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From: "Mike Wills" <rv-4mike@cox.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
References: <list-3407988@logan.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: List activity?
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 19:05:53 -0800
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Did some looking into the ASI problem today. Found the RMI to be reading 5 
knots low above 120 KTS with the error getting increasingly worse at lower 
speeds (non-linear repsonse). The RMI manual indicates that the minimum 
displayed airspeed is 30 KTS (found in testing that it would actually 
display down to 25 KTS). Below that it reads zero. The high threshold in 
combo with the non-linear calibration results in the RMI reading 0 at 
anything below 45 KTS which was just about how fast I was going yesterday. 
If I'd gone another couple of knots faster I think it would have worked, 
though it would have read low.

 So I recalibrated the instrument which corrected the non-linear response 
also. The RMI now tracks my glider ASI (which I used as a reference) up to 
it's 140 KT max.

 So I think I'm ready to try again. Yesterday was absolutely perfect 
weather, today IMC all day, tomorrow is forecast to rain. Maybe sunday?

 My old RV-6A also had gear shimmy issues. We added the stiffeners and it 
helped but never did fully solve the issue. On the -4 I figured I'd try it 
without the stiffeners first - why add the weight and work if it's not 
needed? I lowered the tire pressure today. My 6A was sensitive to tire 
pressure and when it was just right the shimmy would go away. I'll try it at 
this pressure and if that doent do the trick I guess I'll be adding the wood 
stiffeners also.

Mike Wills
N144MW

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Anderson" <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 9:12 AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: List activity?


> Good to hear the report, Mike.
>
> Having had to fly once in my flying career without an airspeed indicator, 
> I
> can say you made the smart decision - it's not fun and particular with an
> aircraft/powerplant you are still sorting out.
>
> By the way, I went the old school approach on my Rv-6A gear legs and
> attached the wooden stiffeners around the gear rods.  Never have had a
> shimmy after 10 years and 500 hours. The wood tends to dampen any energy
> fluctuations that could build up at a resonant frequency and cause shimmy.
> Just though I would mention it.
>
> Looking forward to hearing more progress reports
>
> Ed
>
>
> Ed Anderson
>
> Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
>
> Matthews, NC
>
> eanderson@carolina.rr.com
>
> http://www.andersonee.com
>
> http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW
>
> http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
> Behalf Of Mike Wills
> Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 9:33 PM
> To: Rotary motors in aircraft
> Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: List activity?
>
> OK, I'll kick in my $.02. I've gotten about 5 hours of dual in a Citabria
> the last few days and am feeling pretty confident with the taildragger. So
> figured it was time to fly (past time?). Got a couple of friends out to
> observe and help if needed. Changed the oil and a last minute checkout of
> things. Then off to the runway.
>
> Power comes up smoothly and tail is up in a couple of seconds. The RV
> handles much nicer than the Citabria up on 2 wheels. A glance at the RMI
> uEncoder - rats airspeed reads 0. GPS says groundspeed is 48MPH and I'm
> directly into a 6Kt headwind so should be indicating around 55MPH. So 
> rather
>
> than fly a first flight without any indication of airspeed I back off the
> power and settle back to 3 points.
>
> As I'm slowing I get a pretty severe shimmy in the gear and tower reports
> it's the right main. Pretty typical RV - my old 6A also had gear shimmy
> issues.
>
> Now I'm back in maintenance mode, but feel quite a bit more confident of
> the RV taildragger handling. Once I got the shimmy stopped I powered back 
> up
>
> and ran pretty much the full 8000 length of the runway on the mains at 
> about
>
> 40MPH back to my hangar.
>
> If I can get the airspeed and shimmy situations addressed I may be able to
> make another try this weekend.
>
> Oh, should mention that with the extended (8,000') taxi to the departure
> end, runup, a 5 minute wait for traffic to clear, and then my high speed
> taxi back to the hangar, oil temp was stable at 175 and coolant at 180. 
> I'm
> feeling pretty confident in the cooling system also.
>
> Mike Wills
> N144MW
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Christopher Barber" <CBarber@TexasAttorney.net>
> To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:27 AM
> Subject: [FlyRotary] List activity?
>
>
>> Ok, am I just missing any activity on this list over the last week?  Snce
>> I have hopefully got my strakes repaired I am back to working on the
>> engine and really like knowing you guys and gals are around for support,
>> insight and encouragment.
>>
>> Hello?
>>
>> All the best,
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> preparing for a busy night serving and protecting.......
>>
>>
>> --
>> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
>> Archive and UnSub:
>> http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html
>>
>
>
>
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