Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 09:48 AM - Re: Almost there (Amber Wilson)
2. 05:20 PM - Re: Almost there (rickss)
3. 05:25 PM - Re: Almost there (N1BZRich@AOL.COM)
4. 05:35 PM - Re: Almost there (N1BZRich@aol.com)
5. 06:56 PM - Two year flight report on 31BZ - long read (N1BZRich@aol.com)
6. 07:35 PM - Re: Two year flight report on 31BZ - long read (Brian Whittingham)
7. 07:51 PM - Re: Almost there (Jim Langley)
8. 10:27 PM - Re: Two year flight report on 31BZ - long read (Peter and Jan Disher)
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Subject: | Re: Almost there |
Beautiful.=0A =0AJP Instruments =0AAmber Wilson =0AFAA STC Administrator
=0A=0AJPIAmber@yahoo.com =0A800-945-4574 X204=0A=0A=0A=0A----- Original Me
ssage ----=0AFrom: Jim Langley <pequeajim@gmail.com>=0ATo: lightning-list@m
atronics.com=0ASent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:07:31 PM=0ASubject: Lig
htning-List: Almost there=0A=0A=0AI just wanted to update you all to the fa
ct that I am in the home stretch. Thanks to Ryan and the Green Landings cr
ew for being patient with me being away for a little bit because of work co
mmitments. Things are rolling now. We are wiring the panel and engine and
putting the finishing touches on things like brakes, controls, and paintin
g the wings.=0AI included a pic of my fuse with a representation of the vin
yl number on the side. And the Lightning logo on the fin. (That is not the
color of the logo=85)=0A(funny how I ended up with orange huh?)=0AI guess
it=92s the Oriole fan in me=85=0ACheers=0AJim=0AN730AL=0Awww.jimslightning.
com=0A<<...>>=0A=0A=0A _______________________________________________
_____________________________________=0ALooking for last minute shopping de
newsearch/category.php?category=shopping
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Subject: | Re: Almost there |
Very nice, Jim...very nice, indeed!
-Rick
pequeajim wrote:
> I just wanted to update you all to the fact that I am in the home stretch. Thanks
to Ryan and the Green Landings crew for being patient with me being away
for a little bit because of work commitments. Things are rolling now. We are
wiring the panel and engine and putting the finishing touches on things like
brakes, controls, and painting the wings.
> I included a pic of my fuse with a representation of the vinyl number on the
side. And the Lightning logo on the fin. (That is not the color of the logo)
> (funny how I ended up with orange huh?)
> I guess its the Oriole fan in me
> Cheers
> Jim
> N730AL
> www.jimslightning.com (http://www.jimslightning.com/)
>
--------
Cherokee driver, but feeling the need for speed!
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=153413#153413
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Subject: | Re: Almost there |
**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
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Subject: | Re: Almost there |
Looking good Jim. Soon you will be "slipping the surely bonds". I hope to
see you at Sun-N-Fun and then Oshkosh.
Blue Skies,
Buz
**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
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Subject: | Two year flight report on 31BZ - long read |
All Lightning (and Esqual) listers,
Just to provide some possible discussion topics and perhaps get some
more message traffic flowing, I offer the following information after flying
N31BZ for exactly two years. I will cover some engine and some airframe
comments, since my Esqual has lots of Lightning mods installed.
I have been flying my highly modified Esqual LS (Lightning Stuff with
Jabiru 3300) for exactly two years now (finishing up the 2nd annual today) and
I have exactly 405 hours on the engine and airframe. In that 405 hours I have
had absolutely no problems with the engine and I run it hard, as many of you
know. Only standard maintenance has been required and accomplished. I
change oil and filter every 25 to 35 hours, replace the plugs at 100 hours
(heck, they are only around $2.00 each so why clean them), accomplish head torques
and valve adjustments on schedule, and replaced caps and rotors at 250 hours
(I think the book calls for that to be done at 200). Compressions this year
varied between 70 and 73 for all 6 cylinders - in fact two were 70, two were
72, and two were 73. Pete says that is right in the ball park for an engine
with between 300 to 500 hours. To say I am pleased with the engine would be
an understatement. All of my previous airplanes have been powered with
Continentals and Lycomings, but I must say this engine is just as reliable and
easy to work on as either of those. In fact the Jabiru 3300 kind of reminds me
of the 6 cylinder O-300 Continental the way it is designed and goes
together. By the way, I highly recommend the engine seminar at Jabiru USA in
Tennessee.
