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czechsix(at)juno.com
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 Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject: N2D First Flight |
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Guys, most if not all of you have already seen my first flight report on
Doug Reeves' or Van's websites, just in case anybody hasn't I thought I'd
copy it to the various Lists I've followed over the past 6 years. Wish I
could remember the names of everybody who has answered questions I have
had, or posted information I have found invaluable during the contruction
of N2D. I often find myself wondering how people built airplanes before
the internet! Thanks for all your help and hope to see many of you in
the air and at fly-ins around the country in the months/years ahead.
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A N2D finally flying...
----
Well folks, N2D is now officially an AIR-plane. The FAA signed me off
Friday Feb 10th and on Wed morning (Feb 15) I woke up to calm winds and I
said to myself, it's time to go flying. I get out to the airport, push
it out of the hangar, do a careful preflight, and can't think of any
excuse not to go. Don my nomex flight suit and helmet and strap myself
in. "Clear Prop!" Engine lights off and the plane comes alive with a
brief shudder and rumble as the vibration ripples through the aluminum
airframe. Taxi out to the end of the East Tees and dial up ground
control: "Cedar Rapids Ground, RV November Two Delta, Experimental...."
Feels good to say that. Tell them I'm ready to do first flight and want
to depart Three-One and circle the airport to 4000'. No problemo. After
the run-up I call Tower and they give me "Position and Hold Three-One,
regional jet landing Niner."
I move out onto the runway, line up with the centerline and wait. I
haven't really been apprehensive about flying this bird but as I sit
there for a few moments, it sorta hits me that I am about to take off in
an airplane that has never flown before....that arrived as boxes of parts
and I assembled in my garage. I think to myself, ya know, this is a
little bit crazy... My thoughts are interrupted by the Tower calling out
"RV Two
Delta, cleared for takeoff." I take a deep breath and push the throttle
forward very slowly. I don't bother looking much at the airspeed, since
I
don't know if it will be accurate. I just wait until it has that 'ready
to fly' feeling and pull back gently on the stick. And up we go. I
realize I
still don't have full power in so I open it up all the way and feel the
constant-speed prop bite in and lunge skyward. Now I am just hanging on
for dear life and hoping nothing bad happens until I can get a little
altitude and catch my breath.
Well, nothing bad happens and eventually my brain catches up with the
airplane. Before I know it I am pushing the nose over at 4K.' My CHT's
are getting a bit high from the climb but nothing out of limits. I
wiggle the stick side-to-side a bit. The wings rock back and forth
briskly in perfect synch with the stick. Gotta love that fighter-like
control response. Flies like an RV....
I circle lazily above the airport for a while, adjusting my oil temp
control and keeping a close eye on all the engine vital signs.
Everything looking good. I peer down on the poor schmucks in the
regional jets landing below me and try not to feel smug. Ok, back to the
task at hand....need to do a few stalls just to see if my airspeed is
working right at low speeds. I head northwest out over the open
farmland. After some more maneuvers I pull the power back slowly to
idle....nose coming up....watching the ASI. Slight buffet and clean
break at 50 kts with flaps
up. Try another one with full flaps...breaks right at 45 kts.
Beautiful. Power back in to 24-squared....gotta run it hard for proper
break-in. I
glance at the flight timer and am surprised to see that an hour has gone
by already.
Time to head back to the aerodrome. I check my six for enemy fighters
and, seeing none, key the mic and tell Cedar Rapids I am ready to return.
They come back with "Wind 040 at 9, left base for runway niner, cleared
to land." I run through my landing checklist. Grip the stick a bit
tighter. Realize that I'm getting close to the field and am still way too
high. Pull the power back to idle and feel the deceleration as the
constant-speed prop and short stubby wings do their thing....get 'er
slowed down enough to throw out the flaps, turn final, add a touch of
power back in to maintain 70 kts and arrest the high sink rate. A bit of
turbulence tossing me around. Nearing the ground now...power all the way
off....flare....and
touchdown. Whew! Not a greaser but not bad either. Big relief as I
roll down the runway, all in one piece...
Taxi up to my hangar, shut her down and just sit there for a while
letting it all soak in. Quiet satisfaction. Engine making that tick,
tick, tick
sound as it cools. Lovely airplane aroma of heat, oil and avgas.
Nobody's around for picture taking, back-slapping or champagne but that
is fine.
Some guy changing a light bulb outside the hangar comes by and says "nice
airplane!". I don't tell him I have just completed its first
flight....just smile and say "thanks."
Speaking of thanks, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the following:
God, for blessing me with the freedom and resources to make this
dream come true.
My patient and supportive wife Kathleen--and my kids--who have
sacrificed a lot to allow me to do this project.
Alan Kritzman for all his help, encouragement (prodding?) and
camaraderie.
Jerry Esquenazi (T-6A IP at Moody AFB) and Karl Heidrich
(Wright-Patt AFB) for going out of their way to help me duplicate the
beautiful paint scheme on the T-6A.
Everett Coleman for kindly donating his way-cool short N-number to
me.
Everybody at Vans Aircraft for the great design and support.
Countless others--too many to name--from EAA Chapter 33 and the
sport aviation community who have shared their time, hardware, advice and
lessons-learned, resulting in a much better airplane than I could have
built without them!
Hope I can get lots of good flying wx in the weeks/months ahead....I have
38.7 hours to go before I can get out of my test area...
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A (s/n 80583) N2D, 1.3 hours flying!!
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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dan(at)rdan.com
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject: N2D First Flight |
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Congradulations !!!
Dan
-8 Rudder
Mark E Navratil <czechsix(at)juno.com> wrote:
Guys, most if not all of you have already seen my first flight report on
Doug Reeves' or Van's websites, just in case anybody hasn't I thought I'd
copy it to the various Lists I've followed over the past 6 years. Wish I
could remember the names of everybody who has answered questions I have
had, or posted information I have found invaluable during the contruction
of N2D. I often find myself wondering how people built airplanes before
the internet! Thanks for all your help and hope to see many of you in
the air and at fly-ins around the country in the months/years ahead.
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A N2D finally flying...
----
Well folks, N2D is now officially an AIR-plane. The FAA signed me off
Friday Feb 10th and on Wed morning (Feb 15) I woke up to calm winds and I
said to myself, it's time to go flying. I get out to the airport, push
it out of the hangar, do a careful preflight, and can't think of any
excuse not to go. Don my nomex flight suit and helmet and strap myself
in. "Clear Prop!" Engine lights off and the plane comes alive with a
brief shudder and rumble as the vibration ripples through the aluminum
airframe. Taxi out to the end of the East Tees and dial up ground
control: "Cedar Rapids Ground, RV November Two Delta, Experimental...."
Feels good to say that. Tell them I'm ready to do first flight and want
to depart Three-One and circle the airport to 4000'. No problemo. After
the run-up I call Tower and they give me "Position and Hold Three-One,
regional jet landing Niner."
I move out onto the runway, line up with the centerline and wait. I
haven't really been apprehensive about flying this bird but as I sit
there for a few moments, it sorta hits me that I am about to take off in
an airplane that has never flown before....that arrived as boxes of parts
and I assembled in my garage. I think to myself, ya know, this is a
little bit crazy... My thoughts are interrupted by the Tower calling out
"RV Two
Delta, cleared for takeoff." I take a deep breath and push the throttle
forward very slowly. I don't bother looking much at the airspeed, since
I
don't know if it will be accurate. I just wait until it has that 'ready
to fly' feeling and pull back gently on the stick. And up we go. I
realize I
still don't have full power in so I open it up all the way and feel the
constant-speed prop bite in and lunge skyward. Now I am just hanging on
for dear life and hoping nothing bad happens until I can get a little
altitude and catch my breath.
Well, nothing bad happens and eventually my brain catches up with the
airplane. Before I know it I am pushing the nose over at 4K.' My CHT's
are getting a bit high from the climb but nothing out of limits. I
wiggle the stick side-to-side a bit. The wings rock back and forth
briskly in perfect synch with the stick. Gotta love that fighter-like
control response. Flies like an RV....
I circle lazily above the airport for a while, adjusting my oil temp
control and keeping a close eye on all the engine vital signs.
Everything looking good. I peer down on the poor schmucks in the
regional jets landing below me and try not to feel smug. Ok, back to the
task at hand....need to do a few stalls just to see if my airspeed is
working right at low speeds. I head northwest out over the open
farmland. After some more maneuvers I pull the power back slowly to
idle....nose coming up....watching the ASI. Slight buffet and clean
break at 50 kts with flaps
up. Try another one with full flaps...breaks right at 45 kts.
Beautiful. Power back in to 24-squared....gotta run it hard for proper
break-in. I
glance at the flight timer and am surprised to see that an hour has gone
by already.
Time to head back to the aerodrome. I check my six for enemy fighters
and, seeing none, key the mic and tell Cedar Rapids I am ready to return.
They come back with "Wind 040 at 9, left base for runway niner, cleared
to land." I run through my landing checklist. Grip the stick a bit
tighter. Realize that I'm getting close to the field and am still way too
high. Pull the power back to idle and feel the deceleration as the
constant-speed prop and short stubby wings do their thing....get 'er
slowed down enough to throw out the flaps, turn final, add a touch of
power back in to maintain 70 kts and arrest the high sink rate. A bit of
turbulence tossing me around. Nearing the ground now...power all the way
off....flare....and
touchdown. Whew! Not a greaser but not bad either. Big relief as I
roll down the runway, all in one piece...
Taxi up to my hangar, shut her down and just sit there for a while
letting it all soak in. Quiet satisfaction. Engine making that tick,
tick, tick
sound as it cools. Lovely airplane aroma of heat, oil and avgas.
Nobody's around for picture taking, back-slapping or champagne but that
is fine.
Some guy changing a light bulb outside the hangar comes by and says "nice
airplane!". I don't tell him I have just completed its first
flight....just smile and say "thanks."
Speaking of thanks, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the following:
God, for blessing me with the freedom and resources to make this
dream come true.
My patient and supportive wife Kathleen--and my kids--who have
sacrificed a lot to allow me to do this project.
Alan Kritzman for all his help, encouragement (prodding?) and
camaraderie.
Jerry Esquenazi (T-6A IP at Moody AFB) and Karl Heidrich
(Wright-Patt AFB) for going out of their way to help me duplicate the
beautiful paint scheme on the T-6A.
Everett Coleman for kindly donating his way-cool short N-number to
me.
Everybody at Vans Aircraft for the great design and support.
Countless others--too many to name--from EAA Chapter 33 and the
sport aviation community who have shared their time, hardware, advice and
lessons-learned, resulting in a much better airplane than I could have
built without them!
Hope I can get lots of good flying wx in the weeks/months ahead....I have
38.7 hours to go before I can get out of my test area...
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A (s/n 80583) N2D, 1.3 hours flying!!
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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crowbotham(at)hotmail.com
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:23 am Post subject: N2D First Flight |
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|
Mark,
CONGRATULATIONS and WELL DONE !!!!
Chuck & Dave Rowbotham
RV-8A
| Quote: | --Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A (s/n 80583) N2D, 1.3 hours flying!!
|
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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Charles Heathco
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 201
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:23 am Post subject: N2D First Flight |
|
|
Mark, you have a way with words, enjoyed your first flight report, Congrats! Charlie Heathco
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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gerns25(at)netscape.net
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:04 am Post subject: N2D First Flight |
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--
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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bertrv6(at)highstream.net
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:22 pm Post subject: N2D First Flight |
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Quoting gerns25(at)netscape.net:
[quote]
--
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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bertrv6(at)highstream.net
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject: N2D First Flight |
|
|
Quoting Dan <dan(at)rdan.com>:
| Quote: |
Congradulations !!!
Dan
-8 Rudder
Mark E Navratil <czechsix(at)juno.com> wrote:
Guys, most if not all of you have already seen my first flight report on
Doug Reeves' or Van's websites, just in case anybody hasn't I thought I'd
copy it to the various Lists I've followed over the past 6 years. Wish I
could remember the names of everybody who has answered questions I have
had, or posted information I have found invaluable during the contruction
of N2D. I often find myself wondering how people built airplanes before
the internet! Thanks for all your help and hope to see many of you in
the air and at fly-ins around the country in the months/years ahead.
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A N2D finally flying...
----
Well folks, N2D is now officially an AIR-plane. The FAA signed me off
Friday Feb 10th and on Wed morning (Feb 15) I woke up to calm winds and I
said to myself, it's time to go flying. I get out to the airport, push
it out of the hangar, do a careful preflight, and can't think of any
excuse not to go. Don my nomex flight suit and helmet and strap myself
in. "Clear Prop!" Engine lights off and the plane comes alive with a
brief shudder and rumble as the vibration ripples through the aluminum
airframe. Taxi out to the end of the East Tees and dial up ground
control: "Cedar Rapids Ground, RV November Two Delta, Experimental...."
Feels good to say that. Tell them I'm ready to do first flight and want
to depart Three-One and circle the airport to 4000'. No problemo. After
the run-up I call Tower and they give me "Position and Hold Three-One,
regional jet landing Niner."
I move out onto the runway, line up with the centerline and wait. I
haven't really been apprehensive about flying this bird but as I sit
there for a few moments, it sorta hits me that I am about to take off in
an airplane that has never flown before....that arrived as boxes of parts
and I assembled in my garage. I think to myself, ya know, this is a
little bit crazy... My thoughts are interrupted by the Tower calling out
"RV Two
Delta, cleared for takeoff." I take a deep breath and push the throttle
forward very slowly. I don't bother looking much at the airspeed, since
I
don't know if it will be accurate. I just wait until it has that 'ready
to fly' feeling and pull back gently on the stick. And up we go. I
realize I
still don't have full power in so I open it up all the way and feel the
constant-speed prop bite in and lunge skyward. Now I am just hanging on
for dear life and hoping nothing bad happens until I can get a little
altitude and catch my breath.
Well, nothing bad happens and eventually my brain catches up with the
airplane. Before I know it I am pushing the nose over at 4K.' My CHT's
are getting a bit high from the climb but nothing out of limits. I
wiggle the stick side-to-side a bit. The wings rock back and forth
briskly in perfect synch with the stick. Gotta love that fighter-like
control response. Flies like an RV....
I circle lazily above the airport for a while, adjusting my oil temp
control and keeping a close eye on all the engine vital signs.
Everything looking good. I peer down on the poor schmucks in the
regional jets landing below me and try not to feel smug. Ok, back to the
task at hand....need to do a few stalls just to see if my airspeed is
working right at low speeds. I head northwest out over the open
farmland. After some more maneuvers I pull the power back slowly to
idle....nose coming up....watching the ASI. Slight buffet and clean
break at 50 kts with flaps
up. Try another one with full flaps...breaks right at 45 kts.
Beautiful. Power back in to 24-squared....gotta run it hard for proper
break-in. I
glance at the flight timer and am surprised to see that an hour has gone
by already.
Time to head back to the aerodrome. I check my six for enemy fighters
and, seeing none, key the mic and tell Cedar Rapids I am ready to return.
They come back with "Wind 040 at 9, left base for runway niner, cleared
to land." I run through my landing checklist. Grip the stick a bit
tighter. Realize that I'm getting close to the field and am still way too
high. Pull the power back to idle and feel the deceleration as the
constant-speed prop and short stubby wings do their thing....get 'er
slowed down enough to throw out the flaps, turn final, add a touch of
power back in to maintain 70 kts and arrest the high sink rate. A bit of
turbulence tossing me around. Nearing the ground now...power all the way
off....flare....and
touchdown. Whew! Not a greaser but not bad either. Big relief as I
roll down the runway, all in one piece...
Taxi up to my hangar, shut her down and just sit there for a while
letting it all soak in. Quiet satisfaction. Engine making that tick,
tick, tick
sound as it cools. Lovely airplane aroma of heat, oil and avgas.
Nobody's around for picture taking, back-slapping or champagne but that
is fine.
Some guy changing a light bulb outside the hangar comes by and says "nice
airplane!". I don't tell him I have just completed its first
flight....just smile and say "thanks."
Speaking of thanks, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the following:
God, for blessing me with the freedom and resources to make this
dream come true.
My patient and supportive wife Kathleen--and my kids--who have
sacrificed a lot to allow me to do this project.
Alan Kritzman for all his help, encouragement (prodding?) and
camaraderie.
Jerry Esquenazi (T-6A IP at Moody AFB) and Karl Heidrich
(Wright-Patt AFB) for going out of their way to help me duplicate the
beautiful paint scheme on the T-6A.
Everett Coleman for kindly donating his way-cool short N-number to
me.
Everybody at Vans Aircraft for the great design and support.
Countless others--too many to name--from EAA Chapter 33 and the
sport aviation community who have shared their time, hardware, advice and
lessons-learned, resulting in a much better airplane than I could have
built without them!
Hope I can get lots of good flying wx in the weeks/months ahead....I have
38.7 hours to go before I can get out of my test area...
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A (s/n 80583) N2D, 1.3 hours flying!!
Nice report Mark: Again congratulations.....
bert
|
rv6a
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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