REFLECTOR: IFR Flight

[Brian Michalk]

How did your IVO prop do with the rain?  Did the rain damage the leading 
edge?

On 10/27/2011 04:34 PM, aminetech at bluefrog.com wrote:
> Today I did my first real IFR flight direct from McPherson, KS to 
> Ocean Springs, MS.  There was VFR weather at both ends and IFR in the 
> middle.  I learned a few things.  In the clouds my speed decreased by 
> 5 kn.  Is this typical?  My IVO prop performed flawlessly and helped a 
> lot with the speed variations.  I replaced the motor brush torsion 
> springs with stronger ones and that seems to keep the motor working, 
> so far.  In rain the plane pitched up and down a lot.  In moderate to 
> heavy rain the A/P couldn't maintain altitude within 100 feet and I 
> had to assist it.  The rain showers lasted only 10-15 min, each.  I 
> was happy about that as I didn't want to have to fight it for an 
> hour.  Also, water dripped on my feet during the heavy rain.  I'll 
> have to seal the canard joints somehow.  The OAT and carb temps were 
> both 6 C initially and gradually increased to 11 C as I progressed 
> farther south.  I was wondering about carb icing, but it was raining, 
> so I figured I was ok.  My MAP began at 20.5", and slowly decreased 
> over 1 1/2 hours.  When it go to 19", I knew something was wrong 
> because I've never seen it that low at 9000'.  So I applied carb heat 
> and the MAP immediately dropped 1/2".  Then it slowly increased for 
> several seconds.  Then the engine stumbled for 1/2 sec and then the 
> MAP jumped to 21".  So there was some ice there.  Now I know that 
> water freezes at 11 C in OK and AR.  My understanding is that you 
> can't fly IFR through MOAs, yet I went through 2.  The last hour I was 
> out of the rain and could have climbed and went VFR, but I decided to 
> continue going in and out of cloud tops for experience.  It was quite 
> bumpy and next time I'll climb and go VFR.
> I met a guy at the McPherson airport who knows someone who just bought 
> a Velocity with a rotary engine.  Is that your's, Al?
> John
>
>
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