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I got to try out my wife's "new" coupe for the first time this weekend. Friday, I took her up. The winds were really picking up and by the time I got there - pre heated - and was ready - the winds were off the runway 20 degrees and 21 gusting to 25 knots. Well I thought I'd give it a shot and she took off great. I got up to about 200 Agl and got the worse bouncing around I'd ever experienced. Hit my head 7-8 times on the glass and was really fighting to keep it level. So I made a wide pattern and came back around and landed. When I landed it was 27 gusting to 35 and 30 degrees off the runway. So I said - heck with this, this is no time to try and learn a new plane - so I put her away. I couldn't get a feel for the trim very well. there is an electric trim on this one and mine has the "twirler" trim on the panel. I'm sure it will be fine, Jenn liked it but it was hard to gauge I don't remember my coupe ever bouncing around like that, so I was wondering if it was the plane - but Jenn says it flies hands off - and it is 50 lbs heavier than mine, so it can't be too light. I didn't feel too bad when friend with a Bonanza called in to land - and said he was heading back because it was too choppy at 2000 agl. Then I figured it was truly the gusts. SAturday I met with my friends at the airport and tried again. The first thing I found was that Friday, the trim was set wrong (by me). I had set it up so that the trim was level in the back, but found that seemed to put it nose high. I adjusted it to where it "lit up" as centered and it leveled right out. Just a tap of the trim makes a big difference. We made a three hour cross county jaunt - to all the food hangouts. Three coupes and two cherokees. Two landings in soggy sod strips meant I had to wash the plane before Jenn gets home. It was very turbulent again. And I'd hit my head on the glass. Found the problem, tho - one of the prior owners had raised the seat about three inches. Well, this is just right for my short wife, but kind of annoying to me. It's her plane so she gets to decide what to do about it. I also found the rudders were more of a nuisance than an assist. I prefer the original version. Other than that, it flew fine - started right up and ran strong. Today was so windy that I didn't bother even trying. Airmet of turbulence up to 6000 feet. Figured I'd do a little work on the plane. I removed some old red vinyl graphic decals that were about a foot long and a foot tall on the cowlings. The paint seemed to be "stained" a light red and I haven't been able to rub it out. It was wierd - I softened the graphic with heat and scraped it off the paint, but wherever the peelings touched the paint, it stained it also. I would think a little rubbing compound would have taken it out, but it didn't. Any suggestions out there?? Rick Green N93686 415 C N3816H 415 D South Haven MI South Haven MI ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiLm.aVzvvT Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
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