REFLECTOR: Take Off Performance

[Ron Brown]

'Morning Jim,

I did my flight tests off of a 5500 foot runway and 875 MSL.  The take offs were taking 2500 feet on cool days - 50-60 degrees.

After installing the repitched prop, it was like taking off in 2nd gear instead of 3rd gear.  With an M/T you get to take off in first gear with the engine turning 2700 and the engine making its advertised 200 HP.  

I have been very pleased with the 66 x 70" Catto prop.  I now take off from a 3000' runway and use less than half of it.  However, hot days and heavily loaded, take offs are a no-no from this runway.  

I am using VG's which improves canard rotation and lift off.  Also, be very careful about using brakes on the take off roll.  I point the nose toward the downwind side of the runway, and try to minimize brake steering.  The rudders start working around 30-40 kts.  

As Chuck mentioned last week, Velocities are definitely NOT STOL aircraft.  They like LONG runways. 

I see you live in Fallon, NV with an airport MSL of nearly 4000 feet.  That would reduce you Lycoming's 200 hp pretty significantly, especially on warm days!!!

I hope this helps.

Ronnie


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim & Sharon Beck 
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list 
  Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 1:56 AM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Rose Ignition


  Hi Ron ,
  Can you tell me what you consider to be sluggish takeoff on a 200 HP 173 RG.
  My home field is 400 ft and I get 2700 rpm on my MT constant speed. I am taking over 1/2 of  a 500ft runway to break ground and a couple hundred more feet to get a positive climb or to keep from settleling back on to the Runway. this seems sluggish to me but I have not flown a canard before this one.
  Thanks,
  Jim
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Ron Brown 
    To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list 
    Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 2:49 PM
    Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Rose Ignition


    Hi Larry, 

    I had problems with my Lycoming not turning up enough RPM on my initial flights.  I was only getting about 2150 RPM static and 2550 wide open on my 200 HP, 173 Elite RG.  I had a 66 x 72" Catto.  We checked compression, checked timing (25 degrees on a Lycoming), talked with Jeff Rose and couldn't get it to do any better.  2580 produced about 166 knots, wide open throttle at 7500 feet.  Take off was sluggish.

    I talked to Craig Catto, and decided to send the prop back. He re pitched it to 66 x 70.  Static RPM jumped up to 2350 and WOT over 2700 RPM.  Airspeed is 165 knots at 7500 feet.  Take offs are much stronger and top end speed is about the same.  

    You may need to do something similar.  What kind of static and wide open RPM's are you getting?

    Ronnie
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Larry Parham 
      To: reflector at tvbf.org 
      Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 2:49 PM
      Subject: REFLECTOR: Rose Ignition


      I have a Velocity 173 RGE-Franklin-Catto 66X74 and am trying to get a little more RPM.  In talking to Jeff Rose he was questioning if his Electronic Ignition would work good on the Franklin.  Anyone with any input would help. My timing is set to 32* and he suggested mayby droping it to 30*.  Anyone with any input would help.  Thanks larry


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