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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