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First Flight!

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capt_riney(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:00 pm Post subject: First Flight!

After more years building than I care to admit, my Mark3 Classic made it's first flight today.  It was a short flight because the engine overheated shortly after takeoff after I turned to downwind. It was running about 135F prior to takeoff, and I had not had any problem with it during previous taxi tests (I had 3.6 hrs engine run time prior to first flight).  Airplane handled well, slight left wing heaviness (I fly from the left seat).  I made a quick loop around the pattern and landed. I let myself be distracted by the coolant temp and the EIS light flashing red, and dropped the landing in a little. Slightly bent the left gear. Looking at the video, it wasn't the prettiest landing, but I really didn't think it was hard enough to bend the gear leg. I guess I'll be getting a new one from Travis, or the steel gear if I can retrofit it on a Classic. I've heard folks say you can straight the gear leg and reuse it, but I'm a little worried about bending

 aluminum a lot (is it heat treated?). 



Not sure what to do about the coolant temp. I had quite a bit of trouble during the engine break-in with coolant temp and had to run two garden hoses (one to each radiator) to waterfall water over it to get thru the engine breaking. I figured this was just because engine break-in is a static test and the engine was new so the seals were being rubbed in. Since then I've had no problems until today.  I don't have a coolant recovery bottle but I haven't noticed any fluid coming out of my overflow tube.  I'll check the radiator level when the engine cools down and see if it's low. I did burp the system several times during breakin and again after first flight.  Didn'd see a lot of air coming out. The engine is new but the twin radiator is used.  Instead of the expensive Rotax cross under molded hose I have a a short radiator hose from each radiator connected to a copper cross under tube, but not sure why that wouldn't work.  I do have a BRS (canister) and

 the Rotax engine mounted oil tank, so there is quite a bit of blockage in front of the radiators. I may have to make a pair of baffles to improve the airflow.



All in all it was an exciting day. Can't wait to get it fixed and get flying again. 

Mark Rinehart

Indy Mark3 N68MR

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rickofudall

Joined: 19 Sep 2009
Posts: 1392
Location: Udall, KS, USA

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:18 pm Post subject: First Flight!

Mark, The gear legs are 7075-T6. Pretty tough stuff, they'll handle being straightened more than a few times. I'll tell you what Travis told me, aluminum gear legs are a lot cheaper than fuselage frames. I had similar problems with the Rotax radiators and got rid of them for a one piece motorcycle unit. Try putting an airfoil shaped block off plate in the gap between the radiators to force the air through them rather than letting it spill around the edges.

 



Rick Girard



On Sat, Apr 9, 2011 at 8:55 PM, mark rinehart <capt_riney(at)yahoo.com (capt_riney(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   --> Kolb-List message posted by: mark rinehart <capt_riney(at)yahoo.com (capt_riney(at)yahoo.com)>

 

 After more years building than I care to admit, my Mark3 Classic made it's first flight today.  It was a short flight because the engine overheated shortly after takeoff after I turned to downwind. It was running about 135F prior to takeoff, and I had not had any problem with it during previous taxi tests (I had 3.6 hrs engine run time prior to first flight).  Airplane handled well, slight left wing heaviness (I fly from the left seat).  I made a quick loop around the pattern and landed. I let myself be distracted by the coolant temp and the EIS light flashing red, and dropped the landing in a little. Slightly bent the left gear. Looking at the video, it wasn't the prettiest landing, but I really didn't think it was hard enough to bend the gear leg. I guess I'll be getting a new one from Travis, or the steel gear if I can retrofit it on a Classic. I've heard folks say you can straight the gear leg and reuse it, but I'm a little worried about bending

   aluminum a lot (is it heat treated?).

 

 Not sure what to do about the coolant temp. I had quite a bit of trouble during the engine break-in with coolant temp and had to run two garden hoses (one to each radiator) to waterfall water over it to get thru the engine breaking. I figured this was just because engine break-in is a static test and the engine was new so the seals were being rubbed in. Since then I've had no problems until today.  I don't have a coolant recovery bottle but I haven't noticed any fluid coming out of my overflow tube.  I'll check the radiator level when the engine cools down and see if it's low. I did burp the system several times during breakin and again after first flight.  Didn'd see a lot of air coming out. The engine is new but the twin radiator is used.  Instead of the expensive Rotax cross under molded hose I have a a short radiator hose from each radiator connected to a copper cross under tube, but not sure why that wouldn't work.  I do have a BRS (canister) and

   the Rotax engine mounted oil tank, so there is quite a bit of blockage in front of the radiators. I may have to make a pair of baffles to improve the airflow.

 

 All in all it was an exciting day. Can't wait to get it fixed and get flying again.

 

 

 Mark Rinehart

 Indy Mark3 N68MR

 

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-- 

Zulu Delta

Mk IIIC

Thanks, Homer GBYM

It isn't necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy.

   - Groucho Marx



 

  [quote][b]

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by0ung(at)q.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:34 am Post subject: First Flight!

Not sure what to do about the coolant temp. I had quite a bit of trouble

during the engine break-in with coolant temp and had to run two garden hoses

(one to each radiator) to waterfall water over it to get thru the engine

breaking. I figured this was just because engine break-in is a static test

and the engine was new so the seals were being rubbed in. Since then I've

had no problems until today.  I don't have a coolant recovery bottle but I

haven't noticed any fluid coming out of my overflow tube.  I'll check the

radiator level when the engine cools down and see if it's low. I did burp

the system several times during breakin and again after first flight.

