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darinh

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 327
Location: Utah

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:07 am Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Well, it is time for the first flight of N914KF.  It seemed like this day would never come but it has.  I am looking for good advice/tips for my maiden voyage...things that you guys have done that were good (or bad and wouldn't do again) that you could pass on.  I have never been a test pilot so this is a first for me and my airplane.  Anyone have anything they learned or an idea they implemented on their 1st flight that worked and was useful?

_________________
Darin Hawkes
Series 7
914 Turbo
Kaysville, Utah

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:44 am Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

I didn't test fly mine, as I wasn't a pilot at the time, but all I've  

read says to do it at a large airport or strip with plenty of room  

straight ahead in case of a problem at lift-off. Leave your friends  

behind (less peer pressure), but let them observe your 2nd and 3rd  

flights if you like. Tie the plane down and do a thorough run-up at  

max rpm (static) to insure fuel flow.

My test pilot/flight instructor put my plane in the steepest attitude  

I've ever seen it in since, and upon questioning him, he said that's  

if the plane wanted to quit, he could just point it down and land. We  

were on a 1700' strip with trees at the departure end so it was  

imperative to get it up quick, or have room to get it back down  

straight ahead if something went wrong.



Good luck, Darin, with you and the Maiden. : )



Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster

Jabiru 2200

Status: flying w/547+ hrs





On Jul 16, 2008, at 9:07 AM, darinh wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Well, it is time for the first flight of N914KF.  It seemed like  

 this day would never come but it has.  I am looking for good advice/ 

 tips for my maiden voyage...things that you guys have done that  

 were good (or bad and wouldn't do again) that you could pass on.  I  

 have never been a test pilot so this is a first for me and my  

 airplane.  Anyone have anything the learned or an idea they  

 implemented on their 1st flight that worked and was useful?



 --------

 Darin Hawkes

 Series 7 (Airworthiness in Hand - building courage for Maiden flight)

 914 Turbo

 Kaysville, Utah





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=193069#193069

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:40 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

 	  darinh wrote: 	
		  Well, it is time for the first flight of N914KF.  It seemed like this day would never come but it has.  I am looking for good advice/tips for my maiden voyage...things that you guys have done that were good (or bad and wouldn't do again) that you could pass on.  I have never been a test pilot so this is a first for me and my airplane.  Anyone have anything they learned or an idea they implemented on their 1st flight that worked and was useful? 	




Darinh, I trust you have a copy of AC 90-89A, "Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing handbook".  This is a must read first.  You can download a copy here.

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/D08FA9393154B636862569BA006F6D7F?OpenDocument



The EAA Flight Adviser program is a good resource too.



The things I did that were good:



Took some dual in a kitfox similar to mine.



Had a plan!



Inspected the airplane using the annual condition checklist.



Had a ground crew with radio and briefing plan on who does what should an emergency occur.



My wife had a camera.  No one else was even told about a first flight except notified the FBO at the airport...non tower busy training field...that the Kitfox First flight was planned.

 

Stayed over the airport, kept climbing, reversed to make some turns the other direction, Did a stall, descended and landed.

_________________
Tom Jones
Classic IV
503 Rotax, 72 inch Two blade Warp
Ellensburg, WA

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:46 am Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Just a couple opinions, Darin.  First, get a few of you fly-buddies to go 

over it with a fine tooth comb to see if they can find that little spot you 

forgot to safety, that loose nut, wire or hose touching the exhaust pipe, 

etc.  Just leave and go have breakfast while they go over it so they don't 

feel pressured.

Pick your day!  Meaning, early in the morning or late in the evening when 

all is calm.

Go out and taxi, but not high speed and keep the tail on the runway.  Give 

it about 20 minutes of this then taxi back to the hangar, pop the hood and 

look for any leaks or anything unusual.  If all is well and you feel good 

about it, taxi back out and firewall it, climbing to pattern altitude. 

After that, do what you feel right about.

Good luck,

Deke Morisse

Mikado Michigan

S5/Subaru/CAP 380+ TT

"The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress."

- Joseph Joubert





---

FlyboyTR

Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Mobile, Alabama

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Some excellent points have been made so far.  I've had the opportunity to do the "first fly" on 23 flying machines (a combo of airplanes, gyros and helicopter).  I have only had a few trying moments.  Some folks say that after take off...go fly it!  This never felt right for me...



Always do the first flight at a large airport...the more room the merrier!  Always try to position yourself so that you can return to the airport or an adjacent clear area should sudden silence develop!  I usually limited my first flight to 5 minutes...which is not very long...and was always very conservative with flight maneuvers.  There is a BIG difference in forces between doing a 10 minute (or longer) full throttle run up (while tied) versus the forces implied during flight!  ...5 minutes is very short!  Now go over all primary controls and engine systems, etc.  If all is OK...you now have one take-off and landing under your belt.  On the second flight I usually took about 15 minutes...and stayed over the airport.  Recheck everything!  Third flight about 30 minutes, climb to at least 3,000 AGL and start with gentle stalls.  From there you can expand.



