Congratulations, Mark! Amazing how all of those hundreds of projects turn into an airplane - almost like magic - almost {:>)
Yes, Ron Gowan was one of the early pioneers with his rotary powered Long EZ. I was contacted by another one of the early pioneers, Terry Adams. He put a rotary in his T-18, unfortunately he was using a Mazda auto CPU (before the days of Tracy Crook) and had the infamous over temp problems and on his second flight the CPU apparently shut the engine down at 800 ft on take off. Plane flipped on landing in a plowed field. He was OK but decided to put it all aside for a while (about 15+ years ago). He has rebuilt his T-18 and is talking about getting back into the rotary game. Ron mentioned that he was thinking about it at one point as well.
Anyhow, now you will get the change to be know as one of the old timers in rotary aviation with one of the first 3 rotor's in a Lancair to get going.
Let us know when you plan the first flight
Ed
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 4:59 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Logbook Question
Kelly,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. The rains have stopped here in central Texas, the sun is once again shining, and the doves returned to the ark with twigs in their mouths. The DAR came out to the airport today in his kayak and did the final inspection on my Lancair ES/20B project. And he actually signed it off!!! So, it is officially an "airplane" and no longer a "project". How about that? Its been a long haul, but now the fun begins... as soon as I get some recurrency training to bring me up to speed. He said I did a good job with much attention to detail, then he took my money and left. ;-) I'll should get the paperwork in the mail in a few days. Soon I'll be starting the 40-hour testing phase. I had asked for a 200 mile radius, but that would have put me over the Houston area, so he cut it down to 100 miles. He said that the FAA frowns on more than that, especially with auto conversions. So, I'lll have to make do with a 100 mile radius.
If anyone wants/needs a DAR with rotary experience, and you're in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, I would highly recommend this inspector. His name is Ron Gowan. He has 500 hrs PIC flying a rotary. He also has composites experience. I felt that he would be a good choice even if he didn't have extensive composites experience.
He said the two biggest areas to pay very close attention is the psru and the cooling system. He said that the rotary engine is rock solid. (That really impressed the old timers at the airport.)
So, all you guys working away month after month, keep the faith, there is a glorious day coming. ;-)
Mark S.
On 7/7/07, Kelly Troyer <keltro@att.net> wrote:
Mark,
Pulling for you !! You will certainly have one going and
beautiful aircraft........Will absolutely be a plus for the Rotary
movement in general and a worthy addition to the somewhat
rare 20B engine group.......
--
Kelly Troyer
"Dyke Delta"_13B ROTARY Engine
"RWS"_RD1C/EC2/EM2
"Mistral"_Backplate/Oil Manifold
-------------- Original message from "Mark Steitle" <
msteitle@gmail.com>: --------------
> Mark Steitle wrote:
>
>> Here's a non-rotary question for the group. The DAR will be
>> coming out Monday morning to inspect my project. Hopefully it
>> will qualify as an airplane once he's done. He mentioned to me to
>> be sure to have my airframe logbook so that he can make his
>> required log entry. (Here's the problem.) I don't have a logbook
>> yet. But according to an A&P on the Lancair list, the logbook can
>> be done in 3-ring binder format, or even on computer. I would
>> like to make one up in the 3-ring binder format, but don't have
>> any idea of what's required. Anyone on the list been through thi s
>> and have a page format they are willing to share? Mark S.