3rd Flight Report, 11-17-2006

Moran is moving on with simple hour building. The electrical problems seem to be behind and all is working well but there is a need to chase down the right spot for a static port so that readings can be accurate.  The prop has been incrementally pitched and is not redlining right away.  This will be a small step approach to the best combination. 

 

It is a difficult problem in all general aviation planes to find the ideal static port spot.  If is develops suction it reads high airspeed and altitude when fast or power on and the opposite if they are in a pressure area it is the opposite.  If the pitot tube gets enveloped in the leading edge pressure wave if it is not long enough it will read off or if it is at an incorrect angle. This is why a lot of initial testing on production planes is done with extremely long pitot tubes which orient into the airflow along with static ports trailed behind the plane.

 

Last weekend Morgan was at altitude and was happy that the airspeed was the same as the gps. Of course hindsight is always better and he should have realized that indicated should have been some 11 or so mph slower at 8000 feet and our temperatures and humidity.  At any rate he got a good surprise when he thought he was at an indicated 60 mph and the plane broke left and spun a few turns.  The prototype was inadvertently built with a smaller than standard tail (never in the design, just a drawing misinterpretation) but even at that the recovery was smooth.  Not intended to start spin testing yet but there it is.  Not a big deal.

 

Flap extension tests have been done and landings are being made with them now.  The approach angle is nice and landings are short even though there is a cushion being left until airspeeds are accurate.

 

As stated, the plan is to build some time, chase the accuracy on the airspeed and climb, dial in the prop, be comfortable and have some fun. After Morgan goes north for the Thanksgiving holiday the wings will get tufted for full stall analysis and we'll go on from there.  Things are progressing well and the plane is very well behaved.