power - at 2550 rpm, the most we can
pull is about 18" of manifold pressure, level ! Cruise speed will
have to await a new prop.....
More news to come in a week or 2 - we hope to move The
Ultimate Rebel to Brampton soon ---- and there's a set of
;-)1800 amphibs waiting to go on it in the spring. Look out, Jack !
.....bobp
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