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First Flight

wirejock

wirejock

Well Known Member
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Long time. Very slow builder. 12 years.
Lucy fledged today. Wow! She flew exactly as I dreamed.
Tiny bit of heavy left wing but nothing worthy of Phase one adjustment. First flight was just a buzz around the pattern to a full stop. Pulled the cowl. Performed a thorough check with multiple eyes looking for anything. Second flight was a solid hour above the pattern wide open. Climb temps brushed 400 but settled down to 370ish in cruise. Very pleased.
 
Congrats Larry, your blog and build articles have been really helpful for me and I'm sure others too.
Really happy for you.
I'm going to go home and pound some rivets, thanks for the inspiration.
 
That's great! It's a great feeling to fly something you built with your own hands (and have it be uneventful).
 
Congratulations Larry !!! I can't think of anyone more deserving of this milestone than you.
Your "gotcha" thread for RV7 builders has been indispensable. Your articles in Kitplanes and contribution to this community have been outstanding.
Wish for you a safe and thorough Phase 1.
All the best... Enjoy your hard work.
A
 
wirejock said:
Long time. Very slow builder. 12 years.
Lucy fledged today. Wow! She flew exactly as I dreamed.
Tiny bit of heavy left wing but nothing worthy of Phase one adjustment. First flight was just a buzz around the pattern to a full stop. Pulled the cowl. Performed a thorough check with multiple eyes looking for anything. Second flight was a solid hour above the pattern wide open. Climb temps brushed 400 but settled down to 370ish in cruise. Very pleased.
Click to expand...
Awesome!!! (When can I go for a ride?)
 
12 years??? You're an over-achiever by my standards - it took me 27 years to get mine flying. :D

Congraulations. You're going to have soooo much fun ahead.

I hope you enjoy working your way through the test phase. On the aircraft I've done I've found it to be the most exacting and rewarding time ever spent airborne.
 
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Larry, thats awesome. Don't sweat the heavy wing if it's indeed a "tiny bit." I went through the same thing. It's likely just the result of you sitting on the left side with an otherwise well balanced airplane.

They're surprisingly sensitive to a lateral imbalance. Much more so than any certified airplane I've ever flown. burn an hour or so out of the left side and if it goes away. If not, then you might have something worth adjusting.

Congratulations again. Really happy for you.
 
12 years! Nah! I thought 20 was a long time, until planenuts and a few others came along. Anyway, how long it took is way less important than the fact it is flying now. 👍

Have fun. (Secret hint: it’s all fun!)
 
wirejock said:
Long time. Very slow builder. 12 years.
Lucy fledged today. Wow! She flew exactly as I dreamed.
Tiny bit of heavy left wing but nothing worthy of Phase one adjustment. First flight was just a buzz around the pattern to a full stop. Pulled the cowl. Performed a thorough check with multiple eyes looking for anything. Second flight was a solid hour above the pattern wide open. Climb temps brushed 400 but settled down to 370ish in cruise. Very pleased.
Click to expand...
Wirejock,
Way to go.
Congratulations to you and your perseverance.
Daddyman58
 
Congrats Larry! Been a long time coming and glad your finally there man!!! You will always remember the build but you will enjoy the plane more than ever before! Now let's get some pics and videos posted! haha
 
What a nice piece of news to get at the start of my day. Larry many congratulations and wishing you an uneventful and rewarding phase 1

Welcome to the show 😎
 
Nice job! The hard work pays off. Im visualizing you with a big smile on you face, and those Colorado mountain in the background.
 
wirejock said:
Long time. Very slow builder. 12 years.
Lucy fledged today. Wow! She flew exactly as I dreamed
Click to expand...
I'll add my congratulations to the list! I'm building the same airplane as Larry and this gives me added incentive. Thanks also for being there and fielding my noob questions too.
 
wirejock said:
Long time. Very slow builder. 12 years.
Lucy fledged today. Wow! She flew exactly as I dreamed.
Tiny bit of heavy left wing but nothing worthy of Phase one adjustment. First flight was just a buzz around the pattern to a full stop. Pulled the cowl. Performed a thorough check with multiple eyes looking for anything. Second flight was a solid hour above the pattern wide open. Climb temps brushed 400 but settled down to 370ish in cruise. Very pleased.
Click to expand...
Congrats Larry! Now I have to see the finished bird!
 
Congrats Larry. Let me know if you need anything. I’m only about 2 tenths away on the Hobbs meter. I was in Loveland this morning, as a matter of fact. I’ve got Intercomp scales and a prop balancer if you need them.
 
RWoodard said:
Congrats Larry. Let me know if you need anything. I’m only about 2 tenths away on the Hobbs meter. I was in Loveland this morning, as a matter of fact. I’ve got Intercomp scales and a prop balancer if you need them.
Click to expand...
Awesome thanks. I probably should dynamic prop balance, but maybe after break in.
I did three w&b. One a total cluster. I had no idea what I was doing and rolled onto the scales. The weight was awesome, but totally wrong. One with Scott's racing scales and one with my postal scales. Less than 1 lb difference. Final was an average of the last two.
 
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