KRnetHeads, I spent all day at the airport today, getting N56ML ready to fly again. The brake bleeder situation was a breeze. Screwed in the new parts (thanks to AS&S and FedEX both, oddly enough), pumped up the system with brake fluid from the bleeder using an oilcan, and was done in 20 minutes. My aileron control system is a pain to set up, but it's adjustable to the point that if you fiddle with it enough, you can get the rigging perfect, which is how I left it tonight. There are a lot of loose ends that I had when I almost fell out of the sky two months ago, but all of those are fixed now. I have covers over the aileron bellcranks, GPS mounted to the panel so I can actually use it, seats are upholstered, fuel gauge actually works and is deadly accurate, flap switch now has a momentary position for down and a "down" ultrabright warning LED, aileron trim is right on, wing/stub gap seals are more secure (although still temporary gaffers's tape), the glare shield is now painted flat black, etc. And best of all, it's in a well-stocked hangar that's 12 minutes from home. My side of the hangar even has a fridge with Heineken, Corona, and Amber Bock in stock at all times, thanks to Jim Hill.
I do believe the 54 x 54 Sensenich has even more pull at low speeds than the Sterba, despite the smaller engine displacement and slower engine speed (2770 static). When I firewall it now, the tail comes up within ten feet. I did about 10 taxi tests this afternoon as the sun was setting, and that 40' wide runway doesn't look nearly as narrow as I thought it was. Funny thing about flying out of MDQ was that I gravitated to the left side of the runway, because I could tell I wasn't about to run off the right side. If I assume that same position on M38's runway, I'm on the centerline! I watched Troy Petteway put a KingAir 200 down on it one day, and I'm not sure he even used the brakes, so I think I'll be OK. The engine is smooth and sounds great, the plane is full of 100LL, the weather is great, and I'm gonna fly it in the morning, and the rest of the day as well. I feel a yeeeeeeehaaaaaaa coming on.... Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net --------------------------------------------------------------
