N8RV
Well Known Member
I know that I posted the news on a separate thread last month, but after 13 years of building, I think I deserve another thread.
Yesterday -- one month after Danny "Sky" King flew N8RV ("Smokey") for its maiden voyage -- I backtaxied and did a runup ... latched the canopy and lined up with the runway ...
That's when the years of work (and the years of NO work!) all slapped me upside the head. Did I really build this airplane with the intention of actually FLYING it? What was I thinking ...?
I had spent the last month getting my medical, getting current again (hadn't flown anything as PIC since '98), getting my BFR and tailwheel endorsement, and generally seeing if I still liked flying. Now was the payoff for those gazillion rivets smashed, tens of thousands of dollars spent and countless hours spent wondering if I really had what it takes to build an airplane. I either had to fly it or taxi back to the hangar and find Smokey a new owner.
I slowly fed in the throttle and felt the plane move smoothly forward. Then faster as I could feel the tail come up a bit. By the time I had the throttle at MIL POWER, we had left the ground. Then it occurred to me as I glanced at the Dynon EMS to make sure that nothing was amiss, that I still had more throttle! I shoved it into AFTERBURNER and was literally pushed back into the seat! WOO-HOOOOO!!
I wish I could give a more detailed description of that first flight, but most of it was washed away by adrenaline. I remember looking seriously at both Dynon units (doing my best Kevin Horton impersonation) and expecting to see everything out of whack and smell smoke emanating from the panel (I'm a bit of a pessimist by nature, sorry). However, the CHTs and EGTs were all normal, oil pressure and temp were OK and there apparently wasn't anything to worry about.
So, I just flew the plane. I leveled off at about 3500' and let the speed build. I turned left. OK, so I didn't exactly turn ... I sorta yanked it a bit. It felt GOOD. Leveled off again and did another crisp turn. I think I was smiling.
I looked at my watch. My plan for this first flight was to stay up for about an hour (The two previous flights were about 30 minutes each), and to run through my test card. It seemed like I'd been flying and studying the panel for about 20 minutes (it had only been 5). That's when things began to blur for me. My test card didn't outline a whole bunch of stuff to do, so it didn't take very long. I just flew a racetrack pattern to stay near the airport and away from nearby controlled airspace. Around and around and around ...
Lucky for me, the TruTrak ADI Pilot II worked flawlessly. It was nice to be able to set the altitude hold and not worry about inadvertently flying into the solid cloud cover that was right above my head. Of course, because I was noticing every little noise and was pumped on adrenaline, I didn't accomplish much. I think I'll spell things out a little more completely on my next test card ...
I made a nice, stabilized approach into a 3,000' grass strip, right into the prevailing wind. Just about touched down, then whipped the ponies and went around. Felt good to me. Did it again, planned to go around again, but there just didn't seem to be any reason this time. I landed. I didn't groundloop. I didn't nose over. I just rolled out and taxied to my hangar.
And, for somebody who doesn't smile naturally very often, I grinned. Laughed, actually ... I think I was glad to just be alive.
Again, my deepest thanks to so many great friends for help and inspiration. You know who you are.
Hmmm ... Looks pretty nice outside today. Might have to go flying ...
Yesterday -- one month after Danny "Sky" King flew N8RV ("Smokey") for its maiden voyage -- I backtaxied and did a runup ... latched the canopy and lined up with the runway ...
That's when the years of work (and the years of NO work!) all slapped me upside the head. Did I really build this airplane with the intention of actually FLYING it? What was I thinking ...?
I had spent the last month getting my medical, getting current again (hadn't flown anything as PIC since '98), getting my BFR and tailwheel endorsement, and generally seeing if I still liked flying. Now was the payoff for those gazillion rivets smashed, tens of thousands of dollars spent and countless hours spent wondering if I really had what it takes to build an airplane. I either had to fly it or taxi back to the hangar and find Smokey a new owner.
I slowly fed in the throttle and felt the plane move smoothly forward. Then faster as I could feel the tail come up a bit. By the time I had the throttle at MIL POWER, we had left the ground. Then it occurred to me as I glanced at the Dynon EMS to make sure that nothing was amiss, that I still had more throttle! I shoved it into AFTERBURNER and was literally pushed back into the seat! WOO-HOOOOO!!
I wish I could give a more detailed description of that first flight, but most of it was washed away by adrenaline. I remember looking seriously at both Dynon units (doing my best Kevin Horton impersonation) and expecting to see everything out of whack and smell smoke emanating from the panel (I'm a bit of a pessimist by nature, sorry). However, the CHTs and EGTs were all normal, oil pressure and temp were OK and there apparently wasn't anything to worry about.
So, I just flew the plane. I leveled off at about 3500' and let the speed build. I turned left. OK, so I didn't exactly turn ... I sorta yanked it a bit. It felt GOOD. Leveled off again and did another crisp turn. I think I was smiling.
I looked at my watch. My plan for this first flight was to stay up for about an hour (The two previous flights were about 30 minutes each), and to run through my test card. It seemed like I'd been flying and studying the panel for about 20 minutes (it had only been 5). That's when things began to blur for me. My test card didn't outline a whole bunch of stuff to do, so it didn't take very long. I just flew a racetrack pattern to stay near the airport and away from nearby controlled airspace. Around and around and around ...
Lucky for me, the TruTrak ADI Pilot II worked flawlessly. It was nice to be able to set the altitude hold and not worry about inadvertently flying into the solid cloud cover that was right above my head. Of course, because I was noticing every little noise and was pumped on adrenaline, I didn't accomplish much. I think I'll spell things out a little more completely on my next test card ...
I made a nice, stabilized approach into a 3,000' grass strip, right into the prevailing wind. Just about touched down, then whipped the ponies and went around. Felt good to me. Did it again, planned to go around again, but there just didn't seem to be any reason this time. I landed. I didn't groundloop. I didn't nose over. I just rolled out and taxied to my hangar.
And, for somebody who doesn't smile naturally very often, I grinned. Laughed, actually ... I think I was glad to just be alive.
Again, my deepest thanks to so many great friends for help and inspiration. You know who you are.
Hmmm ... Looks pretty nice outside today. Might have to go flying ...