I passed the DAR on the 23rd. Got everything together, went to taxi, no radio. Arrg. Found that when I put the panel for the headsets back on I grounded a terminal, easy fix. Now I taxi to get some fuel, than to the runway. I do a quick run up check, close the canopy, flaps already up. I called the tower before going to the runway and told them I was on a first flight. At the runway the tower asked what I wanted to do, I told them, I wanted to stay in the pattern, right traffic with an option at this time. I was cleared for take off, I put in some power and entered the runway approach end for 21r. Centered and than slowely put in the power. Running good on center. I never looked at the ASI, just flew the airplane. When I felt it was going fast enough I pulled back on the stick, nose lifted and soon the whole aircraft(yup she is one now) left the runway. I kept an eye on the RPM's, I figured that was the most important, didn't want an over rev. Everything worked great. As I was in my upwind, I looked at the ASI for the first time 110kts. Wow really moving. I leveled out at 3500, by then I was already in a downwind possision, with the crosswind done pretty soon after take off. Tower was asking what I wanted to do. I responded with, I will now be staying at this altitude and orbiting over head. If anything happens, I will emediately land. I got an ok, but we need your transponder on for the class C which was at another 700ft overhead. I turn on the transponder. I kept the RPM's at 2500 for breakin. I only put the prop on a little, very sensitive, the arm only needed to move a little bit to make a difference. I put it at 25square for a bit and did get to about 170kts. Way faster than the kitfox, but, it flew the same, same feel in the stick. I flew for about 20 minutes and than things started to happen, the altenator came up on the D180 stating low voltage. Yup, I'm now at 9volts and dropping. I can't call tower the radio is dead. I decide to do some quick stuff now, so I slow her down to check the stall speed, buffit at 55. Ok I can land this now, in the down wind, turn base, nothing from the tower on lights, I'm coming in anyway, volts down to 8 now. I'm on final lower the flaps, looking good. This baby is flying just like the kitfox, way cool. I glance at the airspeed 70kts, right on. I look at the tower, no lights. I get closer the the numbers, I feel the plane start to settle, I start giving more throttle and I see 60kts on the ASI, woops. My behind is catching things, way cool, I get the airspeed back up, I'm now over the runway. I land like the kitfox, never look at the ASI again, I get down to the runway and say, I guess its time, I pull the power off, it settles on the runway without a bounce, a real good one, I lower the nose, it settles on the center line. I'm dissapointed that I had to land, but things are not right. I look at the tower again and see no lights. I continue to taxi off the runway and to the hangar. I go to the kitfox and radio the tower, there ok with everything and said have a nice day. I did.
What I found with the alternator is for some reason I put the field on 5 amps, what a bone head. I changed things and put 20amps in. I have to say, that RV was a sweethart to fly. I have to say, I didn't get any surprises. It flew just like my kitfox. Just FASTER. Landing, very predictable, take off very predictable. I'm going to love this airplane
My RV smile.
Oh, last night after I got the pink slip, I cried.
What I found with the alternator is for some reason I put the field on 5 amps, what a bone head. I changed things and put 20amps in. I have to say, that RV was a sweethart to fly. I have to say, I didn't get any surprises. It flew just like my kitfox. Just FASTER. Landing, very predictable, take off very predictable. I'm going to love this airplane
My RV smile. Oh, last night after I got the pink slip, I cried.
