On 6/24/2019 10:15 AM, Pete Klapp via KRnet wrote:
So now comes flight testing which has me in a quandary as I'm being advised
not to conduct the first flight myself as I am too invested in the plane having
spent over a decade building it.
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Pete,
Great to hear you're about ready to fly and add another KR to the
register. I'll throw out my opinion of "first flight" testing for what
it's worth based on having done the first flight on three different
experimental models, checked myself out in high performance years ago
(c-182) , and flew an Aeronca Chief without a checkout.
First off I'm as much concerned about the pilot as the airplane being
ready to fly. Based on my experience I'd not advise anyone to make a
first flight on an aircraft unless they have a minimum of 250 flight
hours and 50 hours in the last 12 months. Anything less than that and
you are probably not as "comfortable" in an airplane as you are getting
in to your family car. You won't handle issues as well or as quickly if
they arise and be able to fly the airplane while working out a problem.
Second. Never take the airplane to a runway unless everything is ready
to go as if you're intending to fly. That means fuel, all systems fully
operational, seat belts, and whatever else needed for flight. Start
your taxi test as if you intend to fly. I'm also not a big fan of hours
and hours of taxi testing. Too much exposure. If the airplane and
pilot are both ready to fly then taxi test enough to confirm the
airplane is controllable and you get a feel for how it handles on the
ground. Anything more than that is unnecessary exposure. Airplanes are
meant to fly and ground handling is just a necessary means to that end.
Finally, I don't recommend "crow hopping" to anyone on a first flight
even if you have 8000 feet of runway like I do at my home base. You
will use a fair amount of runway to get airborne on the first flight
with a slow throttle advance, lift off and cover 100+ feet per second,
and then try to make your first landing after three or four seconds of
flight in a new airplane. No thanks. Things happening too fast and the
end of the runway is approaching.
If the airplane is controllable immediately after lift off, climb to
altitude, I'd go to 3000 feet, throttle back to a low cruise setting and
start doing some shallow turns working up to thirty degrees in 10
degree increments. Next, straight and level, reduce power to idle and
hold altitude until you feel a stall buffet or get a break. Note the
"indicated" airspeed and multiply that times 1.3 and use that for
approach. After that, if you have flaps or speed brake, work them to
full down in steps while making turns up to 20 degrees in a near idle
glide. That will insure no handling problems during approach. If
everything looks good to that point you're ready to go land and
celebrate your first flight. Remember to monitor engine instruments
during all of this and cut the flight short if there is any problems.
If you have flaps or drag devises, use them on the landing. Landing a KR
without drag is not all that comfortable, even for me with 700 hours in
my KR. If you have drag, use it. Also, you might want to have someone
on the radio and talk you down the last 10 feet or so. You'll have the
seat cushion firmly in grasp by you cheeks on the first landing and may
tend to flare a bit high and do a major thud on landing.
KR's are great flying airplanes and you'll get the feel of the light
controls within 30 seconds after liftoff. Get the first flight over and
you're on your way to hundreds of hours of fun, fun,
fun,....................
Be safe.
Larry Flesner
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