Mark and Gang, Now that's what I call wringing it out, glad to see someone is not afraid to do it. I used to roll my all the time but only thing did not loop it because I did not want to pull the wings off like I used to do in a Chipmunk.(not the wings ;) This is the only way to find out how she acts under different conditions because they vary. You have done a dead stick and now a roll, excellent way to really get to know your little sweet heart. Hope we see more of this! Happy flying! Adrian Carter
Mark Langford wrote: > NetHeads, > > Today I flew over to Moontown Airport to get my BFR. Since it's a grass > strip 2100' long, my CFI buddy (who gave me my tailwheel endorsement) > thought maybe we ought to take something that he knew would get us both off > the ground, considering the 3000' density altitude. There was an old doggy > C-150 close by, and the owner threw him the keys. This is one of those > planes that looked like it'd been sitting at the tiedown for 30 years > without a single bit of attention. Fuel caps were rusty, windshield was > cloudy and crazed, every piece on it looked like it was about to fall off. > I sumped it and there was a half inch of rust flakes in the bottom. 10 more > tries and it finally got down to only a few flakes per, so he said that was > good enough. We took off and got an astounding 200 ft/min climb out of the > thing. We couldn't have gotten to pattern altitude using a 5 mile downwind! > Eventually we did all the usual BFR stuff, and I was quite amazed at the > "unusual attitudes" this thing would get into. It never seemed coordinated, > but I guess that was my fault. But I'm used to the KR just staying "right" > all the time. In my KR, the only time I use the rudder is on takeoff and > climb, and then just a slight push. This 150 was a whole different story. > What a dawg! I never cease to be amazed at the stuff some folks sign off as > airworthy! But I'm good for two more years, so I guess it'll work. > > Moontown was also having a breakfast, and KR builder/pilot Ken Thomas was > there. He has something like 360 hours on his Jabiru now, and loves it. > "Nothing but gas and oil" was the way he put it. He had a Sube, but it was > one thing after another, so he stepped up to the plate and went "maintenance > free". Maybe we'll see him at the Gathering. It sure sounded sweet as he > took off and headed for home. > > So later I flew the KR around some, and decided it was high time I did a > roll. I went to 8000' 120 mph, pitch up, full left aileron, and > YEEEEEHAAAAAAA! Did it. Pulled 3.5 g's pulling out, but for a first time, > it certainly worked, but I did lose 500'. I did 5 more, and before it was > over, I had the "positive g" roll down to only 1.5 g's on pullout, with none > negative, so I'm happy with that, and altitude loss was down to 200' or so. > Since I was soo high anyway, I decided I'd do some more testing, so I > started doing slow speed (turn to final with flaps) 45 degree turns to see > what indicated airspeed I fell out of the sky. Indicated was under 70 mph, > which in reality was about 55 mph true airspeed, so I feel a lot better > about that now. Nothing like a few minutes of flying on the edge to get the > feel of what it's like right before the bottom falls out. I also finally > answered the question of "cruise speed", which I assume is WOT at 7500'. > Today's number was 155 mph true airspeed. > > I was coming back from Guntersville headed to M38, and realized that I > Moontown was having a hangar party, so I dropped down and buzzed the field > at 200 mph, right between two Yaks who were busy doing the same. What a > blast! My fun-meter was pegged. > > Gap seals are finished, skin bubble repairs just need a little final > sanding, and I'll throw some more primer on it next week so it won't be > quite so embarrasing, but I'm basically ready for OSH. 271.2 hours and > counting... > > Mark Langford, Harvest, AL > see homebuilt airplane at http://www.N56ML.com > email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net > > > > > _______________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp > to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@mylist.net > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > >
