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Test Flight

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rosestar(at)sonic.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:21 am Post subject: Test Flight

I am about two months from finishing N601BD, so I am soliciting thoughts 

about the test flight.  I am a relatively low hours pilot.  With mixed 

emotions about it, I am leaning to having someone more experienced make 

the first flight.  I've read several "first flight"  articles, pamphlets 

and even a full book about it.  What have others done?  Safety, of 

course is my conern.  The distraction of monitoring all those statistics 

in a three to five minute tour in the pattern seems like a heavy load.  

Any thoughts?



Brad

amyvega2005(at)earthlink.
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:38 am Post subject: Test Flight

I am the same time away from flying my 601xl.  what you need before you get behind your plane is some time in the type.  If something should go wrong at least I would have the "feel" for the plane.  In case of a problem you want to set your plane for best glide, position for a landing spot, then work out the problem,  If you are not comfortable in the plane I personally feel like i would be behind the plane in stead of ahead of it.  If built well, flying the first flight in a 601 should be a cake walk.   It is an easy plane to fly,  however it is not a cherokee.  The pitch sensitivity is tight compared to production aircraft, tight steering is an understatement on the last 601 I flew.  if you thought of going somewhere,  I swear it read my mind and was going in that direction.

 

  What I did was call the factory to see where I can get some hours in a 601xl.  If you call around, you can rent for some time to get the feel of the 601. 

to make a long story longer, 

My advice is get some time in someone elses 601.  



Juan  601 xl Tampa



--

dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: Test Flight

If you have doubts and second thoughts, then you are not the guy to fly the 

plane for the first couple of hours. Your doubts will reduce your 

concentration and make you less fit to be the test pilot than you actually 

are. While we're on the subject, another pilot who has never flown a plane 

like yours is not a great choice either. Mid Atlantic Sportplanes (and 

probably others) offer instruction in the 601XL.... is that your model? You 

did not make that clear. In any case, get enough time in the model you built 

to feel confident (not over-confident... that's dangerous too) then do your 

own test flight if you want to.



Ed Moody II

Rayne, LA

601XL/Jabiru/cabin area



Do Not Archive



 	  Quote: 	
		  

 I am about two months from finishing N601BD, so I am soliciting thoughts 

 about the test flight.  I am a relatively low hours pilot.  With mixed 

 emotions about it, I am leaning to having someone more experienced make 

 the first flight.  I've read several "first flight"  articles, pamphlets 

 and even a full book about it.  What have others done?  Safety, of course 

 is my conern.  The distraction of monitoring all those statistics in a 

 three to five minute tour in the pattern seems like a heavy load.  Any 

 thoughts?



 Brad

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:00 am Post subject: Test Flight

I face the same dilemma and will find a "qualified" test pilot for the first

flight or two - someone skilled enough to react quickly and correctly to any

unusual behavior of the aircraft. But it places you in a difficult moral

position. You are asking someone to risk their life based on your

construction skills. Best to get them involved in observing your

construction so they can make an informed decision.



As to tracking all the data here are a couple of ideas:



- just fly the plane and observe general flight characteristics

- have someone on the radio log readings and observations you broadcast (on

an empty channel)

- buy a small digital voice recorder and connect it into your intercom - my

Lightspeed headset has a cell phone interface which I'll be testing. The

voice recorders are cheap. My Sony  ICD-B300 cost under $40 at the local

office supply superstore.

- Install one of the "cheap" glass panels and log the data output. The GRT

and Dynon units send data out the serial port which can be captured by a

laptop while the MGL Avionics' Enigma can record to its own memory card.



-- Craig

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:29 am Post subject: Test Flight

On the left coast you can get 601XL time at Dragonfly Aviation in Santa

Rosa, CA (just down the road from Michael Heintz's Quality Sports Planes).



There are also these folks in western Colorado (but I'm not sure they

actually have a 601XL yet): www.gjsportpilot.com/



I believe there is also 601XL instruction available in Arizona but I have

lost the link.



If you can't find a 601XL consider the Evektor Sport Star at St. Charles

Flying Service in MO. That is what I soloed in and its flight

characteristics resemble the 601XLs.



-- Craig

rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:57 am Post subject: Test Flight

Rosalie,

     It's a good safe design so if you have built it the way it was designed 

to be built it should be a safe airplane to fly.  So much for equipment 

failure.  If you are a low time pilot get one of the local flight 

instrtuctors who has a lot of experence flying different aircraft to go with 

you until you feel that you can handle the plane.  When you feel safe by 

yourself, pay the guy off and fly alone.