With all of this being said...from myself and others... being the test pilot is a wonderful and rewarding thing.  However, if you are a low time pilot, or an average time white-knuckled pilot...the test pilot seat is something you should avoid!  There are too many things that can happen!



While test flying a Rans S-12 for a good friend... I had two major problems that occurred within 2 minutes of each other.  On the second flight the stick locked up and I lost aileron control.  Fortunately I was fairly level at the time.  The elevator control was also "somewhat limited"...very tight but I could manage.  While dealing with this issue at around 1,500' the engine quit.  I was able to land the plane on the runway...albeit a very ugly landing... ...let me say that again... a very ugly landing!... Cross wind and no ailerons make things interesting...thank goodness for grass runways!  No part were broken.  Inspection of the controls revealed a small pair of Vice-grip pliers that had gotten jammed into the stick mechanism (I don't really remember how all of that stuff actually looked...but I remember the pliers!).  The builder said he had them clamped to something...and had forgot about them.  Four people missed this foreign object during preflight inspection!



Always have extra trained eyes looking at everything.  I always preferred to have a day for test flight (early in the morning) with just a few of the "trained eyes" on hand.  Good friends can keep your secret...Then schedule the "first flight" on another day with family and friends.  There is so much less pressure that way and you do not feel obligated to "do it" because you don't want to disappoint the attendees.  



Sorry to ramble on so long...good luck with the test flight...stay safe!



Travis

_________________
Travis Rayner
Mobile, AL
Skystar Vixen, N-789DF
Continental IO-240, Prince P-Tip Prop
ADI-II Autopilot
AnyWhereMap Navigation with weather
www.enotam.net (My Flying Info Website)

darinh

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 327
Location: Utah

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Thanks for all the advice so far, it has been noted.  I have 40 hours or so in a Kitfox and most of my time is in conventional gear aircraft, so although I may be still an amateur I am not beginner in respect to Kitfoxes' and tailwheels.  My plan is basically what Deke pointed out and I have done a bunch of mid speed taxi testing (tail on the ground) and all feels good and have checked and fixed a couple issues in the process.



Some mention you should do some stalls but I plan to stay in the pattern and will not be able to do a stall.  I think the flight regime in the 7 is pretty well defined although relatively small variations exist between individuals.  My plan is to approach at a safe speed of 70 - 75 mph and try to be around 60-ish over the numbers.  I have a long runway (in fact 2 runways with the shortest around 6,000') so I can just let it settle in and bleed off speed.



I don't plan on doing a long test flight...like Travis said, I think it will be basically a circuit or two in the pattern then back to the hanger to check everything so short is the key.



On the issue of friends and family present...I will have one buddy on the ground and will leave the wife and kids home completely.  If something major were to go wrong, I don't really want my wife and kids seeing me auger in.  They will be allowed to watch many flights after the first.

_________________
Darin Hawkes
Series 7
914 Turbo
Kaysville, Utah

msm_9949(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:52 am Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

You've gotten some good advice Darin. I would heartily agree with Deke's assessment that high speed taxi testing is to be avoided. You'll "test" that aspect of the envelope twice: just before you become airborne, and again when you land for the first time. I'd advise taking at least one knowledgable person along with you to observe from the ground. It can be useful to supply them with a hand-held radio to report things you can't observe from where you'll be sitting. 

  

This will possibly be the scariest fun you've ever had. Enjoy it. Pour some champagne on the spinner (and down your throat) when you're done. 

  

Marco Menezes N99KX 

Model 2 582-90 C-Box 



--- On Wed, 7/16/08, darinh <gerns25(at)netscape.net> wrote:

 [quote]From: darinh <gerns25(at)netscape.net>

Subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 9:07 AM



[quote]--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "darinh" <gerns25(at)netscape.net>  Well, it is time for the first flight of N914KF.  It seemed like this day would never come but it has.  I am looking for good advice/tips for my maiden voyage...things that you guys have done that were good (or bad and wouldn't do again) that you could pass on.  I have never been a test pilot so this is a first for me and my airplane.  Anyone have anything the learned or an idea they implemented on their 1st flight that worked and was useful?  -------- Darin Hawkes Series 7 (Airworthiness in Hand - building courage for Maiden flight) 914 Turbo Kaysville, Utah     Read this topic online here:  http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=193069#193069                [quote][b]

FlyboyTR

Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Mobile, Alabama

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Darin,

Sounds like you've got all your eggs in the basket!  You should go fine.  We look forward to a post-flight report.  Good Luck!