Now some airframe comments:
First off, I still don't have the best prop for the clean airframe that
is represented by my airplane and of course all Lightnings. I am currently
running a fixed pitch Sensenich 64ZK56 and I can still over speed the engine
at 5000 feet by something between 150 to 200 rpm above the max of 3300. At
5,000 feet I am showing something just over 185 mph tas at 3300 rpm with the
current prop. Since I live at sea level, I see just over 200 indicated down
the runway when holding the engine at 3300. Nick and I have discussed this
issue and run many test profiles with different props on 31BZ and on both the
prototype and demo Lightnings and we expect to have a better prop sometime
early next year - hopefully by Sun-N-Fun. I expect to have a slightly shorter
prop (62 inches) but go all the way up to 60 inches in pitch. Also, the blade
profile will be more simitar shaped. The goal is not primarily to up the top
speed, but instead to up the cruise speed at cruise rpm and lower the fuel
burn - great cruise speed with efficiency is really what we are looking for.
I have had no real airframe issues during the past two years. The only
thing I plan to change, when I get the time, will be to do some experiments
on the main gear legs to try to get rid of the sometime gear leg shimmy. I
may go the "broom stick" mod that the RV guys do, but before doing that I want
to try an easier fix by using a small "V" angle aluminum strip (say 1/8"
thick by 1/2" on the angles, by what ever length the gear leg is) that will be
clamped to the trailing edge of the gear leg. All I need is the time. I
already have the parts. This shimmy occurs on landing roll out on hard surface
as
you are slowing down through about 22 mph. It does not happen on grass.
Tire pressure definitely has an effect, with lower pressure being better. I
normally air my mains up to 25 PSI and then re-air them when they look low.
That low look seems to be about 15 to 18 PSI. I will let you all know the
results when I get the time to do the experiments.
Other than that, the only other thing to mention is that my trim bungees
needed to be tightened at about the 1&1/2 year point. They just lost some
of their elasticity so I replaced them instead of re-tying the loops to a
smaller size.
Oh yes, something to consider while you are building - or an after the
fact change. The NACA duct cockpit vents are very effective. In the summer
when you have them open you can actually pressurize the cockpit. I see the
canopy sides of the Esqual bow out slightly. So you need to think about some
way for the air to flow through the cockpit. I have added two 3" diameter
vents in the baggage bulkhead, but two are not enough. I will add two more when
I get the time.
As a side note, and just for grins, I offer the following information
and calculations: My Esqual easily cruises at 150 mph indicated at low to
medium altitude burning less than 5 gallons per hour. At altitude (8 to 10
thousand feet) on a long cross country I can expect to see 170 MPH TAS burning
about 5.8 gallons per hour. Therefore, 405 hours at a conservative average
speed of 150 mph equals 60,750 miles, or damn near 2.44 times around the world
at
the equator. Aren't you impressed? However, since it took me 2 years to
do that 60,750 miles, my average speed for 2.4 times around the world in two
years works out to a speedy 3.467 mph. Way slower than Earl's record run.
Blue Skies and a Merry Christmas to all,
Buz
**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
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Subject: | Two year flight report on 31BZ - long read |
Wow, 2 years already Buz? Seems like just yesterday that I was in the hang
ar conversating with you about why your Esqual did not look like the other
Esquals that I had seen/flown. I'd just have to echo the same kinds of thi
ngs that you said. As we all kind of knew back when I was flying the Light
ning, the prop is a limiting factor. It's fine and the plane performs as e
xpected, but a better prop would definately give a higher cruise or same cr
uise with a decreased fuel burn. The gear leg vibration issue is an easy f
ix and I have flown some of the kits that seem to have next to no vibration
without doing the broomstick fix. Indeed the cabin will pressurize on Esq
uals and Lightning's alike. I took Rick's airplane out to 200mph and as th
at speed increases, so does the pressure inside the cabin. Makes your eard
rums switch sides. Also, flying in Gregg's plane on the way out to Arizona
we had the canopy come unlatched on one side. (different kind of latch th
an stock, not as effective either!) Greg held the canopy down as much as p
ossible for about 25 minutes. You can physically see the canopy pull up an
d out when you increase speeds, and if you don't have the rubber seals on y
ou can start to see daylight.
