REFLECTOR: Test area

[Pat Shea]

Jerry,

Sounds like a legitimate concern, although i'm not
sure which engine/prop combination you have nor the
real world performance expectations of your model at
that DA. The terrain in the immediate vicinity of the
airport is something else to consider.

I can tell you from experience that when the
hypothetical becomes reality, and you're about to
launch on your first flight, you'll wish you had
15,000' in front of you. That's a joke, sort of...

I disassembled my completed and plane moved it from
it's home base (3,000' runway 1,000 MSL) to an airport
w/ a much longer runway 40 miles away. It was quite a
bit of work and the trailering certainly brings it's
own set of hazards. However, once you've gone that
far, the difference between moving 20 or 200 miles
isn't much even with the permit issues.

In my opinion, there's too many other things to worry
about during a homebuilt's first few flights than
ideal engine break in. I've read engine articles that
recommend that you literally push the plane to the
run-up area, start it, then launch trying to maintain
high cylinder pressures (high power setting) and cool
CHT's for hours. That may make some sense for a new
engine in a tried and true airframe, but in an
untested airframe it's ridiculous. First of all, to be
comfortable w/ the airplane's operation/handling on
the ground means many more ground ops and taxi runs
than your engine builder wants to hear about -
potentially hours. During your first couple flights,
even if no major issues arise, there's flutter testing
to do before the IAS gets too high. Again, this is not
something that will make your engine builder happy,
but the Velocity is going to exceed the speed your
comfortable going even at 50% power.

If ideal engine break is top priority, take it off and
send it to a good engine to a shop w/ a test stand and
have them do it. They will even dial the engine in for
you which means about 100 less things to worry
about...


FWIW, Pat XLRG w/ 140 hrs       


--- Jerry Teitsma <jerryteits at comcast.net> wrote:

> I have a unique problem.  I am nearing time to fly
> my 173 Elite FG.  My 
> plane is in a hangar at GNB - Granby CO airport.  I
> have a 5,000 ft paved 
> runway but have an altitude of about 8200 ft.  For
> reasons of engine 
> break-in and safety, I am considering disassembling
> and taking the plane to 
> the Denver area - 3,000 feet lower.  Will that help
> sufficiently?  To get to 
> a lower altitude than that, I would be traveling a
> good ways and to an 
> unknown area.  Trailering the plane out of state
> would require a wide load 
> permit and a lot of hassle.  Any suggestions?
> 
> Jerry Teitsma, RRC, RRO, CCCA
> RCI, Inc
> PO Box 796, Granby CO 80446 (USPS mail/shipping)
> 36 Lodgepole Ct, Granby CO 80446 (UPS/FedEx
> shipping)
> 970-887-3910 (Phone/Fax)
> jerryteits at comcast.net



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