N315MP Makes its Maiden Voyage
Saturday, June 28, 2003, dawned with a visit to Kent Ashton's aircraft hardware parts store for a couple of AN bolts (don't ask why at that late date I am in need of bolts). The weather was low scattered and broken layers and some rain, so the time spent on the all of those last minute preflight tasks was not too bad. We finally readied the RV8 and about 4:00 PM, N315MP took to the sky for the first flight at Concord Regional Airport. My partner and cousin, Philip, was at the controls. Takeoff was textbook and climb out to 3,000' MSL over the airport was all normal. After circling the airport for about 20 min, Philip headed northwest to check stall speeds. Power off and clean produced a straight ahead stall at 60 kt IAS and dirty, the stall occurred at 52 kt. The plane flew wings level with hands off the stick. A little right rudder had to be held in straight and level flight. Max CHT was 387 deg. F. After returning to the field, Philip made a photo op pass down runway 20 at 120 kts, then came back for a non eventful landing. Upon engine shutdown and opening the canopy, the RV grin was readily apparent.
After all the usual photos, we put the plane in the hanger, went to eat while the engine cooled down, then back to the airport for my first flight. By this time I figured the airplane was structurally ok as Philip did not break anything, It was now time for yours truly to take to the air. Again, a non eventful flight. All systems were normal, no squawks at all. A beautiful flying and handling airplane.
Total time for both flights was 1 hour. We both flew again Sunday and my son, Paul made his maiden voyage that afternoon.
We definitely purchased the right aircraft kit. Hats off to Van's Aircraft for producing an excellent aircraft design at an affordable (subjective) price.
Thanks to EAA 309 for the learning experience on the RV6. Thanks to EAA 309 tech counselors Neil Stewart, Dale Ensing, and Andy Moscarelli with Dale doing double duty as flight advisor. Also thanks to Steve Glasgow for all of his help.
For all of you guys out there still pounding rivets, keep it up. It is all worth the effort, time, and expense.
The RV is in Florida now and I have
the 170.
The RV is doing great. We have probably 65 hours on it now. We
have had only very minor problems. The biggest problem which I have
not even addressed yet (I will when I get it back in Dec.) is the Navaid
autopilot. I has never worked right in the tracking mode.
In level flight, it pulled to the left, and I really did not want to put a
trim tab (Van suggested a wedge on the rudder). I finally added a
spring with turnbuckle to the right rudder cable in the cockpit.
Works great.
Oil consumption is about 1 quart in 6 or 7 hours. The tach had a
problem and early on, I believe it read about 100 rpm's too high (fixed
with resistor and capacitor). So for the first 25 hours or so, I
thought we were running at 2500 rpm and it was possibly 2400 or so.
That said, I don't believe we were using enough power to properly seat the
rings. I wish I had run it full throttle for the first few hours.
No problem cruising at 160 kts. Full throttle at 2500', I saw 183
kts indicated and confirmed both ways with GPS. Never did check TAS
at that time.
Rolls beautifully (according to my cousin). He can't fly it without
rolling it.
.
Mike and his brother rebuilt this beautiful Cessna 170 before tackling the RV-8