---------------------------------------------------------- Pelican-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 08/04/03: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 04:42 AM - Members? (mike macleod) 2. 05:24 AM - Re: Members? (Gary K) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 04:42:43 AM PST US From: mike macleod Subject: Pelican-List: Members? --> Pelican-List message posted by: mike macleod Hi Gary: Glad to see you are near the end of the construction phase. I think one reason for the lack of action on the list is that Lorraine and Pierre seem to be able to answer any questions very quickly so help from other builders is not needed. I have 55 hours on my plane so far and am loving every minute of it, first flight was in May. I had the same experience, the large pieces went together very easily (much easier than my ultralight). I was lucky and got hull insurance from a company in Toronto, it is fairly expensive so I plan to keep it on for a few years and then just go with the liability (once any bugs are sorted out). I also built a jig for fuselage support although Lorraine suggested that I could just rest the tail skid on a support and that would be good enough. I ran a ground line to a junction box that I installed on the flat section of the fuselage under the fin. From there I ran wires to the fin, horizontal stab, rudder and elevator. For the door catches I recessed them into the frame and attached with 2 or 3 screws. I had one hell of a time getting the holes for the rods in the right position and ended up going back to Lorraine for more plates, it looks ok now (practice makes perfect!). My kit included 2 springs for the each pedal and 2 brackets (4 in total) to hold them, but I only used one bracket per pedal in what looked like the best arrangement (not the same as the instructions). I saw a Pelican the other day that had the nosegear steering rods that went through the firewall (as opposed to the ones that extend below the cabin). Make sure you aren't trying to install one configuration with the parts for the other. One problem I have now is that on takeoff there is so much P factor that the rudder is kept deflected and this also keeps the nosegear from falling into the slot. It takes some significant opposite rudder deflection to get the thing to drop (sometimes I have to do it 2 or 3 times before it will drop, believe me some passengers get quite antsy as i do this). My plane weighed 830 lbs and I registered it for 1350. I picked the 1350 for 2 reasons; one is that with full fuel, 2 passengers and 50 lbs of baggage it will still weigh less that the 1350. The second reason is that here in Canada there is an annual fee payable to NavCanada (who provide the flight service and weather information, and run some of the airports). The fee is for planes that weigh more than 1360 lbs, so to save myself the hassle I went for 1350 rather than the official 1400 lbs. One thing I found is that my plane is tail heavy (restricts the baggage capacity to 50 lbs when carrying 2 people plus full fuel) so you may be better off with the heavier engine. You can expect rocket like takeoffs, I have had several tower controllers comment on the climb rate as I took off. Grass field takeoffs uphill can be done solo in less than 300 ft. I haven't got my landing technique perfected yet so the plane tends to float 3 feet over the runway for about 300 ft (even at 40 degrees of flap) before coming down. Mike ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:24:52 AM PST US From: "Gary K" Subject: Re: Pelican-List: Members? --> Pelican-List message posted by: "Gary K" Mike, Glad to hear that you're enjoying it and thanks for all the tips. Good stuff, I should post more often. You're right, factory response has been great and things go together well. Looking forward to making some trips when I'm done, hopefully I'll be up there visiting soon. Fly safe, Gary K. ----- Original Message ----- From: "mike macleod" Subject: Pelican-List: Members? > --> Pelican-List message posted by: mike macleod > > Hi Gary: > > Glad to see you are near the end of the construction phase. I think one > reason for the lack of action on the list is that Lorraine and Pierre > seem to be able to answer any questions very quickly so help from other > builders is not needed. > > I have 55 hours on my plane so far and am loving every minute of it, > first flight was in May. > > I had the same experience, the large pieces went together very easily > (much easier than my ultralight). I was lucky and got hull insurance > from a company in Toronto, it is fairly expensive so I plan to keep it > on for a few years and then just go with the liability (once any bugs > are sorted out). > > I also built a jig for fuselage support although Lorraine suggested that > I could just rest the tail skid on a support and that would be good > enough. > > I ran a ground line to a junction box that I installed on the flat > section of the fuselage under the fin. From there I ran wires to the > fin, horizontal stab, rudder and elevator. > > For the door catches I recessed them into the frame and attached with 2 > or 3 screws. I had one hell of a time getting the holes for the rods in > the right position and ended up going back to Lorraine for more plates, > it looks ok now (practice makes perfect!). > > My kit included 2 springs for the each pedal and 2 brackets (4 in total) > to hold them, but I only used one bracket per pedal in what looked like > the best arrangement (not the same as the instructions). I saw a > Pelican the other day that had the nosegear steering rods that went > through the firewall (as opposed to the ones that extend below the > cabin). Make sure you aren't trying to install one configuration with > the parts for the other. > > One problem I have now is that on takeoff there is so much P factor that > the rudder is kept deflected and this also keeps the nosegear from > falling into the slot. It takes some significant opposite rudder > deflection to get the thing to drop (sometimes I have to do it 2 or 3 > times before it will drop, believe me some passengers get quite antsy as > i do this). > > My plane weighed 830 lbs and I registered it for 1350. I picked the > 1350 for 2 reasons; one is that with full fuel, 2 passengers and 50 lbs > of baggage it will still weigh less that the 1350. The second reason is > that here in Canada there is an annual fee payable to NavCanada (who > provide the flight service and weather information, and run some of the > airports). The fee is for planes that weigh more than 1360 lbs, so to > save myself the hassle I went for 1350 rather than the official 1400 > lbs. > > One thing I found is that my plane is tail heavy (restricts the baggage > capacity to 50 lbs when carrying 2 people plus full fuel) so you may be > better off with the heavier engine. You can expect rocket like > takeoffs, I have had several tower controllers comment on the climb > rate as I took off. Grass field takeoffs uphill can be done solo in > less than 300 ft. I haven't got my landing technique perfected yet so > the plane tends to float 3 feet over the runway for about 300 ft (even > at 40 degrees of flap) before coming down. > > > Mike > >