Congratulations on an uneventful and successful first flight, Dave.  It
gives the rest of us inspiration to get our projects completed and flying as
well.  Paul Conner, 13b powered SQ2000 canard

----- Original Message -----
From: "DaveLeonard" <daveleonard@cox.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 7:11 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Into the Blue


> 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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