Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Flight Testing, Operation
Just a short update and to apologize for the delay with videos and other reports…
We simply have been too busy flying :-) Something like 8 hrs in the last week… With all the planning beforehand and data evaluation afterwards, this amounts to quite a bit of work (although i hate the word “work”… it’s more like “fun”, but leaving little time for other stuff like screening and cutting videos)…
The RV-7A flies great and is everything we hoped for (and more…)
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Flight Testing
This is the first set of promised pictures and videos. There will be more coming.
Photos by: Markus & Christian Keller, Richard Bätscher, Michi Wellenzohn. Thanks guys.
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Flight Testing
We’re proud to announce that our RV-7A succesfully flew its maiden and second flight today at Birrfeld (LSZF) airfield in Switzerland.
The awesome event was captured by several cameras, so expect an update soon, featuring pictures and video.
The feeling is beyond description and so worth every minute it took to get there!
Both flights went perfect, with the landings being nice and maingear first but flying can still be improved by a little earlier rotation and more flare at touchdown.
First flight was flown by Bernie, followed by cowl removal / inspection and a second flight with building partner Alex as “flight test engineer” ;-)
The only squawks were a seeping oil cooler fitting (which didn’t show up during various ground runs and only lost a few drops of oil overall) and an aileron trim that went to max right once, which we suspect could be related to control stick wiring.
check back for an update in the following days. will post pictures and videos as soon as they’re gathered and ready.
rgds from RV-grinning
Alex & Bernie
UPDATE: Here’s a teaser image with the famous RV-grin immediately after the first flight with Bernie and Alex cheering. Bear with us for just a little longer until we get all the great pictures and videos collected and processed.
Picture by RV-10 builder Michael Wellenzohn
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Paperwork
Got home from the awesome trip to OSH & New York City and finally found the eagerly awaited Permit To Fly in the mail. Of course with some restrictions, but all make perfect sense and will eventually be lifted once the flight test program, flyoff period and noise measurement are completed. Now, let’s hope for some nice and stable weather this week.
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Paperwork
Next week, it’s off for another trip to the U.S :-)
3 days Airventure and 3 days New York City…
Also, the permit to fly is still pending :-( although it should be a mere formality, holiday season also appears to affect public offices…
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Birrfeld LSZF, Finishing
Yesterday, 6.7.2010, HB-YMT finally underwent its official inspection by Mr. Alex Husy on behalf of the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA).
We’re happy that we passed with very few and small writeups only and no showstoppers :-)
Brother P-Touch calling for some more labels *G*
Now, as there’s no such thing as a “Pink Slip” as in the U.S. (which lets you fly right away), we have to wait until we receive the provisional permit to fly. Let’s see how long that takes.
As a rough idea, the first flight could happen as soon as this weekend or as late as beginning of August. All depends on when the final papers arrive and both Lex and I are/will be on vacation as well. Preparation of the EAS internal paperwork was trickier than expected and provided us with a nice delay, so that we start conflicting with vacation :-( Then again, i can imagine worse kinds of conflicts ;-)
Mr. Husy wrapping up the inspection with some more Paperwork
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Finishing
Since i’m getting a lot of questions ;-)
First flight is not far out! We just passed the EAS (Experimental Aviation Switzerland) internal inspection last Friday with very few (mostly paperwork) details to clean up, so the FOCA final inspection won’t be far along.
Everything slipped a bit due to a great vacation in Florida and the Carribean ;-) But we should be able to fly before Oshkosh time is coming around.
Keep checking back.
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Finishing, Operation
Also, again using the guidance, help and advice from Max, we were able to complete the weight and balance measurement. This was actually an interesting one, as we had not really weighed the airplane before. The result wasn’t much of a surprise and neither a disappointment, just a tiny bit heavy at 1166lbs. (529kg). Considering the airplane is fully finished with paint and interior, just about as much electronics as we could fit and a relatively heavy constant speed prop/engine, this isn’t that bad. We certainly knew that we were going to be above 1100lbs. Still, because the RV has such a nice envelope and payload, this still leaves ample room for us medium weight europeans ;-) Now we just have to stay in shape *LOL*
This HB-YMT Mass and Balance.xls lets you play with some figures. It also checks the limit nosegear load as per Van’s and the Aerobatic limits. Feel free to reuse, many thanks to Carl Morgan (RV-7A, new zealand) for the excellent template!
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Birrfeld LSZF, Engine, Finishing
With the generous help of Max Vogelsang, we were able to complete the static thrust measurement. Of course, the RV has more than enough power, so that was another one for the papertrail…
Posted by Bernhard Daenzer | Filed under Birrfeld LSZF, Final Assembly
Completed the Magnetic Compass Calibration. Both the EFIS magnetometer as well as the backup magnetic compass.
