How does the RV-7A compare to other airplanes as far as the amount of "excess" horsepower on hand? Well, I decided to check that out...
The chart is comparing the power loading ranges of some of the different airplanes I've flown (except for the PC-12, I haven't flown one but it's interesting to see where it is in the chart). All the lower numbers are the power loadings at the airplane's typical empty weight, followed by their MTOW power loadings.
What Van's has done for the RV-7A is really quite impressive! Because of excellent payload with full fuel (450 lb or more), flights at gross weight are not nearly as common as they are with the other light single engine airplanes. Similarly, with full fuel in the C310 and PC-12 (1,000 lb or more), not much payload is left considering the number of seats the airplanes have available. That means at typical weights, the RV-7A (even with 180 hp and not the maximum 200 hp) can have a better power loading than all the other airplanes (at typical weights) in the chart! By the time you get to the Good Ol Cessna 152, it's obvious that it can't even come close in comparison to the RV!
What Van's has done for the RV-7A is really quite impressive! Because of excellent payload with full fuel (450 lb or more), flights at gross weight are not nearly as common as they are with the other light single engine airplanes. Similarly, with full fuel in the C310 and PC-12 (1,000 lb or more), not much payload is left considering the number of seats the airplanes have available. That means at typical weights, the RV-7A (even with 180 hp and not the maximum 200 hp) can have a better power loading than all the other airplanes (at typical weights) in the chart! By the time you get to the Good Ol Cessna 152, it's obvious that it can't even come close in comparison to the RV!
No comments:
Post a Comment