MikeyDale
Well Known Member
I finally made my first flight in my RV-7 Friday.
I have logged 9 hours since. The flight went well other than me being really nervous! I realized later, I had not flown a plane solo in 2.5 years. Two squawks, CHT on #1 cylinder hit 400* before I got 800' in the air. I am working on getting CHT's more manageable now. The second thing rattled me the most, I added 20 deg of flaps and the plane yaw'd hard to the left and my left rudder pedal came up against my left foot! Needless to say I had to make the first landing with no flaps. I later found out the left rudder cable was caught under the nut on the flap control rod.
I must have pulled my rudder pedals back when I put my carpet back in after the inspection and created slack that sagged down and caught the nut. I should have operated my flaps before take off and I would have caught it! I got three landings out of the first flight (see video below) but I'm doing much better now and I am really falling in love with this airplane! I want to thank VAF and all the people that has helped me! I really believe it couldn't have been done without VAF!
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqgxhWH3pqA
I have logged 9 hours since. The flight went well other than me being really nervous! I realized later, I had not flown a plane solo in 2.5 years. Two squawks, CHT on #1 cylinder hit 400* before I got 800' in the air. I am working on getting CHT's more manageable now. The second thing rattled me the most, I added 20 deg of flaps and the plane yaw'd hard to the left and my left rudder pedal came up against my left foot! Needless to say I had to make the first landing with no flaps. I later found out the left rudder cable was caught under the nut on the flap control rod.
I must have pulled my rudder pedals back when I put my carpet back in after the inspection and created slack that sagged down and caught the nut. I should have operated my flaps before take off and I would have caught it! I got three landings out of the first flight (see video below) but I'm doing much better now and I am really falling in love with this airplane! I want to thank VAF and all the people that has helped me! I really believe it couldn't have been done without VAF!
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqgxhWH3pqA