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N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
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 Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject: Back in Virginia |
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Just to follow up on my recent trip report, I delayed my return trip to Virginia yesterday due to forecast direct cross winds of 20+ gusting to 30+ at my home airport. It gave me more time to fly some additional demo rides at SYI. I made the trip today even though the winds were about the same except that they were more aligned with the runway - only about 30 degrees off. I was expecting some great tailwinds since I had such high head winds going to Tennessee. Well, it didn't happen. I tried 5,500, 7,500, 9,500, and finally 11,500 and even though I saw winds as high at 94 it was all a direct cross at altitude. The only tail wind component I ever say was 4 on the tail and that was intermittent. I somehow must have angered the person in charge of winds at altitude. Well, at least it wasn't a head wind. Block to block speed was 168 mph burning 5.5 gph. You have got to like that 3300 Jabiru on a "slick" airframe. Great economy.
I will also pass on the latest on Linda and Joe's Lightning since they are still in Tennessee without their computer. When I left this morning they had 10 hours on their airplane and everything is working as intended on the engine and airframe. They are having some problems with the Chelton EFIS, but that is apparently due to a bad "air data computer" which will soon be replaced. Linda is now doing all the test flying and she and Joe have done two head torques on their engine. When it is not in the air, they are busy fitting gear leg fairings and wheel pants. Both of these projects are very time consuming but well worth the effort in terms of increased airspeed, and lower drag profile. The Lightning guys have the latest design pressure relief "coke bottle" style wheel pants and those, combined with gear leg fairings, added about 20 mph to my airplane, so the Lightning should see the same or more.
Maybe this is the time to inject a few more thoughts on building an airplane and using a builders assist program. None of the below are based on specific situations I saw at SYI, just the potential for homebuilders to possibly get in over their head:
-Thought # 1 - It is going to be your "baby" so make it like you want it. Add any and all "whiz bang" equipment you want so it makes you happy. However, talk it over with someone who has tried the equipment and see if they are happy with it. Also talk it over with the SYI guys. Will it be compatible with the airplane you are building? Do you really want to put floats on a lunar lander? If you don't have the expertise to do it yourself, will they be able to do it for you? At what additional cost? Etc., etc.
-Thought # 2 - The KISS principle is just as important today as it has ever been. In the long run, keeping things simple will result in less problems building and probably less maintenance headaches in the future.
-Thought # 3 - If you are using a builders assist program that program was designed to get you safely into an airplane that meets the Experimental Homebuilt rules - where you must be involved in 51% of the processes required to build the airplane. The assist program is also designed towards a basic airplane. If you start adding those "whiz bang" parts I mentioned above, you are adding to the time it takes to complete the airplane and possibly causing scheduling problems for the "assistors".
As I said, these are just some thoughts that came to mind while "heading east" at 11,500 today. Maybe I was oxygen starved, but maybe there is a "pearl" in there somewhere. Just my $.02. Your mileage may vary.
Blue Skies,
Buz
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dashvii(at)hotmail.com
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject: Back in Virginia |
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Buz,
GLad that you made it back safe and sound. Winds were really kicking on
Wednesday when I was there. Did Nick manage to get the old spinner to work
on Rick's plane or did he just replace it all together. Looking forward to
flying the plane more when I get back in a few days. It is beautiful here
in Houston. Been watching a pair of F-16's patrolling the city and several
T-38's training. Also saw some Navy trainers and Coast Guard choppers.
Brian W.
From: N1BZRich(at)aol.com
Reply-To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com
To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Back in Virginia
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 16:07:34 EST
Just to follow up on my recent trip report, I delayed my return trip to
Virginia yesterday due to forecast direct cross winds of 20+ gusting to 30+
at my
home airport. It gave me more time to fly some additional demo rides at
SYI. I made the trip today even though the winds were about the same
except
that they were more aligned with the runway - only about 30 degrees off. I
was
expecting some great tailwinds since I had such high head winds going to
Tennessee. Well, it didn't happen. I tried 5,500, 7,500, 9,500, and
finally
11,500 and even though I saw winds as high at 94 it was all a direct cross
at
altitude. The only tail wind component I ever say was 4 on the tail and
that
was intermittent. I somehow must have angered the person in charge of
winds
at altitude. Well, at least it wasn't a head wind. Block to block speed
was
168 mph burning 5.5 gph. You have got to like that 3300 Jabiru on a
"slick"
airframe. Great economy.
I will also pass on the latest on Linda and Joe's Lightning since they are
still in Tennessee without their computer. When I left this morning they
had
10 hours on their airplane and everything is working as intended on the
engine and airframe. They are having some problems with the Chelton EFIS,
but
that is apparently due to a bad "air data computer" which will soon be
replaced.
Linda is now doing all the test flying and she and Joe have done two head
torques on their engine. When it is not in the air, they are busy fitting
gear leg fairings and wheel pants. Both of these projects are very time
consuming but well worth the effort in terms of increased airspeed, and
lower drag
profile. The Lightning guys have the latest design pressure relief "coke
bottle" style wheel pants and those, combined with gear leg fairings, added
about
20 mph to my airplane, so the Lightning should see the same or more.
Maybe this is the time to inject a few more thoughts on building an
airplane
and using a builders assist program. None of the below are based on
specific situations I saw at SYI, just the potential for homebuilders to
possibly
get in over their head:
-Thought # 1 - It is going to be your "baby" so make it like you want it.
Add any and all "whiz bang" equipment you want so it makes you happy.
However, talk it over with someone who has tried the equipment and see if
they are
happy with it. Also talk it over with the SYI guys. Will it be compatible
with the airplane you are building? Do you really want to put floats on a
lunar lander? If you don't have the expertise to do it yourself, will they
be
able to do it for you? At what additional cost? Etc., etc.
-Thought # 2 - The KISS principle is just as important today as it has
ever
been. In the long run, keeping things simple will result in less problems
building and probably less maintenance headaches in the future.
-Thought # 3 - If you are using a builders assist program that program was
designed to get you safely into an airplane that meets the Experimental
Homebuilt rules - where you must be involved in 51% of the processes
required to
build the airplane. The assist program is also designed towards a basic
airplane. If you start adding those "whiz bang" parts I mentioned above,
you are
adding to the time it takes to complete the airplane and possibly causing
scheduling problems for the "assistors".
As I said, these are just some thoughts that came to mind while "heading
east" at 11,500 today. Maybe I was oxygen starved, but maybe there is a
"pearl"
in there somewhere. Just my $.02. Your mileage may vary.
Blue Skies,
Buz
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N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:09 pm Post subject: Back in Virginia |
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Hi Brian,
I think the plan is to put a new spinner on Rick's airplane. When I left at mid morning today, I am pretty sure the old spinner was already removed and a new one being fit.
Buz
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