Mikeyb
Well Known Member
I’m done with my phase 1 testing. I flew roughly 40 flights two or three times a week following the Vans test flight guidelines.
The engine performed flawlessly. I had one oil leak at the dipstick tube at first but not a drop of oil leaked after. My baffles probably get a C by DanH standards but it doesn’t get hot. At least in the conditions I fly it. The GAMI fuel flow test shows all the EGT’s peaking within .1 GPM as delivered. The oil consumption went from 5 hrs/qt to maybe 20 hrs/qt in the first 20 hours.
The Hartzell composite prop is amazing. It’s very smooth. I don’t have a comparison but it will accelerate the airplane on the takeoff roll from 0-60 mph IAS in just over 4 seconds. The engine braking with the prop full RPM is impressive. At 88 mph, engine at idle and no flaps the decent rate goes from 600 fpm with coarse pitch to 1100 fpm fine pitch.
The biggest problem I had was a fuel tank that was hermetic before it flew that developed a leak at the aft baffle that required R&R after 3 hours of flight. The flare fitting on one wheel cylinder loosened and was dripping for some time before I found it. Sort of embarrassing. There was black goo on the bottom of the wheel pant I thought was from asphalt.
It’s just a blast to fly. I put a dot on the center of the windscreen level with my eye. I put that dot where I want it to go, adjust the throttle accordingly and it goes there. I think I learned more about airplanes doing the simple stability tests than anything else in the past 40 years.
Mike
The engine performed flawlessly. I had one oil leak at the dipstick tube at first but not a drop of oil leaked after. My baffles probably get a C by DanH standards but it doesn’t get hot. At least in the conditions I fly it. The GAMI fuel flow test shows all the EGT’s peaking within .1 GPM as delivered. The oil consumption went from 5 hrs/qt to maybe 20 hrs/qt in the first 20 hours.
The Hartzell composite prop is amazing. It’s very smooth. I don’t have a comparison but it will accelerate the airplane on the takeoff roll from 0-60 mph IAS in just over 4 seconds. The engine braking with the prop full RPM is impressive. At 88 mph, engine at idle and no flaps the decent rate goes from 600 fpm with coarse pitch to 1100 fpm fine pitch.
The biggest problem I had was a fuel tank that was hermetic before it flew that developed a leak at the aft baffle that required R&R after 3 hours of flight. The flare fitting on one wheel cylinder loosened and was dripping for some time before I found it. Sort of embarrassing. There was black goo on the bottom of the wheel pant I thought was from asphalt.
It’s just a blast to fly. I put a dot on the center of the windscreen level with my eye. I put that dot where I want it to go, adjust the throttle accordingly and it goes there. I think I learned more about airplanes doing the simple stability tests than anything else in the past 40 years.
Mike
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