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1. 09:30 PM - Third Taxi Test Video (Brakes Over Heat!)... (Matt Dralle)
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| Subject: | Third Taxi Test Video (Brakes Over Heat!)... |
On the third taxi test, I headed out to the main runway at Livermore, 25R and ask
the tower for a high-speed taxi test with no take off. It was approved as
requested and went great. There was about a 15-20 knot head wind at about 270
which made it even more fun. The RV-8 handled great and it was definitely ready
to take off. I only got to about 1/3 power and it would have taken off with
about 1/2 throttle probably. Oh my... What will FULL throttle be like!? Now
that's exciting! Be sure to watch the Part 2 of this video because as the
music gets more intense, so does the testing!
Third Taxi Test - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8?v=pnz31m6aVEQ
After the taxi back on the regular taxi way, the tower offered to let me run back
the other direction on the runway! I wasn't sure that's really what he was
suggesting and I had to verify that's what he really meant. It was pretty cool
and saved a lot of time. With the 15-20 knot tailwind, though, I probably would
have been better off just using the taxi way. Now you'll notice the music
is getting a bit more intense. Be sure to watch Part 3 because that's where this
taxi test REALLY get's interesting...
Third Taxi Test - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8?v=5zheOkSHfX4
As you'll see in that part of the third taxi test, I lost the brakes. As I'm taxing
off the runway I noticed that there was smoke coming out of both the left
and right sides. At the time, I really wasn't sure what caused the brakes to
get so hot. But, after watching the video a couple of time and recalling back
to what I was doing, I'm positive that I was dragging the brakes on those down-wind
trips. I even remember thinking at one point, "oh, I'm riding the brakes".
Doesn't seem like they should get so hot as to start smoking, but perhaps
it was a combination of being new, over worked, and a bit of brake fluid leaking
out and hitting the discs. Anyway, my comment at the end of the video is
kind of funny. It wasn't at the time, mind you... :-)
Third Taxi Test - Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8?v=57W-O8905cg
After I hosed the wheel pants and brakes down and got things cooled off and no
longer smoking, I had to push the plane back to the hangar from the wash rack,
which isn't too far, but still kind of a long ways at the end of a day. As I
was pushing it back I noticed that there was brake fluid leaking out of the right
brake. I pushed the plane about 1/2 the way into the hangar and took the
wheel pants off. Once I got the leaks stopped, I pushed the plane the rest of
the way in. It was kind of a demoralizing sight to see the brake calipers smoked
like that, but it could have been a lot worse.
A word to the wise - STAY OFF THE BRAKES!!! Its really easy to drag them and this
video is a document to what can happen.
Third Taxi Test - Epilogue
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8?v=JlQjRWnbO2c
The brakes were pretty toasted as were the sidewalls of the tires. There were
little bits of rubber coming off the sidewall around the wheel. The brake pads
definitely looked worn down some compared to the set I have on the partially
completed RV-4. So in the interest of not holding up the test flight progress,
I opted to use the wheels, brakes, and tires from the RV-4 project to replace
the smoked components on the RV-8. I'll order a new set for the RV-4 later.
I spent the day jacking up the plane and swapping pieces. I also took the opportunity
to remove the right master cylinder and fix the pesky high-pressure side
leak. Here's a video of the wheels, brakes, and tires all replaced and ready
for testing.
Third Taxi Test - Post Epilogue
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8?v=dL92Hwi0xnE
Matt Dralle
RV-8 #82880 N998RV
http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's RV-8 Construction Log
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel
Status: Test Flying
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