First solo flight

[snopercod]

Originally Posted by Flying Canuck

The most surreal part of the flight tonight is that I didn't need to schedule anything and I didn't need anyone's permission.

I shudder when I think of the years when I had to rent. Congratulations Claude!

[Flying Canuck]

Originally Posted by Jim Frisbie

Do you have AOA?

I fly my approaches much slower than you describe
With AOA my app speed is about 60kts with touch down about 54kts

I do have AOA, and it's calibrated. I may well bring my speeds down once I get more comfortable with it. The only stalls done so far were for the AOA calibration and were done power on and fully loaded, so the stall happened at 55kts. I know the stall speed will be much lower in landing configuration, once I've found that number I'll see what a lower approach and landing speed feels like. For now, the faster speeds are working and it keeps the nerves about dropping it on in check. I have noticed though that when I'm doing a touch and go, it wants to jump off the runway pretty much as soon as I start to advance the throttle. I'm sure that would ease up if I'm not doing lift off speeds on rollout. My landing distances aren't great at these speeds, but since the first exit on the primary runway at my home airport is about 5000' from the threshold, landing short is a nuisance. The other advantage to the higher speeds, or perhaps the perceived high performance, the flight service station here views me as a high performance aircraft and treats me quite well because of it.

[Steve Melton]

my stall speeds for reference, gross weight:

stall clean = 51 kts
stall flaps = 43 kts

they are lower at light weight.

[Flying Canuck]

Your flaps stall speed is exactly what Van's lists. I wonder if that was intended to be a landing configuration number. My 55kt experience doesn't look to be too out of line consider that was clean, heavy and power on. I'll definitely be finding my numbers on my next flight.

Thanks for sharing those Steve.

[Shark]

Originally Posted by Flying Canuck

Your flaps stall speed is exactly what Van's lists. I wonder if that was intended to be a landing configuration number. My 55kt experience doesn't look to be too out of line consider that was clean, heavy and power on. I'll definitely be finding my numbers on my next flight.

Thanks for sharing those Steve.

Not sure how you all feel but it is very nice to have very little challenge when landing. And yes stall speeds are also same as Vans advertises. Congrats Bud

[Don Patrick]

Congrats Claude!

Enjoy your ride!


Don

[Paul from Flyleds]

Originally Posted by Flying Canuck

All of these picture requests are great, but I'll need to install that flux capacitor before I can get the ones I didn't take. Maybe I should add "take some pictures" to my checklists.

Hmmm, perhaps there's a new DIY kit for me to sell there...!

Congratulations Claude!

[Flying Canuck]

Originally Posted by Paul from Flyleds

Hmmm, perhaps there's a new DIY kit for me to sell there...!

Congratulations Claude!

Great idea Paul! Your led lights would probably save a chunk of a jigawatt and let you make it small enough for panel mounting.

Your light kit worked out great in my plane - I need to check my left strobe as it's not working, but that's likely a wire that's come loose. Come to think of it, I owe you a picture don't I.