Now that I have enough time in N908BL to be completely comfortable, I am starting to get some hard numbers. Thought I'd share.
I just added the main gear to fuse fairings. Prior to adding them, I had 11.7:1 glide ratio at about 79-80 mph. Today I took her up to 8000 DA and saw an honest 185 mph per the three-leg GPS/spreadsheet method. 2650 rpm @ 22.4". Wind was only 4 and I believe these runs were about as accurate as I can do. Obviously Van's is conservative and I am happy! May re-try the glide to see if the fairings helped.
Still getting the bugs worked out. Trio alt hold isn't working right--it's going back as soon as we get a bad flying day so I can pull it. They are super about it. The Trio EZ-Pilot took a little calibrating, but it is doing great.
Standard landings (solo of course) are easiest at 65 IAS and short field works well at 59, although flair is short and to the point. LOVE the combination of stability and responsiveness. Can't imagine anything easier to fly, and fly well. I do have my idle set way low (around 480-500) and never pull all the way back on the ground. It does really seem to help with final as the windmilling prop is actually absorbing some hp. O-320D1A with Catto 3-blade that was made with E-mag in mind. TO rpm is 2190 which should increase when I swap out the mag. Will do before-and-after on climb/cruise/etc.
Question for those with a carb temp gage: Do you see carb temps above ambient? I may be getting some leakage as my carb temp is usually about 20 degrees warmer than OAT. It could just be the position of the sensor I suppose. Also, #4 seems to be the richest cylinder (it is carbureted) at full throttle. Is this normal? Backing off to about 65% I see very even EGT's.
If you are still building, keep pounding those rivets. You are building one sweet plane! Can't wait until the next time she wants to take me for a ride.
Bob Kelly
I just added the main gear to fuse fairings. Prior to adding them, I had 11.7:1 glide ratio at about 79-80 mph. Today I took her up to 8000 DA and saw an honest 185 mph per the three-leg GPS/spreadsheet method. 2650 rpm @ 22.4". Wind was only 4 and I believe these runs were about as accurate as I can do. Obviously Van's is conservative and I am happy! May re-try the glide to see if the fairings helped.
Still getting the bugs worked out. Trio alt hold isn't working right--it's going back as soon as we get a bad flying day so I can pull it. They are super about it. The Trio EZ-Pilot took a little calibrating, but it is doing great.
Standard landings (solo of course) are easiest at 65 IAS and short field works well at 59, although flair is short and to the point. LOVE the combination of stability and responsiveness. Can't imagine anything easier to fly, and fly well. I do have my idle set way low (around 480-500) and never pull all the way back on the ground. It does really seem to help with final as the windmilling prop is actually absorbing some hp. O-320D1A with Catto 3-blade that was made with E-mag in mind. TO rpm is 2190 which should increase when I swap out the mag. Will do before-and-after on climb/cruise/etc.
Question for those with a carb temp gage: Do you see carb temps above ambient? I may be getting some leakage as my carb temp is usually about 20 degrees warmer than OAT. It could just be the position of the sensor I suppose. Also, #4 seems to be the richest cylinder (it is carbureted) at full throttle. Is this normal? Backing off to about 65% I see very even EGT's.
If you are still building, keep pounding those rivets. You are building one sweet plane! Can't wait until the next time she wants to take me for a ride.
Bob Kelly
