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Message
Hi folks,
Just thought I would report on my most
recent and longer Lancair 360 journeys. Maybe add a little less depressing
tone to the recent emails...
I left my home in Chapel Hill, NC on
Sunday for business meetings in Phoenix. I planned an overnight in Tulsa -
it happens to be almost exactly half way, and I have a friend who lives there
that I haven't seen in 16 years. Uneventful flight out there at 12,000
feet. 203 KTAS and just under 8.5
GPH.
Got ready to leave on Monday AM (8:30 AM)
and the starter wouldn't turn the engine over. Put the jumpers on it and
it still wouldn't start (9:30 AM). Someone called a mechanic, who
proclaimed the starter as dead (10:15 AM) . Towed to maintenance hangar,
starter removed, new starter installed (after driving a few miles to purchase a
new starter) (11:30 AM). Starter still won't turn over - troubleshooting
begins with look at relays, progresses to checking grounds and wiring. Bad
connection where starter cable runs through firewall (post method) is
identified and snugged up. Engine spins easily (12:30 PM). Figure
now that cowl is off, why not put the old starter back on since there was no
apparent problem with it. Put old starter back on, cowl replaced, pulled
out of hangar (1:15 PM). Engine won't turn over. Lots of
cursing and swearing. Cowl removed and new starter put BACK on and tested
(checked fine) (2:00 PM). Starts like a charm. Refile for flight to
Phoenix (3rd time that day) and take off. Shortly after take-off, realize
I'm not going very fast... after re-engaging my brain I discover the gear is
still down and locked. Called tower to return to airport. Landed and
figured out the problem was the hydraulic pressure issue where a line needs to
be cracked open. Fixed, refiled and back in the air by 3:00
PM.
Anybody need a starter core? I ended
up buying my for $100...
What an ordeal! Finally made it to
Phoenix about 4:00 hours later.
Returned from Phoenix yesterday.
Longest 1 day of flying in my experience. After finishing my
meetings I hopped in the 360 and headed out. Fuel stop in Tulsa and
back in the air just as it was getting dark. Over Nashville at 17,000 I
picked up some ice, but as it was dark it took me a minute to figure out why I
had lost 10 - 15 KIAS. The whole event was VERY quiet. At first
I figured it was just precip, but when the plane didn't pick it's speed back up
and I had to maintain the pitch up attitude, I figured something wasn't
right. Flashlight showed the ice. Descended to 13,000 feet where I
shed the ice and proceeded uneventfully
home.
With the exception of the starter problem
it was a joy. Travelled on my schedule and the Lancair ran like a
dream.
Four day trip (three days in the
plane).
Total distance 3,396 nautical
miles.
Total fuel burn 127
gallons
Average groundspeed 194
knots
Average economy 30.5 statute
MPG
Odd thing that I notice is the extreme
fluctuations in airspeed while in cruise: 5 - 8 KIAS in smooth air with no
changes to power. Auto pilot on (with altitude hold), and Fuel flows,
MP, RPM, EGT... don't budge, but
KIAS moves up and down 5 to 8
knots...
Keep
flying...
Matt
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