REFLECTOR: First flight

Sun Jun 10 21:23:45 CDT 2012

Where is the video Chris?

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Barber
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2012 12:04 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Cc: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: First flight

Agreed, but at that particular moment I was straight and level and put it
down almost as soon as I picked it up. Hey, at least I didn't try to text
all Y'all while up there. 

Sent from my iPhone 4

On Jun 9, 2012, at 11:59 AM, "Jack Prock" <jackprock at wavecable.com> wrote:

CONGRATULATIONS!! 

Trying to use a phone for video on your first flight???

I think you need to check to make sure your cojones don't exceed your weight
and balance!!

From: Chris Barber <mailto:cbarber at texasattorney.net>  

Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2012 9:50 AM

To: REFLECTOR <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>  

Subject: REFLECTOR: First flight

Oops. I hit send by mistake to the Reflector when halfway done. Here is the
complete post. 

June 9, 2002 - A trailer pulled up in front of a simple but comfortable home
in Houston. 

Lots of trails, tribulations blood, time, money, recreation, education, fun,
friendships, anger, frustration, problem solving, sweat, pondering
etc....repeat and repeat again and again. 

Fast forward (it did go fast)

June 9, 2012 <x-apple-data-detectors://1>  - Ellington Field - A lone, very
nervous man arrives at the airport shortly before 0900 hrs. Pushes onto the
ramp the contraption composed of fiberglass, metal et al and the ingredients
listed above. He sits down and writes a simple holographic (hand written)
will and short note with information to call "Mom" and work. Calls tower to
relay intent via the phone.

Preflights the contraption. Gets in, goes though basic Checklist. Cranks up
the engine, which fires right up. Taxi to Juliet. Calls tower to verify
intent and to taxi to active, 35L. Taxis to Taxiway Echo. Checks temps.
Pushing 195 with OAT reading 95 degrees (geesh it is only about 0930 hrs). 

Cleared to take active and hold. Taxied out. Lined up castering nose wheel
down center stripe. Cleared to take off. Added power and engine smoothly ran
up. Airspeed coming in. 30 kts...50 kts ....60 kts, approximate rotation
speed. Lots of runway (9000 ft).....hold it....70 kts....72 kts... Slight
pull on the yoke....AIRBORNE!!! Leaped into ground effect. Screw this,
pulled back on yoke and I am climbing. Jiggled the yoke a bit to verify
control authority. 

Climbed to about 400 feet and turned right pattern to crosswind. The Dynon
altitude and airspeed seem to be working. That's reassuring. Pattern
altitude is only 600 feet and I was there already as I turned to downwind.
Leveled off and noticed the clouds were lower than reported and appeared on
the ground. Also, noticed coolant temps had dropped to 190....but oil temps
were flashing at me and had reached 225 (synthetic Royal Purple). Damn. Ok.
Fly the airplane, the oil is not at not a critical level. , but let's just
finish the pattern and land. I grabbed my phone while on downwind and
attempted to record some data but while I can hear the engine the video is
awful....uh, in my defense, I was a bit distracted and way more concerned
with flying. I called the tower and informed them I was coming in. I think
they were looking out for me since as I turned to base I noticed the fire
department staged just off the runways threshold

I noted I was a bit far out on down wind so I stared easing over to turn
base. Wow. I really overshot it as I blew by the runway and had to use full
right rudder to get back to the runway. I wish I had had more rudder. In
hindsight I think I was not using much aileron as I was cognoscente that I
had no idea of stall characteristics so I did not yet wish too strep a turn.
I was able to get over the runway and dump some altitude as I got over the
numbers and pulled power. Crap, I am fast. I am lined up and right on the
numbers but at 95 kts. I come and touchdown and bounced. Pulled power to
idles and settled down easily but fast at 90 and rolled out and exited at
Delta. The tower was clearing me back to the city hangars as I was exiting
the active. I taxi back and noticed the oil temps had decreased but I don't
recall how much, just noticed they were lower.

I got back to my hangar and popped the door and shut her down. The engine
went silent without any hissing or gushing. 

I called my mom. 

I am mowing informing the world. 

I did a walk around and did not see anything missing. I am about to pull the
cowl and check things out. 

I did notice I did not develop a slight hand shaking untill after I landed
and exited the aircraft. ;-) Hey, how about that, it really is an aircraft
now. Ten years to the day following delivery. 

Thank you for your support. 

Christopher Barber, JD

Houston, Ellington Field (EFD)

Velocity N17010

Turbo Rotary 13b

RWS Re-drive and engine computers

Dynon Skyview

Mistral intake

Sent from my iPhone 4

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