[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > After all of the work in so many different areas of the "baby" including > re-rigging and engine work, the pucker factor was in high gear as I did the > longest, most thorough, preflight of my life. Paying close attention to all > control linkages, wiring, and fuel lines I decided all was in order and > looked good. Strapping in I followed the check list to the letter and with > two shots of prime, she fired up with three rotations of the prop. I checked > the brakes and all instruments and headed for the runway to do a couple of > high speed taxi tests. The rebuilt landing gear was now nice and solid with > no nose wheel shimmy. When temp came up I did the runup but was getting a 150 > rpm drop on the left mag. Ran it up to 2100 for about a minute then checked > it again at 1500 and all was fine showing about a 25 rpm drop on the left. > Decided to do a "short field" style departure to put as much distance between > me and the ground in case the carb rebuild might cause a problem..... perfect > day for flying in Illinois..... 54 degrees, 5kn wind straight down the 5000' > runway...... Full throttle without a miss..... no fuel "gushing" from the > header tank..... and I was off. With low fuel on board and only me my rate of > climb was fantastic about 800fpm.... I was at pattern altitude moments after > I crossed the end of the runway! Went around the pattern several times at > 2500, keeping the runway in sight just in case..... Everything felt so tight > and responsive... almost a different plane. Only thing that needs to be > tweaked is the trim control as forward elevator pressure remains high even in > the "cruise" setting..... Shot 4 t&g"s then off to visit friends at some of > the local strips. Pucker factor finally relaxed and once again I felt the > love of flying my Coupe. All landings today were greasers and after 6 months > lack of practice I felt good about my flying. > Got out the bucket and soap after lunch and gave her a much needed bath and > touched up the polish on her shiney bare skin. When the late afternoon breeze > died down, took a friend up for a tour of the area and together we watched > the sun get lower in the haze. Purring along at 2,500 feet, our world looked > lovely and tinges of green could be seen everywhere..... spring is getting > nearer. The high cost of the annual and "partial rebuild" started to feel > better. Thanks to all of you for your support and help during my maintenance > ordeal. It's like a new plane. > > May all your landings be right side up, > Fly safely, > Rob Talbot-Jones 3040H, Rantoul Illinois > __________________________________________________________________________ ______ > To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > _____________________________________________________________ > Want to find the best email lists? Check out the Topica 20! > http://www.topica.com/topica20
Congratulations Rob, tell Rantoul (and Chanute) that I said 'Hi'. Bob (one time Rantillian) Saville __________________________________________________________________________ ______ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________________________ Want to find the best email lists? Check out the Topica 20! http://www.topica.com/topica20
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