Travis

_________________
Travis Rayner
Mobile, AL
Skystar Vixen, N-789DF
Continental IO-240, Prince P-Tip Prop
ADI-II Autopilot
AnyWhereMap Navigation with weather
www.enotam.net (My Flying Info Website)

dcsfoto

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 120

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:26 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Have 20 hrs on my Model 7.

I have the old style elevator with trim tabs, the nose pitched up and down as I tried to correct.I had the horz at the book stated starting point and did not have the nose up trim needed.

now have the horz ( via a adjustable rod )  set to max nose up ( rod is as short as possible



use a lot of nose up,seems easier and more stable to push nose down and retrim



David   Model 3 and 7

912 and 912S

n85ae

Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Test fly the plane with the expectation that the engine is going to quit. Fly

every minute of the test flights that way, and every flight forever after

with that expectation, then when it happens you will be ready. 



Don't ever fall into the mode that - It's got x hours on it now, therefore

it is reliable.



That's my advice.



If it never fails, then when you finally quit flying or sell the plane you can

tell me I was wrong. 



Jeff

rjdaugh

Joined: 30 Aug 2006
Posts: 195

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

One thing I learned on the first flight concerns a ground adjustable prop.

I had a friend do the flight.  He was surprised by the engine over reving

and the engine monitor warning light coming on.  This is no big deal, but

the alarm light did cause some concern.



Just watch for it.



Randy

_________________
Randy
Kitfox 5/7 912S
Black Hills, South Dakota

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

And I'll bet you'll be glad to hear that!!



Noel



If it never fails, then when you finally quit flying or sell the plane you

can

tell me I was wrong. 



Jeff





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=193181#193181

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

JetPilot

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1246

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

 	  n85ae wrote: 	
		  Test fly the plane with the expectation that the engine is going to quit. Fly

every minute of the test flights that way, and every flight forever after

with that expectation, then when it happens you will be ready. 

Jeff 	




There is so much good advice in this thread, I will also be test flying a new airplane soon, it gives me a lot to think about.



The one think is strongly disagree with is the statement above.  If I expected my engine to quit every flight, I would never leave the ground.  Many airports have NO place to land if the engine quits after takeoff, should all these airports become ghosts towns because no one trusts their engines ?   This is nothing short of ridiculous.  



I am aware that an engine failure can happen any time, but if I flew around " Expecting " it to happen every second, I would be such a psychological wreck, it would induce major mistakes and poor judgment while flying.   Being comfortable flying your plane can make the difference between reacting correctly to an emergency, and reacting out of fear.  Know the risks, but don't be overly paranoid about the engine quitting ever second, this will lead to you making the wrong choices while flying.



On the first flight, an engine failure is a huge possibility.  I read a statistic that said half of all experimental engine failures are due to the fuel system problems.  I don't know if this statistic is accurate or not, but it is a huge cause of engine failures.  Make sure the fuel system is bullet proof, correct filters that are big enough to handle all the debris that magically appears in new tanks and lines are very important.



Good Luck,



Mike

_________________
"NO FEAR" - If you have no fear you did not go as fast as you could have !!!

Kolb MK-III Xtra, 912-S

n85ae

Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

I think you miss the point. 



Jeff

msm_9949(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:55 am Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

I took primary instruction from an 83 year old CFI. I was the last of hundreds of students he soloed. One of the first things he drilled into my head was to "fly like your engine could quit at any moment." This is old-school thinking, from the days of Liberty engines when the axiom was literally true. Every landing is dead-stick. You're constantly aware of wind speed, direction and ground topography, looking for suitable emergency landing sites. ("Avoid cornfields, they'll chew up your plane!") On take off, your mental checklist includes climbing above that critical altitude where a 180 degree, dead-stick turn might put you back on the runway. 

  

All this doesn't mean we're fearful or paranoid, it's just good training for the emergency we may or may not ever have to face. IMHO, it's an important part of "getting comfortable" with flying. 



  

Marco Menezes N99KX 

Model 2 582-90 C-Box



--- On Wed, 7/16/08, JetPilot <orcabonita(at)hotmail.com> wrote:

