KRNetHeads, Thanks for all the hot tips on GPS software. I might have to buy Anywhere Map (assuming it works with the TPad 800), because it's on sale right now for a mere $95, as opposed to the usual $289. We'll find out tomorrow, maybe. John's Chart Case looks great too, but the discount on AWXP might tip the scales, at this point.
Here's another YeeeeeeHaaaaaaa story for ya. Today I went out to the airport to check the compression on my engine. Last time I flew it, the engine was running just a tad rough as I taxiied back to the hangar. Being the pessimist that I am, I assumed the worst, that there were valve or head gasket problems, so I was prepared to check the differential compression, plugs, mixture, etc, until I figured out what the problem was. I didn't have any EIS info stored on my laptop, as the battery croaked on the way back from my father's farm, and I hadn't saved the file when it died, so I had no trend data to check. I really had no intention of flying today, figuring I'd spend the day screwing around with my "engine problem". First thing I was going to do was run up to the fuel tank and top it off with 100LL. When I went to start it, I noticed the mixture knob was pulled out about 2", oddly enough. When I fired it up, it ran great, so I figured I just might be good to go. A runup resulted in full power and proper static rpm, so I got my laptop, camera, and GPS, and took off. The ceiling was 2000' and overcast, so I couldn't climb very high, but I still flew all over the place between the three closest airports. I spent 2 full hours just cruising around doing turns-around-a-point, full blast runs, touch and goes, and just generally bumming around the local area. A full speed run at 1000' AGL in four directions yielded a top speed of 170 mph, according to the average of the GPS ground speeds. Can't wait to add wheel pants and leg fairings, spinner, and flap gap seals! All temperatures were low (highest oil temp 200F, hottest CHT was 320F) at full throttle, but the 70F ambient temps helped a lot. Before summer time I'll relocate my oil cooler inlet and tweak my plenum baffling with some vanes, but for now, this'll work great! The Corvair is one super-smooth engine! I'm finally getting over my engine-out landing enough to fly low with a little confidence! Until today I'd only landed on Hazel Green's 40' wide runway (N56ML's home now) 5 times (only when absolutely necessary to park it), because it's so narrow and short (2600'), but today I did 10 touch and goes at M82, and then came back to Hazel Green and did 3 landings. The last one was a touch and go with room to spare! I'd characterize them as "carrier" landings, at almost stall speed. GPS ground speed was right at 60 mph at "touchdown" with a 90 degree 5k crosswind, and I hit tail wheel first on one of them, but it was still a "good" landing. All in all, a neat KR day, despite the overcast skies. Rather than work on the engine, I got to hotdog around the neighborhood instead. Life is good... Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net --------------------------------------------------------------
