REFLECTOR: IT FLIES!

[Jeff Clough]

Congratulations Tom....I hope to join the "Flying" ranks this 
summer....can't wait! Jeff C


Tom Martino wrote:

> On Saturday, February 5, 2005 at approximately 3:30pm MST, Test 
> Pilot-AP-Instructor Steve Murphree ... took off from Front Range 
> Airport (Watkins, Colored) in my Velocity 173 Elite RG featuring an 
> IO-540 300hp engine, dual electronic ignition and an MT four-blade prop.
>
> Steve gave me a lot of good news and some very interesting observations:
>
> He said it flew “hand off” ... smooth, straight, tight, powerful and fast.
>
> No flutter at all. No nose shimmy, and no vibration on braking.
>
> And here’s what I found VERY interesting considering recent 
> discussions here regarding weight & Balance.
>
> We put a minimum amount of ballast in the front seat with Steve – just 
> enough to put the CG almost full aft (in the approved envelope). The 
> result? The plane was nose heavy. We are still experimenting ... but 
> it appears so far that the plane needs _very little ballast _(despite 
> the heavy engine).
>
> The is perhaps because of landing gear placement, together with the 
> fact that the engine closer to the firewall than usual (due to a 
> special mount). In other words ... the BIG engine has not made it 
> unstable, light in the nose, nor unsafe as speculated here.
>
> In fact ... it recovers quickly from stalls, lands like a dream, 
> ground rolls perfectly and rotates exactly as it should.
>
> So far, this is only the second Velocity 173 Elite RG in this exact 
> configuration flying. It is nice to have the actual numbers and flight 
> impressions to see exactly what the big engine does to this plane ... 
> rather than the frightening speculation that preceded the test flight.
>
> By the way ... Steve is a great asset to the Velocity community. He 
> does a thorough inspection, makes adjustments and repairs as needed, 
> flies it and can check out owners. He is worth every dime of his fees 
> as twice the price.
>
> I hope Marion Sparrow is smiling (he originally bought this kit and 
> poured his heart and soul into the early stages of this Velocity).
>
> I realize this is just the beginning, so for the next 50 hours ... I 
> will be carefully learning the ins, outs, ups and downs of this fine 
> aircraft.
>
> I hope to see you all in Oshkosh. I could have NEVER gotten this far 
> without the input and expertise of the members of the Reflector!
>
> Tom Martino
>
> N173EX
>
> www.troubleshooter.com <http://www.troubleshooter.com/>
>
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