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          Tue, 13 Feb 2001 11:18:01 -0500
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Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 11:27:21 -0500
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
From: Marvin Kaye <marvkaye@olsusa.com>
Subject: First Flight of N28K
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Posted for Ken Keeler <ken_keeler@yahoo.com>:

All,

Saturday, 3 Feb 2001 - eight years and ten months after receiving the "slow 
build" kit, at
Troutdale, Oregon N28KK has flown. It's been an interesting road, with many 
diversions along the
way, but definitely worth it when the wheels initially leave the ground.

First flight was uneventful, lasting a half hour or so. We discovered a 
longitudinal stability
issue. If you pitch it down and let go of the stick, or pitch it up and let 
go of the stick, it
tends to increase the pitch attitude selected. If you hold the stick it 
goes where you point it.
This is a long mount, MT prop, big tail, with CG in mid range for the flight.

The fix was to effectively lengthen the elevator by a couple of inches, now 
seems to handle very
well in all flight attitudes. Flight envelope testing is underway.

The flight ended with a stuck left main gear down indicator switch, so the 
first landing was
interesting. I thought the test pilot fly by was to wave, but he really 
wanted to have the tower
check for gear down.

Builder's assist center for the last few years was Emerald Aircrafters, Ted 
Backus is the owner
503.667.3282. Great group of guys to work with, their work is excellant, 
Ted has had many good
ideas for improvements, and his team always listened to what I wanted to do 
(even when I was
obviously way out in left field).

Test pilot was Len Fox of LAFox unlimited. 8k hours (mostly Navy), great 
guy, who has developed a
comprehensive flight test plan for the Lancairs, does a very thorough 
preflight (took one entire
day, with only minor issues), and is also great to work with. Len's at 
lenfox@hotmail.com, or
503.784.2323.

Only real major problem was recovering from the first flight party hangover.

Now to fly off the hours!

Ken


[Congratulations on that first flight, Ken... it's always great to hear 
when another Lancair has been "hatched" from the hangar and finally takes 
to the air.  I'll "blue-sky" your Builders' List entry and make the photos 
you provided available from there as well.  Excellent job!  Please keep us 
advised of your progress throughout the flight-testing phase.   <Marv>  ]

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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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