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1. 04:17 PM - Re: First flight.. ()
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--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: <harvey.rule@bell.ca>
Take off was much better today but according to observers I was still
doing the ultralight thing by bringing the nose of the plane up too far
and taking off at too sharpe an angle.Old habits are hard to correct.I
thought I did it a lot better.I'll have to improve more on the next
flight.Low ceiling so I had to stay low in the pattern.Kept at about
1000 ft.I noticed if I let go of the stick she would nose over so I'm
going to need some trim there other than that I could find nothing
wrong.The oil temperature gauge that I thought was broken is working
fine.I cruised at 2000 rpm at 60 mph in up wind and 80 mph in down
wind.No unfriendlys in the air.Only a glider which had taken off before
me.My AME told me to be aware of Germans sneaking up on my tail.Good
thing none came because I have yet to mount my Lewis machine gun which
he made for me.I began to get pretty cold after the third circuit.I
guess I'll have to wear a heavier coat next time.It was very hot on the
ground but cold at 1000 ft doing the speed I was doing.I came down after
4 circuits.The landing was elongated since I had too much speed on but I
kept some power on and it was a good one.Not a greaser but good.I stuck
it down and kept her down.I think I can do better with practice.The
glider guys said they couldn't make out some of the things said on the
radio.Maybe too much engine noise,I have no shielding and the radio was
just beside my right arm on a bracket I made up for it to sit on.The
antennae is the same one that sits on the radio.I have clearance from
the authorities(my wife) to go up again tomorrow so I'll do it all
again,hopefully warmer.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Glenn W.
Thomas
Sent: September 15, 2006 8:50 AM
Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: First flight..
--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: "Glenn W. Thomas"
<glennthomas@flyingwood.com>
Harvey,
I love reading first flight posts, probably because that's all you think
about through the years managing all the little pieces.
Congratulations!
You are now experiencing what I can only imagine. Looking forward to
the
followup you promised us.
Kudos!
Glenn Thomas
Storrs, CT
http://www.flyingwood.com
> On ground roll I started opening the throttle slow and gradually
> increased to max.As she moved faster and faster I was eventually able
to
> pull the tail up and level her off.There is a point in the run where
she
> just seems to literally jump into the air,I noticed this on my
hops.When
> I was doing the hops I would have at this point cut back on the
throttle
> and put her down but this time I was going for a circuit. Since I used
> to fly ultralights all the time I was used to pulling up on the nose
and
> climbing out at a steep angle and even though there were guys down at
> the field who told me about the four stroke I was not all together
> prepared for the slow lift off and gradual climb.The climb out was
still
> pretty substantial though with the 85 hp pulling me up.After I
recovered
> and realized what I was doing I corrected that and made a slower climb
> at a lesser angle.Since I was just planning on doing one circuit and
one
> circuit only ,I then made a slow turn for down wind keeping her close
to
> the field at about 1000 ft.(circuit height)I began to feel cold and
> wished I had worn my jacket but it was too late so I figured forget
> about how cold it is and concentrate on the flight characteristics.I
> pulled carb heat on immediately on down wind. Everything functioned as
> advertised.I noticed my oil temperature gauge was still not
functioning
> so I'll have to change that.I throttled back on down wind noticing my
> air speed drop from around 90 to 80mph and as I pushed the nose
further
> down she picked up speed again so I throttled back some more to 80
again
> and kept her there until the base turn.She handled just like my N3 pup
> and since the wing is much the same in design I guess that's why. I
had
> overshot the field in my base run so when I turned for final,dropping
in
> altitude all this time,I was not lined up with the run way so I had to
> make an angular approach back to the runway to get lined up.No sweat
she
> did everything I wanted with very little stick input.I kept the
throttle
> on as you said I should do and the flair went beautifully.I did at one
> point bring the nose up a bit but put her back down.She did a little
> porpose thing and then she settled in nicely for the landing.Once down
I
> throttled back to idle and pulled the stick full back gradually.She
kind
> of weather cocked on me close to the end but since I was used to that
> from my Lazair days,I just gave full rudder in opposite direction and
> she came around ,no problem.There was a gaggle of glider pilots
watching
> the whole thing and they left before I could taxi back to them.I
wanted
> to get their opinion on what they had seen but they had spent the
whole
> day there I guess and didn't want to hang around.Either that or they
> just didn't want to have anything to do with me after watching my
> performance.I 'll find out later since I talk with these guys on
> occasion.I like to get feed back from the gallery and see if I can get
a
> handle on anything that needs improvement other than what I noticed
> myself.It never hurts to get information especially from guys who fly
> without motors since they have to be real good at what they do.They
> don't get a second chance to go around again.That's about it for now.I
> plan to get up tomorrow and keep her in the circuit for a good long
time
> to build up some hours on her.I'll let you know how that went as well.
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Graham
> Hansen
> Sent: September 14, 2006 3:11 PM
> To: pietenpol-list@matronics.com
> Subject: Pietenpol-List: First flight..
>
>
> Harvey,
>
>
> Congratulations on flying your new bird for the first time!
>
>
> How about giving the group some details regarding handling, etc.? (The
> list has been pretty quiet lately and we need something to jump-start
> it.)
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Graham (Pietenpol CF-AUN)
>
>
> DO NOT ARCHIVE
>
>
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