I am in the process of going carefully through the flight test check lists. I
am pleased to report that the Rick 1 will fly. I am doing the testing at
Kimball NE on a 6000 foot runway with no wind and no traffic. I didn't expect
to fly, I was doing the high speed taxi test part of the checklist and
determining when the tail will lift. I got the tail up and then I am about 5
feet above the runway. Instincts took over and I put it back down. I don't
know whether to call it a first flight or 5 seconds of heightened anxiety. It
happened rather quickly and I don't know how fast I was going, what rpm the
engine was running although I know it wasn't near full power. It responded
normally so am pleased about that. I am having some problems with a brake
kinda grabbing and am getting a new disc. Grove has been great to work with
and are sending a new disk at no cost to see if that is the problem. Am now
waiting for the new disc and better weather.
Dan
