REFLECTOR: Congrats to Hirro + Paint update
J.F.Sheehan at larc.nasa.gov
J.F.Sheehan at larc.nasa.gov
Wed Sep 6 10:42:32 CDT 2006
Terry
If the guy painting is an auto guy he may not know to paint the
control surfaces with the trailing edge UP. I saw one guy screw up
the balance because the paint all ran down to the trailing edge.
Jack
N55XL
> A little belated, but very much with a joyful tone...CONGRATS, Hiroo. I
> remain hopeful that I'll be there soon.
> Terry
>
> PS: I have access to a paint booth that is idle now due to a
> divorce/bankrupcy. Very sad for them, but opportune for me. Anyway,
> the wings and canard were done Saturday. We used Dupont Auto paint, 2
> stage and it came out good. Buff out is tomorrow morning, if I can get
> the painter back over here. The next batch will be control surfaces,
> doors etc this Friday. Last, if I can get it done in time, will be the
> fuselage. I used stick on vinyl serial numbers made for $20 at the
> local sign-making company. Even tho they are supposed to go on wetted
> down w/ dish soap, we did them dry on to a color coat that was only 30
> minutes old and they applied just fine. They now have 2 coats of clear
> over them. I may drop my plans to use plastic plackards from the tropy
> shop in town for panel labeling (switches etc) and use vinyl stick-on
> lettering.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
> Behalf Of Hiroo Umeno
> Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 1:23 PM
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Another Velocity in the air!
>
>
> I jumped the gun and started posting about Franklin engines so the news
> is out now but just to make it "official", I will post it here.
>
>
>
> On August 24th, at 3:04pm PST, Velocity SUV (serial 103) N21HV took off
> for the first time from Arlington Airport (AWO) with Steve Murphree at
> the controls. The first flight lasted a short 12 minutes. Steve
> reported that the aileron force was stiff (I have the yoke setup) and
> had the tendency to over-control. He also noted that the oil temps were
> running hot as well. Back at the hangar, we lubed the controls, ground
> off some fiberglass from wing - aileron gap that were rubbing, and
> generally loosened up things a bit.
>
>
>
> The next morning, Chuck Harbert came out with a couple pairs of vortex
> generators he made for us (Thanks Chuck!). We put those ahead of the
> top NACA scoops and, like magic, the oil temps came down. Steve also
> noted some left leaning tendency and stuck some mixing sticks on the
> right rudder. That seemed to help things a bit.
>
>
>
> The following two days (Sat and Sun), Steve ran me through the wringer
> drilling me on the finer points of flying the Velocity. Some bad habits
> from Cessnas I have to get rid of.
>
> * On take-off, I am used to firewalling the throttle, pull the
> nose up and keep best climb and wait for the altimeter needle to crawl
> up to where I want it. On a Velocity, as soon as I get to safe altitude
> (500AGL, which takes "seconds"), I need to pull the throttle back, pitch
> down, set climb power / prop, and get some air flowing over those
> cylinders.
>
> * On landing, keeping the nose relatively low, instead of burying
> the yoke in your gut as you do on Spam Cans.
>
>
>
> This weekend, I put another couple quality hours on the plane generally
> getting used to the machine and brushing up on my landings using the
> really long runway at Paine Field (PAE). I am getting the plane down
> and stopped in about 4'000 now.
>
>
>
> As you've all seen in my other thread, I am having issues with Frankling
> starting and running a bit rough. Both of which, the consensus appears
> to be, is related to fouled mags from running full-rich for break-in.
> Seems like I need to get out my wire-brush next time I head out to the
> hangar.
>
>
>
> Some squawks and "to do"s now.
>
>
>
> * Attitude indication for Chelton AHRS dropping when accelerating
> past 30Kts or so.
>
> * Static port getting high-pressure from fuselage side / canard
> leading edge.
>
> * Better cabin ventilation
>
> * Engine primer (as discussed separatedly)
>
>
>
> In general, I love the way the thing flies! Every time I am in a turn
> or something and look over and see the wingtip, it brings a grin in my
> face.
>
>
>
> Hiroo
>
>
>
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