---------------------------------------------------------- Lightning-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 03/23/07: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:59 PM - 2.5 in a 727! (Brian Whittingham) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:59:21 PM PST US From: "Brian Whittingham" Subject: Lightning-List: 2.5 in a 727! Hello everybody, Today I got my 2.5 hours in November 727 Romeo Bravo. This is Rick Bowen's plane. It has been about 6 months since my last solo flight in a Lightning. There's still some things to be worked out, but first impressions are: I want one! Right out of the box with a total of 2.5 hours on the airframe this morning the plane flew almost perfect hands off. After I got back down a local doctor in the terminal building asked, "what was that thing? it was climbing like a rocket." (I prefer homesick angel even as cliche as it is) Indeed it was. Even with the higher CHT's from the break in oil I was getting a sustained 1500 fpm! Once at altitude and the cylinder heads cooled I tried another climb while watching temps and did about 30 seconds or so sustained at 3000+ fpm!! I took the plane out to 150 knots TAS going downhill. I did steep turns of up to about 80 degrees. I eased down for a low approach only before my first landing to get a feel for the plane at low speeds with flaps out and do a trial pattern. Verdict comes back = too high approach + 5 knots on speed. Next time around I came in again a little too high, but mainly the +5 put me about 1500' down the runway. (I aim for the 1000 footers with a low time plane) I had to take a break. At 81 degrees out you wouldn't think I'd freeze. Well, the vents aren't in the plane yet, and the wind blowing in the eyelets at 60 degrees I was shaking! So we taped up the intakes. At altitude it was perfect. On the ground it was hot! If you all are wondering how an LSA compliant Lightning flies, well it's pretty darn good. I was getting 118knots at the moment for a Vh speed. I didn't do any stalls today as it was gusty out and it's been a while. I did get down to approximately 5 knots above and the low speed handling is pretty exceptional. The plane responded very well and didn't mush at all. The landings were easily accomplished and my final two touch and goes were squeekers. Oh, and if anybody wants to know if it's just a fair weather flyer, well I made my final landing with a 60 degree crosswind. Landing 18, winds 240 @ 10, gusting 17. Not a problem, still had plenty of rudder left. Head torque and valve adjustment done today. I'm going to try to get down to the airport in the morning to go to the SYI "fly in". Of course you have to fly in! More to come in due time. Brian W. _________________________________________________________________ i'm making a difference.Make every IM count for the cause of your choice. Join Now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message lightning-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Lightning-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/lightning-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/lightning-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.