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Finally getting close to certification.
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don.honabach(at)pcperfect
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:41 pm Post subject: Finally getting close to certification.

Paul,



Just my two cents ... 



One of the things that surprised me on my first flight was how the plane went from 'stuck to the ground' to what at the time seemed like an extremely high nose angle and aggressive climb rate.  So high that I worried about stalling the plane on take off, and pushed down a bit too much, and then had to correct my over correction. I never hit the ground or anything like that, just didn't fully appreciate how sensitive the controls are (at least on my 601HDS). Took literally a few seconds to 'get that', and then I was fine. 



For what it is worth, now I love the fact that I can climb so quickly and the plane handles it great, but on first flight and still a pilot in Cessna mode, it took me by surprise.



Congratulations! You are now part of a very small and elite club    (...of people who are foolish enough to build their own plane, think they'd save any real money, and then are crazy enough to fly it - LOL!).



Thanks,

Don

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psm(at)att.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:20 pm Post subject: Finally getting close to certification.

Hi Don,



Thanks for the message.  I got a good little snicker out of it.



In fact, I didn't build my plane with the idea of saving money.  I just 

really like building stuff.  I am a retired engineer, and it is that 

"Building stuff" view of the world that made me an engineer in the first 

place.  I don't miss having one of those really annoying bosses and I am 

fortunate in the financial arena, but I really need to build stuff to 

keep my sanity.  (My wife also wants me to be building something all the 

time.  She is afraid if I don't have a hobby like that she will become 

my hobby.)



I do feel a sense of accomplishment getting my airworthiness 

certificate.  It has been a long hard battle that started over 6 years 

ago.  I never had a completion schedule but I thought it would be more 

like one year than six.  One of the points that confused me (and lots of 

others, I suspect) is the build time estimates all the kit builders 

advertise.  What they don't tell you is when you complete the project 

ZAC said takes 500 hours you don't have an airplane to fly away.  You 

have a stripped down airframe.  You still need a power plant, 

instruments, upholstery, etc., etc.  The airframe might be a big part of 

the project but there is still a great deal to do when the airframe is 

completed.



I am looking forward to the first flight.  It might have been tomorrow 

morning, but I wound up having a long nap after lunch today instead of 

finishing up my ground testing requirements.  The first flight will 

happen soon -- I just don't know when.



Fortunately, I am not a pilot in Cessna mode.  I would be very 

disappointed indeed if my plane behaves like a Spam Can.  I have been 

flying a high-end LSA for a couple of years. I have also had a couple of 

short flights in other people's XLs including doing one takeoff and 

landing from the right seat. I had a little trouble on that flight but I 

think that was because my seat was too low for me to see the engine cowl 

and I had no flight instruments on my side of the panel.  That was a 

couple of years ago before I grounded mine and took it apart.  Still, I 

don't expect any surprises on my first flight.  Of course, that assumes 

nothing breaks or fails to work.



Thanks again,



Paul



On 7/8/2011 2:40 PM, Don Honabach wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Paul,



 Just my two cents ...



 One of the things that surprised me on my first flight was how the plane went from 'stuck to the ground' to what at the time seemed like an extremely high nose angle and aggressive climb rate.  So high that I worried about stalling the plane on take off, and pushed down a bit too much, and then had to correct my over correction. I never hit the ground or anything like that, just didn't fully appreciate how sensitive the controls are (at least on my 601HDS). Took literally a few seconds to 'get that', and then I was fine.



 For what it is worth, now I love the fact that I can climb so quickly and the plane handles it great, but on first flight and still a pilot in Cessna mode, it took me by surprise.



 Congratulations! You are now part of a very small and elite club;-)    (...of people who are foolish enough to build their own plane, think they'd save any real money, and then are crazy enough to fly it - LOL!).



 Thanks,

 Don

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