flyboykelly
Well Known Member
I am happy to announce that the RV-8R has flown for the first time! She was test flown by my father, Mike Kelly at 8:00 am EST. test conditions 45 F, clear skies, calm winds. Chase plane was a 160 Hp RV-9.
She flew straight and true, and did two circuits over the airport to a landing. Engine and oil temps remained low. The propeller from GT performed flawlessly and cycled to maintain 3300 engine rpm. Top speed achieved was 130 knots. At one point the chase plane said he was at full throttle and couldn't catch up. These are all very preliminary numbers and will be verified with more test flying. But for now I can say that 10 years of painstaking effort have come to fruition.
Time to un cowl and inspect. A huge thanks to everyone who made today possible!
Video is posted below.
http://youtu.be/1JdpyV60IlQ
She flew straight and true, and did two circuits over the airport to a landing. Engine and oil temps remained low. The propeller from GT performed flawlessly and cycled to maintain 3300 engine rpm. Top speed achieved was 130 knots. At one point the chase plane said he was at full throttle and couldn't catch up. These are all very preliminary numbers and will be verified with more test flying. But for now I can say that 10 years of painstaking effort have come to fruition.
Time to un cowl and inspect. A huge thanks to everyone who made today possible!
Video is posted below.
http://youtu.be/1JdpyV60IlQ