I would recommend to any builders or buyers to get the aluminum spinner. T
hat thing is a work of art, just beautiful! Also the weight savings and ro
tational weights of the fixed pitch props over the ground adjustable, in my
opinion, make them superior. The only caveat is that the new blade design
needs to be finalized for that and then you'll get the rpms, power, and fu
el efficiency like you wouldn't believe. I belived that we managed a fligh
t from Shelbyville, TN to Jonesboro, AR (other side of Memphis airspace) in
about an hour 15 to 1.5 hours. It takes me 5 hours to drive it. It takes
a full tank of gas in my old car at about $40, and took about 8-9 gallons
in the Lightning, but the jetting was off when we went. Still, say $4/gall
on for fuel and we made out better than in my vehicle! Really missed being
in TN, especially this past fall time. Miss getting to fly the Lightning
and Jabiru aircraft. Brian W.
From: N1BZRich@aol.comDate: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:55:18 -0500Subject: Lightni
ng-List: Two year flight report on 31BZ - long readTo: lightning-list@matro
nics.com
All Lightning (and Esqual) listers,
Just to provide some possible discussion topics and perhaps get some mo
re message traffic flowing, I offer the following information after flying
N31BZ for exactly two years. I will cover some engine and some airframe co
mments, since my Esqual has lots of Lightning mods installed.
I have been flying my highly modified Esqual LS (Lightning Stuff with J
abiru 3300) for exactly two years now (finishing up the 2nd annual today) a
nd I have exactly 405 hours on the engine and airframe. In that 405 hours
I have had absolutely no problems with the engine and I run it hard, as man
y of you know. Only standard maintenance has been required and accomplishe
d. I change oil and filter every 25 to 35 hours, replace the plugs at 100
hours (heck, they are only around $2.00 each so why clean them), accomplish
head torques and valve adjustments on schedule, and replaced caps and roto
rs at 250 hours (I think the book calls for that to be done at 200). Compr
essions this year varied between 70 and 73 for all 6 cylinders - in fact tw
o were 70, two were 72, and two were 73. Pete says that is right in the ba
ll park for an engine with between 300 to 500 hours. To say I am pleased w
ith the engine would be an understatement. All of my previous airplanes ha
ve been powered with Continentals and Lycomings, but I must say this engine
is just as reliable and easy to work on as either of those. In fact the J
abiru 3300 kind of reminds me of the 6 cylinder O-300 Continental the way i
t is designed and goes together. By the way, I highly recommend the engine
seminar at Jabiru USA in Tennessee.
Now some airframe comments:
First off, I still don't have the best prop for the clean airframe that
is represented by my airplane and of course all Lightnings. I am currentl
y running a fixed pitch Sensenich 64ZK56 and I can still over speed the eng
ine at 5000 feet by something between 150 to 200 rpm above the max of 3300.
At 5,000 feet I am showing something just over 185 mph tas at 3300 rpm wi
th the current prop. Since I live at sea level, I see just over 200 indica
ted down the runway when holding the engine at 3300. Nick and I have discu
ssed this issue and run many test profiles with different props on 31BZ and
on both the prototype and demo Lightnings and we expect to have a better p
rop sometime early next year - hopefully by Sun-N-Fun. I expect to have a
slightly shorter prop (62 inches) but go all the way up to 60 inches in pit
ch. Also, the blade profile will be more simitar shaped. The goal is not
primarily to up the top speed, but instead to up the cruise speed at cruise
rpm and lower the fuel burn - great cruise speed with efficiency is really
what we are looking for.
