Alfonso Lebron wrote:

All that sounds very good and tempting but please, keep in mind

flutter/structural

integrity of the RV when thinking about going at those speeds.

Alfonso Lebron-Berges

Nah! They are good for it. Dave Anders has gone over 250 mph in his RV4
and Tracy Saylor 240 mph in his RV6.

Paul Lamar

True, but unexpected things can still happen.  Dave Anders thought his plane
was comming apart on one speed run when a wheel pant went into violent
flutter at just over 250 mph. It had to be mass ballanced to fix the
problem.  I think his best speed to date is 262 mph in his -4.

Tracy Crook
tcrook@rotaryaviation.com
www.rotaryaviation.com

That is more or less what I wanted to convey in my previous message. A "stock"
fuselage (add here wings, ailerons, elevators, rudder, wheels, pants...) is not
the same as a finely tuned or balanced one and this difference is what makes the
latter  withstand speeds that could produce catastrophic failures in the latter.

Alfonso Lebron-Berges

Don't worry Al. Tracy Saylor and Dave Anders have pioneered these speeds and the
RV community including Van himself have responded with modifications and
improvements. Believe it or not a smoother engine means parts of the aircraft
are less likely to flutter. 

Paul Lamar
 
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