-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]
On Behalf Of Perry Mick
Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 5:00 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] First Flight Too

Well, not exactly. After 5 years and 500 hours of direct-drive,
ducted-fan rotary flying, I did a short first-flight around the
pattern
today with a new configuration: RD1B and a prop.

Looks like I was unsubscribed from Flyrotary, had to go on the
archive
site to get caught up on the emails.

Congratulations to Paul Conner on a successful first flight, welcome
to
the club!

I am used to getting pushed back in my seat when I apply full
throttle
for takeoff. The open prop seems very sluggish while taxiing, and at
the
start of takeoff roll. I can feel the blades "unstall" after
building up
some speed. This is something I never experienced with the ducted
fan. I
saw 5400 RPM on climbout, higher than before (5100). 5400 was max.
level
flight RPM with the ducted fan, so I expect it will go up to 6000
with
the PSRU. I shed 36 lbs. in the propulsion system doing the
changeover,
and had to remove the weather radar indicator from the panel and the
wx
antenna from the nose (additional 16 lbs. combined) to get the cg
back
(radar needs repair anyway, it's just been balast for a long time).
Climb rate is definitely better (higher revving engine, less
weight).
I'm hoping to get at least 180 mph in cruise, 155 was about the best
I
could do with the ducted fan.

Perry



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