Folks,

 

My Lancair 360 flew for the first time yesterday!  I am the 4th owner of the kit and have invested 1500hrs over the last 22 months to get it into the air.  The flight was, for the most part, uneventful save for high CHTs on a new engine and the gear not lowering on the first attempt! Brief cracking of the dump valve allowed the gear to drop and then lock.  Subsequent cycling of the gear was normal. 

 

I employed a test pilot for the maiden flight.  He has 2000 hours in his own 360 and is an ex Navy Test pilot with most of his time in F14s.  All I can say is that he did an amazing job.  Feel free to email me for his contact information

 

On the second flight I experienced intermittant (1 second blips) operation of the gear pump - every five minutes.  This indicated a minor leak.  After a precautionary landing I traced the leak to a fitting in the nose gear well --- Was fine on pre-flight and the 100 or so times I cycled the gear on the ground!

 

Word to the wise - check every nut, bolt, rod end locks, fittings and hoses - mark it and then check it again!

Airplane details:

 

Outback gear and flaps

Long engine mount and 4" prop extension - very long nose - difficult to see over on round out

Big tail

Empty 1255#

IO360 w/ high compression pistons

Hobbs: 5hrs