 [quote]From: JetPilot <orcabonita(at)hotmail.com>

Subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 7:44 PM



[quote]--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "JetPilot" <orcabonita(at)hotmail.com>   n85ae wrote: > Test fly the plane with the expectation that the engine is going to quit. Fly > every minute of the test flights that way, and every flight forever after > with that expectation, then when it happens you will be ready.  >  >  > Jeff   There is so much good advice in this thread, I will also be test flying a new airplane soon, it gives me a lot to think about.  The one think is strongly disagree with is the statement above.  If I expected my engine to quit every flight, I would never leave the ground.  Many airports have NO place to land if the engine quits after takeoff, should all these airports become ghosts towns because no one trusts their engines ?   This is nothing short of ridiculous.    I am aware that an engine failure can happen any time, but if I flew around " Expecting " it to happen every second, I would be such a psychological wreck, it would induce major mistakes and poor judgment while flying.   Being comfortable flying your plane can make the difference between reacting correctly to an emergency, and reacting out of fear.  Know the risks, but don't be overly paranoid about the engine quitting ever second, this will lead to you making the wrong choices while flying.  On the first flight, an engine failure is a huge possibility.  I read a statistic that said half of all experimental engine failures are due to the fuel system problems.  I don't know if this statistic is accurate or not, but it is a huge cause of engine failures.  Make sure the fuel system is bullet proof, correct filters that are big enough to handle all the debris that magically appears in new tanks and lines are very important.  Good Luck,  Mike  -------- &quot;NO FEAR&quot; -  If you have no fear you did not go as fast as you could have !!!  Kolb MK-III Xtra, 912-S     Read this topic online here:  http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=193252#193252                [quote][b]

n85ae

Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Yeah, maybe it's Old School, but generally pilots that are old and have

been flying for many years might know a thing or two that allowed 

them to get old ... At least that's the way I look at it.



I guess I just fly that way because I have had an engine failure. 



By the way when I took up glider flying, it was considered to me a 

normal way to fly so I never realized I was a Chicken till just now ...



Regards,

Cowardly Flier (Jeff).

JetPilot

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1246

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

I think you guys have the right idea, be prepared for an engine failure at any time.



But to say EXPECT an engine failure every flight is just plain wrong.  According to the dictionary EXPECT " implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning "  Google the word expect if you have any doubts, and see for yourself...



http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expect



If I had a high degree of certainty that my engine would quit my next flight, I would never leave the ground.  At my airport, there is a time on takeoff where an engine failure would leave me no good landing options, thats just the fact of life here... 



I think Jeff has good intentions with the point he is trying to get across, but he is trying to be over dramatic.  In all reality he should use realistic and accurate English.  I am aware that my engine could quit on any flight, but when I take a passenger flying, I EXPECT, and have a high degree of certainty of a safe,  and uneventful flight, if not I would never put anyone in my plane..    Anyone out there have a  " high degree of certainty " that you engine will quit every flight  ???



Mike

_________________
"NO FEAR" - If you have no fear you did not go as fast as you could have !!!

Kolb MK-III Xtra, 912-S

Sbennett3(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

In a message dated 7/17/2008 8:07:34 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  orcabonita(at)hotmail.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  If I had    a high degree of certainty that my engine would quit my next flight, I would    never leave the ground.  At my airport, there is a time on takeoff where    an engine failure would leave me no good landing options, thats just the fact    of life here.. 	
    I was an ultralight pilot before I bought my fox.  My friends always say keep fields in front of you... I still do that today. I  also tell myself altitude is your friend. Not as fun up there but look at how  your options increase if you have an engine out... 

 Just food for engine failure.  Steve Bennett  Kit  classic 4 speedwing 1200 gross version 912   900+ hrs on plane   200 mine.

  	  Quote: 	
		  .    

	


Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today.

  [quote][b]

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:50 am Post subject: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

I disagree.  I don't think Jeff was being overly dramatic at all.  I knew 

what he meant and I'm sure most others knew also.  Why does this thread have 

to derogate to arguing over semantics?  Sort of like defining what the word 

"is" means...



Deke Morisse

Mikado Michigan

S5/Subaru/CAP 380+ TT

"The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress."

- Joseph Joubert





---

darinh

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 327
Location: Utah

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Tips or Advice for Maiden Flight?

Thanks for the replys guys...the tips and advice were great but I think the thread has served its purpose.  I think we all know what both Jeff and Mike meant with their posts.  Fact is, a good pilot is always aware of their situation, meaning they know the calculated risks they are taking and they are prepared for the "what ifs".  It is a good habit to always keep your scan of your surroundings going and have the mental capacity to be ready for anything at any time.  On the other hand, we as pilots need to be careful how we portray our passion (flying) to our non-pilot friends and family.  I guarantee that if we polled 1000 people anywhere in the US, 90% would say that small aircraft are dangerous and that if you fly one you will eventually meet your fate in one.  I am constantly arguing the fact that small aircraft are inherently safe and that a person is just as likely to be in a serious car accident as they are an aircraft accident.  How many of us even consider the risks of driving 75 mph down a 4 lane road with thousands of other cars literally a couple feet from us?  I know the general public doesn't.  The point is if we always focus on the "what ifs" we would as Mike said, "never leave the ground" or never get in a car.  I don't focus on these aspects of flying but I am "aware" of them and will be ready if they happen.  I think this is the idea both Jeff and Mike are trying to portray...just in different ways.

_________________
Darin Hawkes
Series 7
914 Turbo
Kaysville, Utah

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