Very nice On Sun, Mar 14, 2021 at 11:11 AM Flesner <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Given the discussion recently on "first flights" I put down some > thoughts based on my "first flight" experiences. You might agree, > disagree, or don't care so take it for what it's worth to you. > > Larry Flesner > > Flight testing / first flight > > The goal on the first flight of an airplane is to verify controllable > flight and engine reliability.With that in mind I would offer the > following advice to anyone making the first flight of an airplane or to > a pilot making the first flight in an unproven airplane.I base the > following advice on my experience of making the first flight of my KR, a > Zenith 601 with a Harley engine, a Murphy Rebel with a 150 Lycoming > engine, and the first successful flight of a Zenith 750 Cruzer with a > 130 hp Honda engine.The builder of the Cruzer damaged the aircraft on > the first two attempted flights, the first on landing and the second on > takeoff.All four aircraft handled differently with two being STOL type, > the KR a speed machine, and the 601 a dossal easy flier.If someone makes > the first flight to prove the airplane you’re still going to have your > “first flight” in the aircraft so prepare accordingly.I encourage anyone > with different options or experiences to feel free to express them. > > Ground handling:The purpose of taxi testing is to insure adequate and > acceptable directional control of the aircraft on takeoff and landing.I > do not endorse long periods of taxi testing.You should be able to > determine in 30 minutes, to no more than one hour, if ground handling is > acceptable.This is determined by slow and advancing to high speed runs > approaching takeoff speed.Never advance to high speed taxi test on a > runway without both the pilot and aircraft completely ready for > flight.As you approach takeoff speed you may find yourself > airborne.Anything more than 30 minutes to an hour is unnecessary > exposure and is done more for pilot comfort than aircraft testing.Insure > directional control to near liftoff speed, reduce power to idle and > maintain directional control until exiting the runway. > > First flight:If all controls are “free and correct” and the C.G. is > within the specified range, the greatest threats to a successful flight > will be pilot over control or inadequate control and engine reliability. > In the case of the KR over control / PIO is the greatest threat.Make > every test possible to ensure engine reliability and then prepare the > pilot with either dual training in a similar aircraft or a good deal of > recent time in any aircraft and at least a ride in a similar aircraft > with maybe 15 minutes of stick time.Your first takeoff will be identical > to your high speed taxi test.Advance to full power, maintain directional > control, and when the aircraft feels light on the gear, use a very > slight back pressure on the stick and you’re airborne.Limit stick > movement at that point for several seconds so as not to induce > PIO.Establish a climb to altitude and monitor engine performance.If all > is well to altitude relax for a few minutes with some gentle turns to > get the feel of the aircraft.The only maneuvers I recommend for first > flight are one: a straight ahead power off stall to see what the ASI > shows at the stall break, and two: several gentle turns at less than 20 > degrees bank to test handling with either flaps or speed brakes deployed > and engine idle at approach speed.This should verify good control for > landing. > > The landing:If everything goes well to this point prepare yourself > mentally for landing with a well thought out approach.Make your pattern > slightly larger than normal to give yourself time to get things > stabilized.Use 1.2 or 1.3 times the indicated airspeed you noted in the > power off stall for the over the numbers airspeed.This should work well > on an adequate length runway.Any speed greater than that will only > increase the time in the flare, close to the ground, and put you at risk > for PIO.Ground handling once the mains are on the ground will be > identical to roll out during your high speed taxi test. > > In flight issues:If issues develop during the first flight, first of all > don’t panic.Stay within gliding distance of a landing site (preferably > the airport) in case of engine failure.Other issues, other than > control-ability, can be handled if you remain calm.An inaccurate or > inoperative ASI does not keep the airplane from flying.Same for VSI, > altimeter, compass, etc.. A highly inaccurate or inop ASI will probably > cause you to land hot so anticipate that and use the longest runway > available for landing.Engine instruments should be taken at face value > and assumed to be accurate until tested back on the ground.A low oil > pressure, oil or engine temps should be considered a reason to return > for landing.Mentally switch to landing mode and get back on the ground > without rushing to the point of being unsafe. > > Even if someone performs the first flight of your KR you will still be > making your first “solo flight” and nothing really is different except > the aircraft has been tested to some extent.I would still fly the same > routine to get comfortable in the airplane.If you have obtained your > pilot license and passed all the check rides you are capable of flying a > proven KR.The handling might differ from what you normally fly but not > beyond your capability.Prepare the airplane, prepare yourself, and go > have fun. > > ________________________________ > -Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > -To change list delivery options at > https://list.krnet.org/list/krnet.list.krnet.org/ Affinity List Info Board > -Search recent KRnet Archives at > https://list.krnet.org/empathy/list/krnet.list.krnet.org/ > -Search <https://list.krnet.org/empathy/list/krnet.list.krnet.org/-Search> > John Boyea's decades of archive at > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ ________________________________ -Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html -To change list delivery options at https://list.krnet.org/list/krnet.list.krnet.org/ Affinity List Info Board -Search recent KRnet Archives at https://list.krnet.org/empathy/list/krnet.list.krnet.org/ -Search John Boyea's decades of archive at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