I have had no real airframe issues during the past two years. The only
thing I plan to change, when I get the time, will be to do some experiment
s on the main gear legs to try to get rid of the sometime gear leg shimmy.
I may go the "broom stick" mod that the RV guys do, but before doing that
I want to try an easier fix by using a small "V" angle aluminum strip (say
1/8" thick by 1/2" on the angles, by what ever length the gear leg is) that
will be clamped to the trailing edge of the gear leg. All I need is the t
ime. I already have the parts. This shimmy occurs on landing roll out on
hard surface as you are slowing down through about 22 mph. It does not hap
pen on grass. Tire pressure definitely has an effect, with lower pressure
being better. I normally air my mains up to 25 PSI and then re-air them wh
en they look low. That low look seems to be about 15 to 18 PSI. I will le
t you all know the results when I get the time to do the experiments.
Other than that, the only other thing to mention is that my trim bungee
s needed to be tightened at about the 1&1/2 year point. They just lost som
e of their elasticity so I replaced them instead of re-tying the loops to a
smaller size.
Oh yes, something to consider while you are building - or an after the
fact change. The NACA duct cockpit vents are very effective. In the summe
r when you have them open you can actually pressurize the cockpit. I see t
he canopy sides of the Esqual bow out slightly. So you need to think about
some way for the air to flow through the cockpit. I have added two 3" dia
meter vents in the baggage bulkhead, but two are not enough. I will add tw
o more when I get the time.
As a side note, and just for grins, I offer the following information a
nd calculations: My Esqual easily cruises at 150 mph indicated at low to m
edium altitude burning less than 5 gallons per hour. At altitude (8 to 10
thousand feet) on a long cross country I can expect to see 170 MPH TAS burn
ing about 5.8 gallons per hour. Therefore, 405 hours at a conservative ave
rage speed of 150 mph equals 60,750 miles, or damn near 2.44 times around t
he world at the equator. Aren't you impressed? However, since it took me
2 years to do that 60,750 miles, my average speed for 2.4 times around the
world in two years works out to a speedy 3.467 mph. Way slower than Earl's
record run.
Blue Skies and a Merry Christmas to all,
Buz
See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
_________________________________________________________________
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Message 7
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Thanks all, for the encouragement and the help during the building process.
The nice thing about this groups is that everyone pitches in. That's a BIG
motivator to aspiring builders!
Jim!
_____
From: owner-lightning-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-lightning-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of
N1BZRich@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Almost there
Looking good Jim. Soon you will be "slipping the surely bonds". I hope to
see you at Sun-N-Fun and then Oshkosh.
Blue Skies,
Buz
_____
See AOL's top
<http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004> rated
recipes and easy
<http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aoltop00030000000003>
ways to stay in shape for winter.
Message 8
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Subject: | Re: Two year flight report on 31BZ - long read |
Hi Buz,
Pete Disher here from OZ,
Wonderfull report Buz, your emails over the past 18 months have always
given me a lot of confidence in this aircraft.
One point I've been meaning to ask you about is the carburettor, I am
considering changing the Bing for a Revflow carb. I believe it has
several advantages over the Bing like idle cut off and mixture control
and is a far more simple carburettor could this be worth doing ?
Enjoyed meeting you at OSH as brief as it was.
Don't stop reporting
Many thanks,
Pete Disher
OZ
----- Original Message -----
From: N1BZRich@aol.com
To: lightning-list@matronics.com
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 1:55 PM
Subject: Lightning-List: Two year flight report on 31BZ - long read
All Lightning (and Esqual) listers,
Just to provide some possible discussion topics and perhaps get
some more message traffic flowing, I offer the following information
after flying N31BZ for exactly two years. I will cover some engine and
some airframe comments, since my Esqual has lots of Lightning mods
installed.
