Test pilot or Not

[N787R]

Wanted to get an idea how many of you flew the first flight yourself and how many used a test pilot.

B

[dan]

Did my own.

As a Flight Advisor I try to help pilots evaluate and prepare themselves for the JOB of Phase One. There's nothing wrong with handing the keys over to somebody who has "been there done that," but my philosophy is that you DESERVE to take part in the incredible experience of the first flight...firsthand. And imho, that means getting YOU ready for the task. You just absolutely have to be in the right mindframe to do the job. It's not a joyride...it's focussed & needs to be brutally objective. My 2 cents -- do whatever it takes to get your mind and your skills in that place, so you can make your own first flight.

If you don't feel it's the best option, then don't push it!! No pressure!! Enlist the help of somebody you trust.

There's no right or wrong answer here.

[kentb]

I first got 3 hours of transition training to make sure that the type of plane would not surprise me.
I had a friend to fly chase plane and my flight advisor also played flight engineer with guidance over the radio. All I needed to do was fly the plane and talk on the radio. My engineer recorded information and computed numbers for me.
The chase plane synced up with my plane to compare alt and speed numbers.

Nothing wrong with letting someone else do this flight if you aren't quite up to it.

The way that I looked at it, I would have to many chances to be the test pilot in a new plane. So I spent the effort to make sure that I was up to the task and then went and had the time of my life.

Kent

[JonJay]

I agree with Dan, you owe it to yourself to take that flight! However, I also agree that it is a personal decision and you have to be prepared. I had a lot of tailwheel time but still got an hour of transition training from Mike Seager a month before I took the flight. After that hour, he signed my log book and told me to go fly my airplane. I did.
As suggested, have an experienced chase plane pilot, or two, and have them walk you through everything. Just fly and try to enjoy the experience while they walk you through the check lists and procedures.
Of all of the experiences that was one that I would never trade and once it is done, that chance is lost forever. Man, I was a ball of nerves though, so not really sure I would call it fun, until it was over.
Nobody was going to fly my airplane except me, even if it killed me!
As one of my RV8 neighbors said before he flew the first flight "this could be one of the greatest days of my life, or the worst". It was one of the greatest for him, and was for me too.

[mannanj]

Did my own too, but "Sharpie" is totally correct in what it takes.

You have to be first of all, a competent pilot then, completely current in an RV. Not that they are at all hard to fly and land, it's that they're probably a lot different than what you're used to flying.

Get with a good RV check pilot and get current and signed off.

If you have ANY HESITATION AT ALL, there is no shame in having a competent test pilot make your first flights. It shows me that you have enough common sense not to let false bravado put you in a scary situation or worse yet, bend your freshly minted RV.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by JonJay

As suggested, have an experienced chase plane pilot, or two, and have them walk you through everything.

AS A FLIGHT ADVISOR,
I never recommend more than one chase plane. And that chase pilot MUST be experienced and have a good relationship with the test pilot. The test pilot must trust the chase pilot completely and should not need to know where he is. It's the job of the chase pilot to 1/Stay out of the way and 2/Check out the test plane. It's the job of the test pilot to test the plane and not be concerned about anything else.

[BillC]

Having NOT flown for the last 2yrs of the 3.5 year building, I was very rusty. Received ~9.5 hours of transition training in a 180hp 7A with CFI/EAA flight advisor. The last 1.5 hours was on the same day just prior to my first flight. Actual first flight was anticlimatic at best/worst. All I did differently in my 9A from the 7A was to convert the approach/landing speed from 80kts in 7A to 80mph in 9A and the landing was almost identical. Yes I was a little unsure if I wanted to make first flight myself but after a few hours transition that went away. As Dan said, YOU need to decide if your ready or not. A flight advisor will help with that decission.

[JonJay]

Originally Posted by Mel

AS A FLIGHT ADVISOR,
I never recommend more than one chase plane. And that chase pilot MUST be experienced and have a good relationship with the test pilot. The test pilot must trust the chase pilot completely and should not need to know where he is. It's the job of the chase pilot to 1/Stay out of the way and 2/Check out the test plane. It's the job of the test pilot to test the plane and not be concerned about anything else.

Sound advice. Poorly written by me. I was recommending one plane, two pilots. My one chase plain had two good pilots. One flying, one reading off the check lists

[pierre smith]

It appears that most of the guys that come down here for 3-5 hours of Transition training do their own first flights with a few exceptions. By the third hour, most of the guys have settled down and have a good feel for the sensitive controls and slippery design....a little longer to slow down than most GA airplanes.

Regards,

[brianwallis]

I send all the people I know down to Pierre and let him do the transition training..... I've seen Kahuna do a bunch of test flights... I'm all about the second set of eyes... My suggestion... if it's a nosedragger... and you feel comfortable, and the transition trainer says you are ready... sure... if it's a tail dragger... why not let an experienced tailwheel pilot that does those regularly do it... We underestimate mother nature... and she can do some strange things.... so I let "the breadmaker make the bread" if you know what I mean....

Best
Brian