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N4VY slipped the surly bonds of earth today for the first time! RV-6 QB
#60033 with a turbo 13B Rotary engine.
The flight was as spectacular and uneventful as I could have hoped.
Initial climb out at 31" yielded about 1500 fpm. (solo half fuel). at 500
feet I throttled back to 29", the 25" and maintained a steady climb all the
way up to 4500'. And that's where I stayed for the next hour, doing laps
over the field. Coolant topped at 80C (176F) during the climb then leveled
at 90C(194F) for most of the flight. It never went above 90C (the RMI
monitor only gives coolant in 10 deg C increments, so the next would be 100C
or 212F). Oil topped out at 70C (158F) briefly during some slow flight but
mostly stayed at about 66C (180F). OAT was 27C (80F) throughout the flight.
I didn't see the same cooling on descent that Steve Brooks had seen. I was
still 80C on touchdown (all three of them ;-)
The engine ran without a hiccup the whole flight. I set a limit of 31"MAP
for the first flight. It was hard to keep such a fast plane truly level,
but during my "speed" runs I was at about 30"MAP, 5600 RPM (2680 Prop) and
160 KTAS (TAS according to the calibrated RMI encoder). It is clear that in
the long run I will be prop limited, as I am guessing I will hit my prop
redline of 6000 engine RPM at about 34"MAP. But I eventually plan to run
about 45"MAP so its time to start saving my pennies for that C/S prop. Like
Rusty, my computer B runs poorly at idle (which I attribute to the MAP pick
up location being at the end of the runners), but I never noticed the switch
when at cruise.
I didn't even bother with fuel burn this flight, but at this point I don't
really care (too much grin). But I used about 1/3 tank of fuel in 1 hour.
The airframe flew great and handled just like an RV-6 should. Anne Couldn't
even keep the camera on me as she was so surprised how fast I climbed out.
There was a slight left roll when hands off, which got lighter as I burned
off fuel (all the fuel was in the left tank and I was on the left. The
turbo is also on the left along with the avionics(left main 20 # heavier).
All in all I am guessing that I am pretty close to balanced. There was no
significant rudder input needed for any phase, and straight an level was
feet off at 25"MAP ( I have a left turning prop - lucky guess with my V-stab
and engine alignments). My biggest problem was keeping it from climbing
into the class B at 4900', It just kept going up! :-)
Slow flight was typical for the RVs I have flown and my one stall had a very
slight right wing drop.
Landing was a 'precautionary' full-flap, 3-point, and 3 touchdowns ;-)
Tower complimented on a nice looking airplane so I was too busy grinning
that I just forgot to call ground until I was halfway back to the hangar.
Small oil leak at the oil pressure sensor upon taking off the cowl.
Otherwise no issues.
Tomorrow I fly off to Brown Field and my flight test area. 1 fun hour Down
and 39 to go.
Thanks so much for all the help over the years from the Rotary lists,
RV-lists, Vans, and especially the Wife. Keep building - the day does
actually get there (mine took 5 years).
David Leonard (still can't stop grinning)
The Rotary Roster (soon to be updated ;-)
http://members.aol.com\_ht_a\rotaryroster\index.html
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