I have been flying my highly modified Esqual LS (Lightning Stuff
with Jabiru 3300) for exactly two years now (finishing up the 2nd annual
today) and I have exactly 405 hours on the engine and airframe. In that
405 hours I have had absolutely no problems with the engine and I run it
hard, as many of you know. Only standard maintenance has been required
and accomplished. I change oil and filter every 25 to 35 hours, replace
the plugs at 100 hours (heck, they are only around $2.00 each so why
clean them), accomplish head torques and valve adjustments on schedule,
and replaced caps and rotors at 250 hours (I think the book calls for
that to be done at 200). Compressions this year varied between 70 and
73 for all 6 cylinders - in fact two were 70, two were 72, and two were
73. Pete says that is right in the ball park for an engine with between
300 to 500 hours. To say I am pleased with the engine would be an
understatement. All of my previous airplanes have been powered with
Continentals and Lycomings, but I must say this engine is just as
reliable and easy to work on as either of those. In fact the Jabiru
3300 kind of reminds me of the 6 cylinder O-300 Continental the way it
is designed and goes together. By the way, I highly recommend the
engine seminar at Jabiru USA in Tennessee.
Now some airframe comments:
First off, I still don't have the best prop for the clean airframe
that is represented by my airplane and of course all Lightnings. I am
currently running a fixed pitch Sensenich 64ZK56 and I can still over
speed the engine at 5000 feet by something between 150 to 200 rpm above
the max of 3300. At 5,000 feet I am showing something just over 185 mph
tas at 3300 rpm with the current prop. Since I live at sea level, I see
just over 200 indicated down the runway when holding the engine at 3300.
Nick and I have discussed this issue and run many test profiles with
different props on 31BZ and on both the prototype and demo Lightnings
and we expect to have a better prop sometime early next year - hopefully
by Sun-N-Fun. I expect to have a slightly shorter prop (62 inches) but
go all the way up to 60 inches in pitch. Also, the blade profile will
be more simitar shaped. The goal is not primarily to up the top speed,
but instead to up the cruise speed at cruise rpm and lower the fuel burn
- great cruise speed with efficiency is really what we are looking for.
I have had no real airframe issues during the past two years. The
only thing I plan to change, when I get the time, will be to do some
experiments on the main gear legs to try to get rid of the sometime gear
leg shimmy. I may go the "broom stick" mod that the RV guys do, but
before doing that I want to try an easier fix by using a small "V" angle
aluminum strip (say 1/8" thick by 1/2" on the angles, by what ever
length the gear leg is) that will be clamped to the trailing edge of the
gear leg. All I need is the time. I already have the parts. This
shimmy occurs on landing roll out on hard surface as you are slowing
down through about 22 mph. It does not happen on grass. Tire pressure
definitely has an effect, with lower pressure being better. I normally
air my mains up to 25 PSI and then re-air them when they look low. That
low look seems to be about 15 to 18 PSI. I will let you all know the
results when I get the time to do the experiments.
Other than that, the only other thing to mention is that my trim
bungees needed to be tightened at about the 1&1/2 year point. They just
lost some of their elasticity so I replaced them instead of re-tying the
loops to a smaller size.
Oh yes, something to consider while you are building - or an after
the fact change. The NACA duct cockpit vents are very effective. In
the summer when you have them open you can actually pressurize the
cockpit. I see the canopy sides of the Esqual bow out slightly. So you
need to think about some way for the air to flow through the cockpit. I
have added two 3" diameter vents in the baggage bulkhead, but two are
not enough. I will add two more when I get the time.
As a side note, and just for grins, I offer the following
information and calculations: My Esqual easily cruises at 150 mph
indicated at low to medium altitude burning less than 5 gallons per
hour. At altitude (8 to 10 thousand feet) on a long cross country I can
expect to see 170 MPH TAS burning about 5.8 gallons per hour.
Therefore, 405 hours at a conservative average speed of 150 mph equals
60,750 miles, or damn near 2.44 times around the world at the equator.
Aren't you impressed? However, since it took me 2 years to do that
60,750 miles, my average speed for 2.4 times around the world in two
years works out to a speedy 3.467 mph. Way slower than Earl's record
run.
Blue Skies and a Merry Christmas to all,
Buz
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
20/12/2007 2:14 PM
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