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Stefan wrote
Actually, the maneuvring speed is the max speed at which full deflection of the controls is still allowed and it is completely unrelated to gusts. Stefan...I've been fighting this common misconception here on this newsgroup for years and the spam-can pilots just don't seem to understand. It probably goes back to their basic instruction and a few well intentioned but misguided magazine writers. As you point out, maneuvering speed (Va) is related to pilot induced loads and gust loads are related to Vno, the top of the green arc on the airspeed indicator for small airplanes, it's Vb for newer and larger airplanes. There are actually two "g" envelopes for an airplane. One for maneuver loads and another for gust loads. When overlayed, they form the combined envelope. The gust loading envelope is required to accomodate the most severe gust that it is anticipated that the airplane will encounter in normal flying operations. Although both of these loads are actual physical phenomena, the FAA has defined them in the FARs via Part 23. The information is scattered in several sections of Part 23, but when specifying the gust loading requirements, nowhere is Va mentioned, and likewise, when specifying the maneuver loading requirements, there is no mention of Vb or Vno (the top of the green arc). From the FAR: Section 23.423: Maneuvering loads. Each horizontal surface and its supporting structure, and the main wing of a canard or tandem wing configuration, if that surface has pitch control, must be designed for the maneuvering loads imposed by the following conditions: (a) A sudden movement of the pitching control, at the speed VA, to the maximum aft movement, and the maximum forward movement, as limited by the control stops, or pilot effort, whichever is critical. Section 23.333: Flight envelope (c) Gust envelope. (1) The airplane is assumed to be subjected to symmetrical vertical gusts in level flight. The resulting limit load factors must correspond to the conditions determined as follows: (i) Positive (up) and negative (down) gusts of 50 f.p.s. at VC must be considered......... (ii) Positive and negative gusts of 25 f.p.s. at VD must be considered........... Section 23.1545: Airspeed indicator. (a) Each airspeed indicator must be marked as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, with the marks located at the corresponding indicated airspeeds. (3) For the normal operating range, a green arc with the lower limit at VS1 with maximum weight and with landing gear and wing flaps retracted, and the upper limit at the maximum structural cruising speed VNO established under §23.1505(b). Section 23.1505: Airspeed limitations. (b) The maximum structural cruising speed VNO must be established so that it is -- (1) Not less than the minimum value of VC allowed under §23.335 Quoted from Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators: "As a general requirement, all airplanes must be capable of withstanding an approximate effective +/- 30 foot per second gust when at maximum level flight speed for normal rated power. Such a gust intensity has relatively low frequency of occurrence in ordinary flying operations. The highest reasonable gust velocity that may be anticipated is an actual veritical velocity, U, of 50 feet per second." Now, I ask, why, when flying in gusty conditions, do pilots slow to Va? The airplane (by regulation) is designed to withstand the highest reasonable gust velocity at the top of the green arc? Slowing to Va presents a definate stall-upset possibility where the pilot is apt to induce a maneuvering overstress during the recovery. Bob Moore |
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