Airplane Project

[robert843]

Congrats on the first engine run how about some video of that bad boy firing!

 

[tim h]

I spoke with Jeff on the phone for a little while yesterday while hanging at Honeymoon island.
Very awesome news on the plane !

 

[upperdeck]

Thanks Robert and Tim! I have a video of the first SUCCESSFUL engine run. The first attempts failed miserably because the fuel mapping was so lean the engine couldn't run. Since then I've had several successful runs, some at high rpm and manifold pressure setting. In other words ball to the wall! The hardest run was enough to lift the tail off the ground despite being tied down to my truck bumper!

First flight won't be long now!

 

[upperdeck]

So last week, I had the FAA over to the hanger. The FAA guy gave the airplane one serious inspection that took about 5 hours. Upon completion of the Airworthiness Inspection, this thing is now legally considered an official Airplane. It is legal to fly!

It took me a few days to reassemble all of the open access panels and reinstall the interior. Since then, taxi testing has been completed and the brake pads conditioned.

This week we had one first flight scheduled that was canceled due to high winds. Sometime next week it should make its maiden flight...

 

[robert843]

So last week, I had the FAA over to the hanger. The FAA guy gave the airplane one serious inspection that took about 5 hours. Upon completion of the Airworthiness Inspection, this thing is now legally considered an official Airplane. It is legal to fly!

It took me a few days to reassemble all of the open access panels and reinstall the interior. Since then, taxi testing has been completed and the brake pads conditioned.

This week we had one first flight scheduled that was canceled due to high winds. Sometime next week it should make its maiden flight...



View attachment 76058 View attachment 76060

Look @Andy S he made just in time to fly down and pick up @tim h and fly him over for the June Bimini trip!

 

[upperdeck]

Look @Andy S he made just in time to fly down and pick up @tim h and fly him over for the June Bimini trip!

I wish! I need to complete 40 hours of test flying before I can leave Wisconsin! Next year, as long as I can hitch a ride on someone's boat upon arrival!

 

[bronze_10]

Will u do the initial flight or do u have to have a specialist do it?

 

[robert843]

Will u do the initial flight or do u have to have a specialist do it?

Lol I was curious as well if I built an airplane I'm pretty sure I would hire someone else to fly it first but I bet @upperdeck is a more skilled mechanic then I am.

 

[upperdeck]

Will u do the initial flight or do u have to have a specialist do it?

I've arranged for a trusted friend with far more experience to do the first flight.

 

[tim h]

I’ve got thousand of hours flying.... although they were sitting on the floor on the ride up to altitude !

 

[seanmclean]

I don't know which requires a hardier set - first flight in a plane you built yourself, or first flight in a plane someone else built.

This is such a cool thread, can't wait to see it take to the skies. What are your plans for paint?

 

[tim h]

Jeff has told me that paint will go on over the winter...

 

[upperdeck]

Some further explanations... The EAA has a program that provides oversight of these activities, a mentoring kind of thing. They have Technical Counselors that specialize in each type of construction (metal, fiberglass, tube or wood and fabric, etc.) They also have Flight Advisers that assist in planning flight testing, etc. These are guys that have lots of experience. I'm fortunate enough to have a friend that has served as Motivator/Tech Counselor/Flight Adviser. He's been along for this entire six year journey and is the guy that will do my first flights. He knows the quality and history of the build and thus has no reservation about flying this machine.

I plan to have the plane painted this winter when I won't be flying as often. As for exterior paint colors, I'm doing the red that is in the interior, silver or gray, and black. My inspiration is the Cirrus look, though it won't be a direct copy of course. Similar to this...

 

[octavio3311]

BADASS!!!

 

[upperdeck]

The first flight of N526T took place last night at 6:50pm. Test pilot reports that it flew straight, true, and fast, but hot. The flight was abbreviated because the engine was running a bit hot.

 

[tim h]

Awesome !!

 

[bronze_10]

Air cooled or liquid cooled? What will need to be adjusted to keep it cool?

 

[upperdeck]

Air cooled or liquid cooled? What will need to be adjusted to keep it cool?

It's air cooled. The cooling ducting around the engine will need to be sealed up better.

 

[bronze_10]

I would think air cooled would be a lot easier once it is dialed in..

 

[Zonie]

Very Cool! Keep us updated.