rgmwa Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 Last Sunday my plane took to the air for the first time in the very capable hands of `JB', while a group of us looked on and enjoyed the show. The flight took place at Serpentine (YSEN) in WA - just a couple of circuits to break the ice and make sure everything worked. Nothing fell off and there were no leaks, so now the real test flying can begin. I'm still grinning. rgmwa 9 12
Downunder Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 Weather must have been better up there than further down the coast...... pretty stormy most of the day.
flyerme Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 Suuuuuuuweet mate..... Well done to you a to your test pilot 1
rgmwa Posted May 5, 2015 Author Posted May 5, 2015 Weather must have been better up there than further down the coast...... pretty stormy most of the day. Thanks all. It wasn't a textbook day for test flying, but the worst of the weather held off until later in the day. We had two first flights on Sunday, my RV-12 and an RV-7A. Same pilot - he's a chief pilot/CFI/ATO and his usual plane is a PC12 or Kingair flying out of Darwin or Jandakot, with maybe a Pitts or RV on weekends. He said the shifting wind over the hangars and trees was creating a fair bit of low level turbulence making the approach and landing a bit tricky, but both planes handled it equally well, despite the differences in power and weight. Both landings were on the grass strip. I was pleased the RV-12 handled the grass well for both take-off and landing as the main gear spats don't seem to leave a lot of tyre exposed. He hadn't flown a -12 before (there aren't any others down here), and expected it to be a bit under-powered with only 100hp, but was surprised that it wasn't. rgmwa 4 2
crashley Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 HI thats great you will get a lot of enjoyment out of it well done ashley 1
facthunter Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 The culmination of much work no doubt. Congrats on your achievement. Nev 1
Yenn Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 Well done rgmwa, it is a great feeling to see a plane you built, take to the air. Not that I have seen it as I have been doing the flying and I really wonder what the engine sounds like. Will you be doing the rest of the test flying. That needs a lot of concentration to get the correct numbers, not that it really matters with an RV as they have such a wide speed range. Is your plane a taildragger?
poteroo Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 Congratulations from all of the RV owners in Albany. You've just added a rare RV to the herd. I reckon we can slow down a bit to fit you into a formation once you are out of Phase I and can do your ff endo. Haven't seen JB since 2012 - wondered where he'd moved. cheers,
rick morawski Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 Congratulations on first flight and an outstanding build. Cheers Rick
rgmwa Posted May 6, 2015 Author Posted May 6, 2015 Congratulations on first flight and an outstanding build.Cheers Rick Thanks for that Rick and also for your help with the engine. Cheers Rob
rgmwa Posted May 6, 2015 Author Posted May 6, 2015 Congratulations from all of the RV owners in Albany. You've just added a rare RV to the herd. I reckon we can slow down a bit to fit you into a formation once you are out of Phase I and can do your ff endo. Haven't seen JB since 2012 - wondered where he'd moved. cheers, Thanks Poteroo, I'll try not to let the side down. Cheers Rob
rgmwa Posted May 6, 2015 Author Posted May 6, 2015 Well done rgmwa, it is a great feeling to see a plane you built, take to the air. Not that I have seen it as I have been doing the flying and I really wonder what the engine sounds like.Will you be doing the rest of the test flying. That needs a lot of concentration to get the correct numbers, not that it really matters with an RV as they have such a wide speed range. Is your plane a taildragger? Thanks Yenn. It only drags the tail if I get the landing wrong. There's no wheel at the back. JB will do the real test flying. Once we know it performs as advertised, I'll complete the balance of the 25 hours after he's happy that I know how to fly it properly. Cheers Rob
Neil_S Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 Well done, Rob! I am sure you will enjoy flying her Cheers, Neil 1
RetiredRacer Posted May 11, 2015 Posted May 11, 2015 Congratulations Rob, I've been waiting for this post from you
gwaf Posted May 11, 2015 Posted May 11, 2015 Another RV in the south west congratulations well done might see you one day at YBUN or YSEN! Cheers Guido
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