On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 02:27:29 GMT, Dave Hyde wrote:

Roger Halstead wrote:

Just don't try to imitate the Emmeraud here at 3BS.

Whew, I have no intention of that. I had intended
to do a few medium speed runs, raising the tail each time,
then pull the cowl and check things over. I'm not cruising
around with the tail up, it's just power up, tail up, power
back and stop. Second run I could feel it getting light on the
gear. Third run I guess I didn't get as much forward stick as
before, so the attitude was a little more nose-high, and it rotated
on the mains and popped off the ground. Airspeed was out of
my scan at that point, but it must've been around 45 knots or so,
so I wasn't going to horse it into the air and take it around.
I had plenty of runway, so I throttled back, held the attitude, and
let it settle. I wasn't 100% sure I was airborne until the tires
chirped on touchdown. Next comment (on tape), "I guess I know
it flies now."

Observations:
Acceleration is faster than I expected - I've never flown an RV
solo. I'd planned on good accel, but it was more than I expected.
Tail comes up sooner than expected too. See above.

You have considerably more experience than I:-)) I have flown one
twice, but it was a nose dragger (6A) and never solo. It was a nice
flying plane. Light on the controls, but overly so and good harmony.
*Nothing* like the GP4 I flew.

Takes longer than I expected to slow to taxi speed...although
time compression may have something to do with that g

Wait till you're coming back in to land it the first time. I'll bet
it's at least as exciting as your first solo landing as a student:-))

Everything felt great control-wise. No gross trim problems
noted.

Glad to hear that. Of all the planes we've had solo out here at 3BS
only a couple needed some tuning of the rigging.


By the way, I was doing this prepared for a flight if something
like this happened. Flight-ready airplane, parachute, gas,
preflight/runup, etc., so if it turned into a first flight I could
minimize the surprises and not get caught in something too ugly.

Parachute? Just cause it's a first flight of one "You put together"?
You should have more faith in the builderLOL
I'll be wearing one through the flight test phase for the G-III if I
ever get it off the ground. I'll probably be too old to fly by then.


Dave 'taxi stand' Hyde

Keep up the good work!

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com
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