Hi All,

A couple of days ago, I actually went for a couple of more test flights.  This time to prove the cooling mods, new pitch setting, and the aux fuel tank now residing in the back of the beast.

OAT was 67F in Pensacola, (eat your heart out Perry).  After start and taxi, I had to wait about 7-8minutes at the runway for oil temp to get up to 135F.  Take off temps never got above 175 for coolant and 165 for oil.  This is reassuring after the earlier attempts.

Like Bill Eslick, I got the most cooling benefit by enlarging the area of the cowl outlet flap and sealing around the rads.

We stayed at pattern altitude and reduced power to about 3600 or 80 kts.   On landing the temps came down to about 160 and showed the same max temps on repeated takeoffs. 

 

The Ivo pitch was reduced by ~6” to 60” in an effort to get more RPM/ power developed without reducing pitch too much and losing thrust.  Acceleration was better and we lifted of in less than 1000ft and climbed out at 1200 fpm.  RPM never got above 4900 at WOT, but this is an improvement of ~400 rpm from the previous setting.  Should I reduce pitch more?

 

This thing is almost fun now!!

Tommy James<><