Lift Reserve Indicator

[vigilant104]

[quote="Rynoth"
Here is an research paper from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University dated 1985:

http://www.liftreserve.com/erau.htm

Dale, thanks for that link. So, the LRI seems pretty useful for telling us something we probably care about a lot: "As I get slow, how close am I to the wing's critical AoA?" In the low speed regime the information from the LRI is repeatable, accurate, and fast. At higher speeds (maybe trying to max perform the plane in a loop, etc) the LRI may not be as accurate. Most of us probably don't need that info often.

Has anyone seen plans for a low-cost vane-type true AoA indicator?

[fastj22]

:D You can have my LRI when you pry it from my cold dead hands!

[daleandee]

*

[radfordc]

It is all a matter of practice. Practice for the feel and situational awareness. I am all for builders adding stuff they like. That is part of the homebuilding scene. But I also think I could do a carrier landing in my Waiex without a LRI. Of course that is probably BS!

I'm certain that you are correct. But I will still insist that an LRI will tell you the truth on those occasions when your senses may not, either because of fatigue, disorientation, distraction, etc. The Sonex is a very honest airplane to fly and most can feel a stall coming a long way off. But so are Cessna 150's and pilots manage to stall/spin them at low altitudes now and again with horrendous results.

Do you suppose an AoA instrument would have helped here: http://www.wpbf.com/news/south-florida/ ... d=18365316

Sure sounds like a stall and spin based on the eye witness description.

[Bryan Cotton]

Hard to say. Right now everything is speculation. Happened at an airport. Was it an attempted turn back? Are your eyes going to be inside for that?

Edit: let's let the NTSB get at least through its prelim and then we can debate the point. Sad accident.

[Rynoth]

Sure sounds like a stall and spin based on the eye witness description.

That eyewitness description leaves a lot to be desired. I'm very sorry to hear about this accident.

[kmacht]

Having two close friends die in an airplane accident while another friend watched a few years ago the one thing I learned is that you can't believe anything the local press writes or publishes about an airplane accident. Making a right or left turn is suddenly doing a loop and flying at pattern altitude is buzzing the treetops according to the clueless news reporters. I say wait for the NTSB report and until then ignore everything else you read unless it is written by a person that was there and not "interpreted" by the news idiots. Speculation and second hand accounts serve no real purpose and accomplishes very little.

Keith
#554

[Rynoth]

^ What Keith said ^

[radfordc]

Hard to say. Right now everything is speculation. Happened at an airport. Was it an attempted turn back? Are your eyes going to be inside for that?

True. I guess my point is that having tons of training and experience won't necessarily keep you from doing something fatal.

[Bryan Cotton]

Prelim released:
http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief ... 0404&key=1