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Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:39:25 -0500
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From: "Janie & Ed Smith" <2luv2fly@cox.net>
Subject: N9JE First Flight
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Friday Morning
1/30/09

Good Morning Everyone!

I have been amazed at the number of congratulations we have received for the 
recent flight of our IV-P.  Thanks to everyone for the encouraging words and 
kind comments.  My words to folks still building - don't give up!  My words 
to folks flying - now I know why it was worth all the effort!

The first flight is just the beginning - it brings on a whole new set of 
"opportunities" after it flies.  The first flight was flown by Dennis 
Pratt - a Lancair IV-P builder / owner for the past 12 years (over 1300 hrs 
TT).  I owe a lot of my experience to Dennis - a huge thanks to him - for 
everything!

Charlie Kohler was our DAR.  I would have taken a monetary bet that our 
airplane was squawk free, but no - far from it!  The items that Charlie 
found were evidence that "experience" is the best thing to have when someone 
inspect your airplane.  His knowledge came from years of experience of 
"having been there - done that - see almost all of it"!  In my opinion, his 
inspection was money well spent.  He is a valuable asset to our Lancair 
community!

Testing phase is going pretty well.  The stalls we did were very predictable 
(I didn't know what to expect from something I built).  The stall strips we 
installed (Charlie's guidelines) worked!  We had about a 5 knot "buffet" 
before the stall and with some careful rudder work, the stall was straight, 
predictable and recoverable.  As the test phase progresses, we will begin 
loading the airplane toward the aft CG to determine how the takeoffs and 
landings are affected.  Our bird's CG is further aft than I would have 
liked, but so far, no ill tendencies.

Again - thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement and 
congratulations!  The LML is indeed a great group of very talented people!

Our best regards to everyone!

Ed & Janie Smith
N9JE
Chesapeake, VA