REFLECTOR: 1st flight N2084D

[dean fitzbag]

There is nothing to measure now.  Everything looks ok.  My estimate is that the entire winglet was at least one and a half inches out and one and a half inches in (3 inches total) at the top.  The rudder was full deflection.  The wing was all over the place.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Brian Michalk<mailto:michalk at awpi.com> 
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list<mailto:reflector at tvbf.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 1:05 PM
  Subject: RE: REFLECTOR: 1st flight N2084D


  Do you think you could measure the inboard deflection, and maybe take a picture or two to help out the rest of us?

  You've got a good example of flutter, and lived to tell about it.  You can document this and we can maybe learn something from it.

   Brian Michalk  <http://www.michalk.com<http://www.michalk.com/>>
  Life is what you make of it ... never wish you had done something.
  Aviator, experimental aircraft builder, motorcyclist, SCUBA diver
  musician, home-brewer, entrepreneur and barely single
    

    -----Original Message-----
    From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]On Behalf Of dean fitzbag
    Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 10:50 AM
    To: reflector
    Subject: REFLECTOR: 1st flight N2084D


    I made my first flight this morning.  It took me 21 months to build my standard RG with no fast builds.

    The flight started fine with only a little over zealous elevator at liftoff.   It handled well and before turning cross wind I retracted the gear.  The airspeed was about 110 knots.  As I turned downwind I heard a few sounds that sounded like an engine miss.  It quickly got very rough.  I thought the engine was failing.  The aircraft was shaking badly.  I declared an emergency and asked everyone to clear the area.  I reduced power right away to improve chances of staying up longer and lowered the gear.  While looking at the airport to plan which runway to set up for, I saw out of the corner of my that my problem was left rudder flutter.  It was really shaking everything.  Then as the airplane slowed to  100 knots the ride smoothed out.  At 80 knots it was very smooth.  So I continued to fly a normal approach and landing.  I'll call the factory tomorrow, but my guess is that a shim will be recommended.

    The factory was very helpful during building process.  Mike Pollack did my EAA inspections and was provided very useful advice. 
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