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Hi ALL!

Diane and I have completed the first 4 high speed taxi tests
on 333EX Thursday.

We had just finished securing the last of the wires in the
engine compartment and drilled the new holes for the
extended cowl. We decided it was time to try it out.

We taxied out to runway 1 at STS and started down the
runway at full throttle.  I eased back at 40 knots and just
kept it there for 3/4 of the runway.  There was no unexpected
tendency to deviate from the center line and the rudder was
feeling authoritve.  Diane kept an eye on temperatures and
pressures and everything was in the green.

At the end of the first run we discovered the
only thing that went wrong for the entire 4 tests, we
forgot to buckle our seatbelts!  So on our second run on
19 we buckled in and went to 50 knots. no surprises.

I reflexed the flaps to cruise to ensure no inadvertent
first flights and on the third run let it ride up to 65 knots.
I held that for a shorter while and maintained complete
control.

The fourth run was to 70 knots and I tried moving the
stick a little to the right and the plane started tracking to
the right, rudder and stick brought it back to the center
line.

I am glad that Diane was in the plane at that point for
I think if I was solo that I would have been too tempted
to perform first flight right there and then.  I do feel
good about taxing to the hangar and doing a complete
inspection which found a tiny oil leak at the separator needed
attention.

We are almost flying!

Gerard


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