Thanks nick:
This is an exciting time for sure. I agree with both you and Buz in that
there is a lot of things to do and document to make sure that the airplanes
that we build are safe. I'm not sure where the percentages are with safety
records, (experimental vs. GA), but if it is close or better, there is a
good reason for it; and that is proper flight testing.
I just called and spoke with Dana. Is she getting a little bit of a
southern accent?
(LOL)
On 8/25/08, flylightning <info@flylightning.net> wrote:
>
> Jim,
>
>
> Congrats on your solo I am glad to hear your piloting your own jet=85=85.
. Jim,
> and all in the group take note of the flight testing suggestions, all to
> often builders fly around in circles for 40 hours and don't do much, heck
I
> just met a gentleman this weekend that had 60 hours on a bird (not going
to
> mention the design but it wasn't a lightning) and he had not even stalled
> the aircraft, important to know don't ya think. Any ways when you get int
o a
> Cessna or piper they have come up with all the info, but now you have. Fu
el
> burns at different power settings, approach speeds based on your aircraft
s
> performance in stalls and such ( remember each system is different and
> you're ASI might be different than your friends). Well you get my point,
but
> if your are doing your job as new experimental pilot you should never be
> bored and it should take all 40 hours to get a good feel of your Jet and
> what it does.
>
>
> nick
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* owner-lightning-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:
> owner-lightning-list-server@matronics.com] *On Behalf Of *N1BZRich@aol.co
m
> *Sent:* Sunday, August 24, 2008 12:49 PM
> *To:* lightning-list@matronics.com
> *Subject:* Re: I flew, I flew!!!
>
>
> In a message dated 8/24/2008 12:52:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> clive.james@uk.bp.com writes:
>
> 40 hours must be a real pain,
> Has the EAA never tried to get it reduced? 40 hours is a
> lot of flying just for the sake of it. Even if you do some creative
> accounting......
>
> Two points:
>
>
> First, if you are using a certified prop and a certified engine it is jus
t
> 25 hours. The current 40 hours (or 25) is down from the original 50 hour
s.
> Can't remember when that changed, but that is what I had to fly off on my
> homebuilt Pitts even with a certified prop and engine back in 1977 - yes,
I
> am an old fart.
>
>
> Second, if you actually fly all the test profiles that should be flown to
> determine all needed data points for your airplane, it will take quite a
few
> flights and hours to complete the testing. It took me close to 30 hours
of
> actual test flying time on the Esqual to complete everything that should
be
> done. The other 10 hours (to get to 40 total) were well spent learning al
l
> the neat things that my Grand Rapids EFIS was capable of doing - such as
> highway in the sky steering to a simulated instrument approach to any run
way
> that is in the GPS data. Really neat.
>
>
> Too many builders just fly off the 40 hours and never really know their
> specific airplanes. They can get away with this because most have built
> airplanes that have been around for a long time and they just use the dat
a
> that others have come up with, but they really don't know the actual data
> points for their airplanes. What is the real Vx, Vy, best glide (flaps a
nd
> no flaps) for your airplane. What is your best fuel burn at different
> altitudes for different airspeeds or rpm?. What EGTs should you be seein
g
> at various power settings? What is the best prop for your airplane? I
> could go on and on with examples, but hope everyone gets the point. It
> really does take about 40 hours to complete all the needed test profiles
for
> your airplane. Without knowing these things how do you come up with a
> useful aircraft flight manual (pilot's operating handbook) for your airpl
ane
> - as required by regulations?
>
>
> The FAA regulations on this (FAR 21 and 91) as well as FAA Advisory
> Circular 90-89A are pretty specific as to what you should be doing. They
> call the 40 hours (or 25) phase one testing. The EAA also has some good
> information on flight testing that is available through the EAA Flight
> Advisor Program. I encourage all of you to go to these sources and check
> with your friendly EAA flight advisor before you start your flight testin
g.
> Accidents on first flights have greatly decreased since the EAA Flight
> Advisor program has been in effect.
>
>
> For my own use, I have divided the FAA 40 hours (phase one testing) into
a
> 5 phase program that I have used successfully on several different
> aircraft. The five phases that I have broken the 40 hours down to are:
>
> -phase 1 - Initial flight plus two others
>
> -phase 2 - Build data on aircraft and engine performance
>
> -phase 3 - Determine all V speeds
>
> -phase 4 - Structural and Stability tests
>
> -phase 5 - Max gross weight and CG test
>
> I have specific profile objectives for each phase and specific flight
> profiles for the first flights and then later flight profiles are develop
ed
> based on data gathered to that point.
>
>
> It really does take close to 40 hours if you do all that should be done.
> You really need a plan for each flight in order to be efficient with the
> time that you have. You also need a good way to record flight data that
you
> will use to develop such things as performance graphs. I use a digital
> recorder with a lapel mic that I put into one of my ear phone cups. With
a
> voice operated intercom I just say the data that I want recorded and the
> mic picks up me talking and saves it for future playback on the recorder.
> Also, many of the new EFIS set ups have a way to record flight data for
> later download which is also useful.
>
>
> Bottom line, have a specific plan for each flight, follow that plan, reco
rd
> your data after the flight, and then plan the next flight based on what y
ou
> learn on the previous flight and what you need to accomplish on the next
> flight.
>
> Blue Skies,
>
> Buz
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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