Joe, it was a "shake down" alright with an exhaust problem like yours.
on Sat we did some takeoffs and landings with the CFI Ron Miller.  With gross weight of 1850 pounds, on takeoff I'm getting 6500-7000  rpm and climb rate of about 1000 fpm. Than we went to 1500 ft over  the airport and i did some steep turns etc for about 40 min. It flies  like a dream (compared to C-172 :). Transponder did not work again.
Next day we got a waiver for the transponder and headed to an old uncontrolled military field with two huge 5000 ft runways, so i can practice landings and takeoffs. So we took off and headed for our destination at 3500 ft over alligator country. Pulled back the power  to 5000 rpm and we were cruising at 140 knots. Nothing spectacular,  but i kept the prop at low pitch to go easy on the engine. 15 min   later, we heard a bang and the plane felt like we run over a rock.  First reaction look for a place to land. But soon everything checked  out and the engine kept running normal with temps at 185-187F degrees  with OAT at 85F. Landed OK at our destination and taxied to the FBO.  Ron got out first and started looking, but can not find anything  wrong? I got out and noticed a slight scuff like a drag mark 3" wide  on one of the Ivo blades starting about where the exhaust would be  and going to the tip. The las oval piece of my shiny new exhaust was  missing. Mystery solved. Ivo is a one tough prop to survive a 3" long  3" diam. SS pipe going hitting the blade.  We continued with the  training and I was getting good at it but with lots of full power  takeoffs and not enough time for the engine to cool down, some of the  coolant boiled out on takeoff and we came down to replace to add more  coolant and check under the hood. Added some water, cleaned the plugs, just in case and took off again.
By now it was a sweltering heat with jungle like humidity and after  few landings, we headed home. The trip was uneventful, the engine was  running fine around 5000 rpm. The biggest surprise later was after I  removed the SS heat shields from around my new exhaust pipes. one  pipe was totaly separated at the weld, another was half cracked.
Sound familiar Joe:) The exhaust pulses must be ferocious? people on  the ground said they can hear me long before they can see me coming:)
More later. Got to go to work.
Bulent "Buly" Aliev
FXE Ft lauderdale, FL
http://tinyurl.com/s5xw8

On Sep 5, 2006, at 11:47 PM, Joe Hull wrote:

OK - it's supposed to be "Shake down cruise" - don't tell me you  broke down
somewhere!!

But congrats on flying it anyway!!

Joe Hull
Cozy Mk-IV N31CZ (65 hrs - Rotary 13B NA)
Redmond (Seattle), Washington

-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft  [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Bulent Aliev
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 8:20 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: OT: Gardenhose as level

Guess I need to buy some expensive clear hose .....
Finn

Finn, if you buy the right size, one day you can used for your fuel
lines on the next airplane. Worked very well on the first one :)
Buly
Finally checked out in my plane.
Did my first 100 mile "cross country". Or should I say "break down
cruise" :),

--
Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/

--
Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/

--
Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/