Stall Horn

[Mike Switzer]

I was just wondering, do people ever put stall horns in a homebuilt aircraft?

If so is there a unit available for experimental aircraft or do you steal one from a certified design?

[MPerkins]

Hi Mike,

There's an article available online by Tony Bingelis that discusses stall warning devices. It's at: http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuilders/building/instruments/4A%20Look%20at%20Stall%20Warning%20Devices.html . But since plans and kits don't usually consider the location of such a flipper, most homebuilders aren't anxious to start cutting holes on a trial-and-error basis in the leading edges of their wings. Of course since Tony wrote that in 1983, AOA sensors have come along that are in reach of homebuilders. The real trick of installing a switch-activated stall warning horn is where to locate the little flipper.

(http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuilders/building/instruments/4A%20Look%20at%20Stall%20Warning%20Devices.html)

[Mike Switzer]

Interesting article. I'm gonna have to think about this some, or at least wait until I see how the thing flies.

[Frank Giger]

Nothing scares the hell out of me like a loud honking stall horn going off right as I'm touching down!

How this ever came to be accepted as a safety device is just weird.

[steveinindy]

Nothing scares the hell out of me like a loud honking stall horn going off right as I'm touching down!

How this ever came to be accepted as a safety device is just weird.

Because not all pilots are equally skilled. Also, not all pilots fly their plane into a stall upon landing.

[Frank Giger]

True, wheel landings do require a little more power.



Every landing requires one to achieve and then go lower than stall speed. I've got a couple of hours in a C172 and it always made me jump!

Flare
HONK
Bounce
HONK
Bounce
HONK
etc.

:)

(And thanks for the vote of confidence, but you do realize that I managed to ground loop a trike, right?)

:eek:

[Rick Galati]

I was just wondering, do people ever put stall horns in a homebuilt aircraft?

If so is there a unit available for experimental aircraft or do you steal one from a certified design?AOA systems are popular with many homebuilders, including me. Like many builders, I chose the AOA Sport largely because it does not have a draggy vane or flipper that extends into the airstream and as such, the system can be easily retrofitted into a completed aircraft without the necessity of cutting holes in the airframe. I am such a believer of AOA that I mounted its LED array in the instrument panel of my RV-6A and atop the instrument panel in my -8. In addition to its color coded LED array that provides constant visual cues, if you approach a stall a firm voice warns loud and clear through the headsets...."ANGLE, ANGLE, PUSH!" Here is a link for more information: http://www.advanced-flight-systems.com/Products/AOA/aoa.html

http://i41.tinypic.com/2uo71fl.jpg

[Mike Switzer]

Thanks Rick, that looks like it may be an easier solution.

[Chad Jensen]

I had an AOA in my RV as well. The one I used was a kit from a guy named Kelly Meiste. Worked great!

http://www.chadandbrittne.com/images/Panel/4-5-09-002w.jpg

[Chad Jensen]

It also "T'd" to the EFIS...

[Mike Switzer]

Chad, what kind of compass is that?

[Chad Jensen]

An electric Ritchie boat compass. Found it on eBay, worked great! I mounted the magnetometer for it in the tail, and it was dead-on accurate.

[Auburntsts]

I was just wondering, do people ever put stall horns in a homebuilt aircraft?

If so is there a unit available for experimental aircraft or do you steal one from a certified design?

Mike, you bet. RV-10s come with the vane type system as a standard part of the kit, although some RV-10 builders ditch it for an aftermarket AOA system. I chose to go with the standard stall warning system because A. I already had it, and B. I was too cheap to switch to AOA. You can order the parts from Van's if you're so inclined.

[Chad Jensen]

Not true...none of the two seat RV's come with a stall warning system of any kind.