Didn'd see a lot of air coming out. The engine is new but the twin radiator

is used.  Instead of the expensive Rotax cross under molded hose I have a a

short radiator hose from each radiator connected to a copper cross under

tube, but not sure why that wouldn't work.  I do have a BRS (canister) and

 the Rotax engine mounted oil tank, so there is quite a bit of blockage in

front of the radiators. I may have to make a pair of baffles to improve the

airflow.



All in all it was an exciting day. Can't wait to get it fixed and get flying

again.

Mark Rinehart



congratulations on the first flight!!!!!! and sorry about the gear.



ok...  from your description i'm not sure what engine you have....  you

mentioned the rotax engine mounted oil tank...   are we talking 912, oil

tank or 2 cycle oil tank?  you mentioned the coolent temps,   how were the

exhaust temps?       if you can send a couple pictures of your engine set

up...  i am sure someone can help figure a solution.   i would invest in a

coolant recovery  bottle,,,   what kind of antifreeze are you using, and at

what concentration?



boyd young mkiii

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Jason Omelchuck

Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 120
Location: Portland Oregon

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:34 am Post subject: Re: First Flight!

When I slightly bent my aluminum gear, I just unbolted it and turned it 180 degrees in the socket so it was now slightly bent down.



Attached is a picture of my MKIIIC with a steel gear made to John H specs.

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Jimmy Young

Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 182
Location: Missouri City, TX

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:06 am Post subject: Re: First Flight!

Mark,



#1, Congratulations on your 1st flight. 



I've bent a bunch of gear legs on my Firestar (at least 4 times & I think more). They straighten out pretty easily with a good press. 



Have fun & fly safe -

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Jimmy Young
Missouri City, TX
Kolb FS II/HKS 700

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:10 am Post subject: First Flight!

Gang,

     The current thoughts concerning alum  landing gear as being a safety feature is contrary to my findings. I have had to  do three repairs to my Firestar due to the bending  "Safety feature" of  alum. legs. I am convinced that if  the current steel gear legs had  been on my plane the damage would have been significantly less, or non  existent, in all three of these incidents. 

  

    My last incident, thankfully three years ago,  was because of a very hard landing that broke the axle fitting. ( I had stalled  the plane about 30-35 feet above the ground, almost leveled out but hit on the  right gear leg.) the front angled gear dug into the ground and sheared the tubes  on either side of the cage as well as the rivets holding the boom tube in place.  The other two incidents bent the legs, one slewing me around into a ditch, the  other snapping off upon hitting a rock during an off field landing.

  

    The steel legs that I have now actually have  enough spring in them to boost me back into the air a hell of a lot softer and  more recoverable than would happen if the leg bent .  My point is that the  legs bending can end up causing more trouble than if the gear  absorbs the "impact" with the springy feature of the steel legs. Yeah, enough  impact or a really hard landing is going to tear some things up, but  it will at least take a serious one. 

  

    My gear legs are designed after the ones that  John and his brother Jim, made rather than the factory ones. I haven't seen  them, so I cannot comment, but mine have a lot of spring in them that will  absorb a lot of shock. There is no way that I would fly in the country that I  currently live in with alum gear legs.  The thought is that alum  absorbs shock, thus preventing damage to the cage. The only problem with that is  generally when the gear is absorbing said shock, you are still going to have to  deal with the fact that your plane is still moving, either forward, or perhaps  sideways if the gear bends. The damage occurs  after the legs bend. Steel  will return to as normal a position as it is able after the impact occurs. Alum.  never does, and often then is when the damage occurs.

  

    Now it is true that the worst injury that I  received from these "adventures" was a bunged up middle finger. Who knows things  might have been worse. I do know that Homer definitely designed a cage that  absorbs shock better than any other home built out there, I just don't believe  that alum is better than steel. I think it is too weak a  link. 

  

 Peace time Ace!

 Larry

  

   

 Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history,  which includes my email address.

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slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:12 am Post subject: First Flight!

The key word(s) here are GOOD PRESS.  The MkIII aluminum legs will take a lot of force to straighten.

One of the respondents said to turn it 180 and stick it back in.  Good advice, but alignment will be an issue.



When you stick it in the press you will have to exceed the current bend in the opposite direction by a good amount.

Be careful to block and jig it so you won't get hurt.   



My only bent leg wasn't due to pilot error but mechanic error, over eager to shoot around the patch before the carb was

set up right.  Quit at 50'  on short final when I retarded the little lever.  Good thing I was past the expressway.

A hasty dive saved the rest of the plane.



The best of us can still bend one though.  All you need is an unpredictable gust at the last minute and you will be in 

a precarious position.  I've done a few swoop and skim maneuvers since and have lucked out.

Having a fast engine spool up response is mucho importante.

BB

MkIII, suzuki



On 10, Apr 2011, at 12:06 PM, Jimmy Young wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Mark,

 

 #1, Congratulations on your 1st flight. 

 

 I've bent a bunch of gear legs on my Firestar (at least 4 times & I think more). They straighten out pretty easily with a good press. 

 

 Have fun & fly safe -

 

 --------

 Jimmy Young

 Missouri City, TX

 Kolb FS II/HKS 700

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=336531#336531

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Kip

Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 51

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: First Flight!

Congrats...!

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