Well folks, you know how building can take a toll on your flying time and keeping legal can for instrument flying can be a bit trying. Especially when you are at the end of the build and doing the 40 hour fly off time. I was behind on approaches, called the instructor and went up for IPC.
My instructor has never been in a RV, much less a homebuilt before, but he decided he would brave a homebuilt for the first time since he thought mine looked like I had really taken the effort to do it "right".
First impression - Nice panel, well equiped for instrument flight. "I would like to have this panel". Not a bad start.
Second impression - Whoa - this thing has some power (ground roll). Wheels up and 1500 feet per minute climb.
Third impression - Turn left to 360. "Hey...easy on the turn..." Now it comes time....Ok your plane....."Uh, this thing is so responsive...I like it"
4th Impression (and my favorite).....I'm on the ILS inbound from the IAF and I hear "Slow this thing down"......CAN YOU SAY SWEET.....He was amazed at how fast it moves with low power settings. After I showed him how it does slow down, his comfort level rose rapidly. He found out that 120 knots is very stable and a comfortable speed when setting up the approach.
After we landed and pulled up to the hanger, HE was the one with the RV grin. He never expected a homebuilt to fly like an RV did. He almost felt guilty for instruction time, signed my log book with a smile and asked me to call him anytime I just wanted someone to ride along with me. He was ready to go back up and get a chance to really get a hold of the stick!!!
In his own words..."I never expected anything like this from a homebuilt....this flies as good as it looks".
HOOK, LINE, and SINKER
My instructor has never been in a RV, much less a homebuilt before, but he decided he would brave a homebuilt for the first time since he thought mine looked like I had really taken the effort to do it "right".
First impression - Nice panel, well equiped for instrument flight. "I would like to have this panel". Not a bad start.
Second impression - Whoa - this thing has some power (ground roll). Wheels up and 1500 feet per minute climb.
Third impression - Turn left to 360. "Hey...easy on the turn..." Now it comes time....Ok your plane....."Uh, this thing is so responsive...I like it"
4th Impression (and my favorite).....I'm on the ILS inbound from the IAF and I hear "Slow this thing down"......CAN YOU SAY SWEET.....He was amazed at how fast it moves with low power settings. After I showed him how it does slow down, his comfort level rose rapidly. He found out that 120 knots is very stable and a comfortable speed when setting up the approach.
After we landed and pulled up to the hanger, HE was the one with the RV grin. He never expected a homebuilt to fly like an RV did. He almost felt guilty for instruction time, signed my log book with a smile and asked me to call him anytime I just wanted someone to ride along with me. He was ready to go back up and get a chance to really get a hold of the stick!!!
In his own words..."I never expected anything like this from a homebuilt....this flies as good as it looks".
HOOK, LINE, and SINKER