Bob Stone, Harker Heights, Tx

ZodiacXL



---

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:10 pm Post subject: Test Flight

I thought that during the fly-off period there could only be a pilot in the

plane (i.e. no "passenger")?



-- Craig

gfmjr_20(at)HOTMAIL.COM
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject: Test Flight

Brad

  I just went through the same decision process.  This is the second plane I 

have built.  I was very concerned about the first flight on the first plane 

I built and went with a test pilot.  I was glad I did, since when I finally 

did fly it myself it was a handful for awhile. After 400 hours in homebuilts 

and a couple of hours familarization in the 601XL I was confident I could 

make the first flight in my 601XL and I did.

  If you have any doubts about your capabilities to do the first flight, you 

probably should not do it. You probably could handle it if everything goes 

right, but will you keep enough presence of mind when issues occur.



  My first flight in the XL required significant backpressure to fly level.  

After a very focused but uneventful landing I ended up readjusting the stab. 

  My second flight had a partial engine power loss, resulting in a short 

careful flight around the pattern and luckily a landing with no incident.  

Both issues really get your attention and test your flight capabilities.  

Hopefully neither you nor your test pilot will have any issues but just be 

prepared mentally in case of.



Happily ,I'm into the 2nd hour of test flying and things are going well.



George May

601XL 912s



_________________________________________________________________

Use your PC to make calls at very low rates 

https://voiceoam.pcs.v2s.live.com/partnerredirect.aspx

rosestar(at)sonic.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:54 pm Post subject: Test Flight

Thanks for the responses regarding the upcoming first test flight in my 

601xl.  I should mention that I have 5.5 hours in 4 different Zodiac 

XL's.  The last 2.9 hours were in Dragonfly's 601xl for my bienniel 

flight review.  The others were demo flights.  So I do have some time in 

the design and feel comfortable in the plane, subject to more time and 

experience.  In fact, I love the plane!  The first demo flight resulted 

in the decision to buy a 601xl kit.  I like the idea of flying with a 

recorder for verbal observations.  These suggestions have been great 

advice.  Please continue with your thoughts.  They are greatly 

appreciateed. 



Brad

blb7037(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:22 am Post subject: Test Flight

I am in the same boat on first flight. I am working  with an EAA Flight Advisor to complete the EAA's Flight Advisor Program which  gives you a plan from an experienced pilot. My insurance requires it. I am also  looking for a way to get the 3 hours in Make and Model required by the  insurance. The operator in Arizona has been out of service all Summer due to a  canopy mishap so I have not got that done yet. It is hard to find a test pilot  to do your first flight that will meet the insurance companies rules. Also get  FAA Advisory circular AC 90-89A. It's a must for first flight and the phase one  flight test time.

  

 Don't give up. It takes a lot more time to prepare  for the first flight than it does to do the flight. 

  

  

 Brian Briggerman

 N601AZ

    [quote][b]

lgingell

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 50
Location: Lake California Airpark 68CA

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: Re: Test Flight

Brad,



(I may have told you most of this before, but...)

I had about an hour in the demo XL (mexico) and a few hours in an HDS before my first flight. I went through the same thing.  I was at around 100 hours, so not terribly experienced.



I flew several types in the week before my first flight (high wing, low wing, fast homebuilt), and a couple of flights *right* before I took the zodiac up.



By the time I got in the Zodiac, I felt very 'adaptable'...but it turned out so easy to fly that I think I had a harder time flying the other airplanes the week before.



However, I had done extensive taxi test lifting wings, nose wheel etc. to verify all the controls and authority.  ..and I had lots of pairs of qualified eyes look over the airplane.



It was an amazing experience. I'm glad I did it, but I would have been fine if I didn't.  I'd never of taken risks for the sake of saying 'I flew it first'.



Cheers,

..lance

http://lancegingell.com/plane.asp

_________________
Zodiac XL/Jab 3300
http://lancegingell.com

JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:02 am Post subject: Test Flight

Well, Brian, just you call the airlines and get you a ticket over here to Georgia and we can fly us some XL hours. Let me know at least 30 minutes before arrival so I can sober up and we're off. Best regards, Bill of Georgia  [quote][b]

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