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I saw the missed call... and knew you were close with the taxi tests
lately... Glad it went off without a hitch.. Its been a long 10
years.... Hope you get any glitches sorted out quickly and you get
to enjoy that plane... I will catch up with you and come look at it
sometime soon.
Dave
On 6/9/2012 12:04 PM, Chris Barber wrote:
Thanks Dave. I tried to call you
Sent from my iPhone 4
Well Done Sir!
Dave
On 6/9/2012 11:52 AM, Chris Barber wrote:
June 9, 2002 - A trailer
pulled up in front of a simple but comfortable home in
Houston.
Lots of trails, tribulations blood, time, money,
recreation, education, fun, friendships, anger,
frustration, problem solving, sweat, pondering
etc....repeat and repeat again and again.
Fast forward (it did go fast)
June 9, 2012 -
Ellington Field - A lone, very nervous man arrives
at the airport shortly before 0900 hrs. Pushes onto
the ramp the contraption composed of fiberglass,
metal et al and the ingredients listed above. He
sits down and writes a simple holographic (hand
written) will and short note with information to
call "Mom" and work. Calls tower to relay intent via
the phone.
Preflights the contraption. Gets in, goes though
basic Checklist. Cranks up the engine, which fires
right up at about 0920 hrs. Taxi to Juliet. Calls
tower to verify intent and to taxi to active, 35L.
Taxis to Taxiway Echo. Checks temps. Pushing 195
with OAT reading 95 degrees (geesh it is only about
0930 hrs).
Cleared to take active and hold. Taxied out.
Lined up castering nose wheel down center stripe.
Cleared to take off. Added power and engine smoothly
ran up. Airspeed coming in. 30 kts...50 kts ....60
kts, approximate rotation speed. Lots of runway
(9000 ft).....hold it....70 kts....72 kts... Slight
pull on the yoke....AIRBORNE!!! Leaped into ground
effect. Screw this, pulled back on yoke and I am
climbing. Jiggled the yoke a bit to verify control
authority.
Climbed to about 400 feet and turned right pattern
to crosswind. The Dynon altitude and airspeed seem to
be working. That's reassuring. Pattern altitude is
only 600 feet and I was there already as I turned to
downwind. Leveled off and noticed the clouds were
lower than reported and appeared on the ground. Also,
noticed coolant temps had dropped to 190....but oil
temps were flashing at me and had reached 225
(synthetic Royal Purple). Damn. Ok. Fly the airplane,
the oil is not at not a critical level. , but let's
just finish the pattern and land. I grabbed my phone
while on downwind and attempted to record some data
but while I can hear the engine the video is
awful....uh, in my defense, I was a bit distracted
and way more concerned with flying. I called the tower
and informed them I was coming in. I think they were
looking out for me since as I turned to base I noticed
the fire department staged just off the runways
threshold
I noted I was a bit far out on down wind so I
stared easing over to turn base. Wow. I really
overshot it as I blew by the runway and had to use
full right rudder to get back to the runway. I wish I
had had more rudder. In hindsight I think I was not
using much aileron as I was cognoscente that I had no
idea of stall characteristics so I did not yet wish
too strep a turn. I was able to get over the runway
and dump some altitude as I got over the numbers and
pulled power. Crap, I am fast. I am lined up and right
on the numbers but at 95 kts. I come and touchdown and
bounced. Pulled power to idles and settled down easily
but fast at 90 and rolled out and exited at Delta. The
tower was clearing me back to the city hangars as I
was exiting the active. I taxi back and noticed the
oil temps had decreased but I don't recall how much,
just noticed they were lower.
I got back to my hangar and popped the door and
shut her down. The engine went silent without any
hissing or gushing.
I called my mom.
I am mowing informing the world.
I did a walk around and did not see anything
missing. I am about to pull the cowl and check things
out.
I did notice I did not develop a slight hand
shaking untill after I landed and exited the aircraft.
;-) Hey, how about that, it really is an aircraft
now. Ten years to the day following delivery.
Thank you for your support.
Christopher Barber, JD
Houston, Ellington Field (EFD)
Velocity N17010
Turbo Rotary 13b
RWS Re-drive and engine computers
Dynon Skyview
Mistral intake
Sent from my iPhone 4
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