FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1964
1964 - 0727.PDF
420 FLIGHT International, 19 March 1964 mmmm V m •. --——gag—- .i Lycoming 400 h.p. engines, much lighter than the original Gipsy Queens, reduction of 9611b in basic weight and smoothed wing, give the Riley Dove extremely attractive performance. Rayjay turbo-superchargers and swept fin are to bring even higher performance BEHIND THE BROCHURE... Rlley Dove Jack Riley is already well known in Europe for his Riley Rocket—an aircraft that can fly on one engine non- stop from Los Angeles to New York is bound to excite some interest. In the USA the interest is such as to produce a continuous Stream of people with Aztecs, 310s, etc, anxious to have them hotted up at his Fort Lauderdale facility. Now comes the Riley Dove. In the 14 years I have flown the Dove, including ten years as a de Havilland test pilot, I have never flown a Dove to match it. With a beautifully finished eleven- passenger interior, the difference makes a new aeroplane. The machine converted (No 130M) is a 1952-model Dove. The work done, apart from the interior and cockpit "clean up," has been to flush-rivet the leading edges back to the spar, remove the Gipsy Queen engines and substitute the Lycoming eight-cylinder 400 b.h.p. IO-720 engines in Riley's own superbly finished glass- fibre cowling. So perfect, in fact, that I had to search to find the exhaust ports. By doing this and substituting Hartzell propellers the gross weight of the aircraft has been reduced by 1,2001b. Although work is still to be done to reduce noise, it is now no more than that of a standard Dove in amplitude and, in my opinion, is a pleasanter sound. Without the Rayjay supercharger (to be fitted shortly) at 8,000ft, we measured a TAS of 209 m.p.h. At 1,500ft o.a.t. and 72°F we indicated 200 m.p.h. average over a ten-minute recorded run on an FAA-calibrated a.s.i. at 65 per cent power. Full back on the control column, clean and power-off, the aircraft mushed with a mild buffet at 54kt, still maintaining full aileron control and no nose-drop. With undercarriage down and full flap, after an initial gentle buffet the nose dropped square, feet off, at 47kt. With the port engine feathered, 5,000ft, o.a.t. 55°F at 65 per cent on the starboard engine, 20° of flap, I flew the air- craft at speeds down to 50kt, still with aileron and rudder control. The aircraft was then at approximately 7,4501b. Although I was unable at the time to measure the exact distance, I surprised myself on attempting a short-field landing. In a ten- knot crosswind, after gentle check-braking I turned the aircraft through 90° to view the landing run. My four passengers and Jack Riley spontaneously came out with a good old-fashioned American expression of astonishment. With Rayjay superchargers and the Riley swept fin (weight increase 111b for 17 per cent increase and metal control surfaces) the Riley Dove will easily cruise at 265-275 m.p.h. This last con- version having already completed hydrostatic testing is being tried first on the Turbomeca Astazou conversion, which is scheduled to fly in about one month's time. This project, unfortunately set back by the untimely death in a flying accident of its sponsor, is now going ahead under Jack Riley's direction. The total conversion of a Dove, to include cleaning-up leading A demonstration of the per- formance and economic bene- fits of the various Riley Dove conversions •Nautical MUes. MK.BDOVE THE RILEY DOVE. (Easic Weight 5, 700 Lbs.) WHAT IT MEANS TO THE EXECUTIVE - Full Fuel + Full Passenger + 20 m.p. h. or + 85 m.p.h. 0 270 1000 1290 1390 1700 RILEY DOVE N.A. NA + WF. T. C. TC + WF. N.A. Key; NA. Normally Aspirated. WF. Extra Wing Fuel. TC. Turbocharged (+ 250 lbs). * 100 NM /30K headwind + 45 min. ->• 10^ reserve. 6 6 6 6 5 11 Pass. Pass. Pass. Pass. Pass. Pass + 460 + 136 + 284 + 165 Nil Baggage. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. WHAT IT . + 2 Crewl MEANS TO THE CHARTER OPERATOR - + 165 Lbs. Eaggage. 330 N. miles + 200 NM diversion / 30 K headwind + 45 min. hold + 10$ or:- BIRMINGHAM to PARIS, 2 crew + 11 pass. ( 1 FR reserves) + 255 lbs. baggage- At £40 pfir hour, this means £6. 7. 3- per passenger.Tourist commercial = £11.0.0.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
