Tom Sampson
Active Member
Hi Folks ...
I flew 728MT for the first time tonight!
Holly Smokes ... what a blast!
BUT ... To get ready to do that ... We had the airworthiness certification done Tuesday by DAR Frank Sneed, and EAA Tech Advisor Mike Robertson did the initial 1.2 hour test flight Wednesday to check flight characteristics.
We had VERY high oil temps (it turns out that I had selected the wrong temp probe choice in the Dynon ... changed that, and we are back to more normal new engine run-in temps). Had a heavy left wing. Martha and I re-adjusted the flap "up travel position" this afternoon. We also may not be developing full RPMs, so we'll chase an idea or two on that ... is it the real RPM, or is the Dynon set to the right calibration? (read: user inputs are probably wrong ... we'll see).
So ... after the final gut check, I went out for gas to equalize the wings, and then taxied for the run up and take off.
Right at 8pm PDT, density altitude was 2300, and I was off the ground in about 600 feet. Climbout was easy at 100 at somewhere over 1000 fpm. I have to admit to being nervous during the taxi over, but once on the centerline and full throttle I was alert but relaxed ... SO my many THANKS to Mike Seager for his thorough drilling during my transition training 2 weeks ago ... I knew what to expect and was confortable in the process.
Not a long flight as it was late and after a full work day ... and HOT in McMinneville Oregon to boot. BUT ... what a blast. Tango performed as expected, solid, stable, good throttle responses, little rudder required in turns. WOW ... I entered the pattern as the sun was setting, stable at 90, set flaps half on downwind at 85, full flaps just turning base at 80, down final at 75, and 65 over the numbers ... just like Mike taught me ... and the result (even with a 9 kt 20 degree x-wind) was the best RV landing I had ever made (obviously) ... and it was prototypical RV technique ... mains first and full aft stick holding off the nose gear ... AND I made the first taxiway on 04. Double WOW.
Taxi back, shut down, take stock, and make the notes in the log and the to-do list for tomorrow.
Today ... I became an Owner-Builder-Maintainer of a wonderful aircraft, that Martha and I built from parts ... and discovered again that I am a pilot, and in this case a bit of a test pilot.
The key indicators:
1710 hours over 1 year and 357 days.
Slow build kit.
With 15 weeks off waiting for kit parts to arrive, that figures to about 18 hours a week. AND, with a huge assist from Martha ... she was never around for the boring dimpling and deburing, but she bucked 70% of the rivets. Couldn't have done it without her.
AerosportPower new 0-320 D1a, with carb.
Catto 3 blade prop
Dynon EFIS and EMS from Tony at SafeAirOne
AvMap IV GPS
Garmin TXP and ICOM radio
EXP solid state circuitboard and annunciator panel from Vans
The FIRST dual exhaust from Larry Vetterman (like the RV10 dual, but designed for the RV9a)
Strobes, LED nav lights and taxi lights from Bill Von Dane at Creative Air
Ipod and GPS docks from Mike Schipper at AirGizmos
Fibergalss mentoring from Leighton Mangles
AND ... with GREAT help from Andy Karmy and Mike Schipper with positive thoughts, answers, encouragement and ideas.
All in All ... just over 70k invested, with paint scheduled for late this fall.
... What a blast ...
(Wait a minute ... that 3x "what a blast"s in one post! Oops!)
Regards
Tom Sampson
N728MT
Flying ... 1.8 hours.
I flew 728MT for the first time tonight!
Holly Smokes ... what a blast!
BUT ... To get ready to do that ... We had the airworthiness certification done Tuesday by DAR Frank Sneed, and EAA Tech Advisor Mike Robertson did the initial 1.2 hour test flight Wednesday to check flight characteristics.
We had VERY high oil temps (it turns out that I had selected the wrong temp probe choice in the Dynon ... changed that, and we are back to more normal new engine run-in temps). Had a heavy left wing. Martha and I re-adjusted the flap "up travel position" this afternoon. We also may not be developing full RPMs, so we'll chase an idea or two on that ... is it the real RPM, or is the Dynon set to the right calibration? (read: user inputs are probably wrong ... we'll see).
So ... after the final gut check, I went out for gas to equalize the wings, and then taxied for the run up and take off.
Right at 8pm PDT, density altitude was 2300, and I was off the ground in about 600 feet. Climbout was easy at 100 at somewhere over 1000 fpm. I have to admit to being nervous during the taxi over, but once on the centerline and full throttle I was alert but relaxed ... SO my many THANKS to Mike Seager for his thorough drilling during my transition training 2 weeks ago ... I knew what to expect and was confortable in the process.
Not a long flight as it was late and after a full work day ... and HOT in McMinneville Oregon to boot. BUT ... what a blast. Tango performed as expected, solid, stable, good throttle responses, little rudder required in turns. WOW ... I entered the pattern as the sun was setting, stable at 90, set flaps half on downwind at 85, full flaps just turning base at 80, down final at 75, and 65 over the numbers ... just like Mike taught me ... and the result (even with a 9 kt 20 degree x-wind) was the best RV landing I had ever made (obviously) ... and it was prototypical RV technique ... mains first and full aft stick holding off the nose gear ... AND I made the first taxiway on 04. Double WOW.
Taxi back, shut down, take stock, and make the notes in the log and the to-do list for tomorrow.
Today ... I became an Owner-Builder-Maintainer of a wonderful aircraft, that Martha and I built from parts ... and discovered again that I am a pilot, and in this case a bit of a test pilot.
The key indicators:
1710 hours over 1 year and 357 days.
Slow build kit.
With 15 weeks off waiting for kit parts to arrive, that figures to about 18 hours a week. AND, with a huge assist from Martha ... she was never around for the boring dimpling and deburing, but she bucked 70% of the rivets. Couldn't have done it without her.
AerosportPower new 0-320 D1a, with carb.
Catto 3 blade prop
Dynon EFIS and EMS from Tony at SafeAirOne
AvMap IV GPS
Garmin TXP and ICOM radio
EXP solid state circuitboard and annunciator panel from Vans
The FIRST dual exhaust from Larry Vetterman (like the RV10 dual, but designed for the RV9a)
Strobes, LED nav lights and taxi lights from Bill Von Dane at Creative Air
Ipod and GPS docks from Mike Schipper at AirGizmos
Fibergalss mentoring from Leighton Mangles
AND ... with GREAT help from Andy Karmy and Mike Schipper with positive thoughts, answers, encouragement and ideas.
All in All ... just over 70k invested, with paint scheduled for late this fall.
... What a blast ...
(Wait a minute ... that 3x "what a blast"s in one post! Oops!)
Regards
Tom Sampson
N728MT
Flying ... 1.8 hours.
