PlaneBuilderBill
Well Known Member
Last Friday my tach showed 40.3 hrs!!! My "required official" 40 hr Test Period is now completed....woooo hoooo!!!
During this time I have made 70 landings (all but 2 were on pavement). I prefer 3-Point so I've zeroed-in on perfecting them. Take offs are one of the shortest duration things I've done so far....apply throttle, forward pressure on the stick and I'm airborn....I'm not sure of the amount of runway required, but it just can't be that much (pavement or grass).
My 4 has a Penn Yan built ECI Lyc clone. 0-360 with Hartzell cs prop, Lightspeed Plasma II ignition, Skytec 12N starter and Plane Power 60 amp alternator.
The engine has done well during the break in period. I started with standard single weight mineral oil for the first 30 hours and then switched to 15W-50 Aeroshell. My OT has stabilized at approximately 187 degrees F. I'm still messing with getting all 4 CHTs close to even, but I'm close. At higher constant break-in RPMs I'm burning approx. 9 gals/hr.
I have done spins (no more than 1 turn left & right), aileron rolls (L & R), loops, split S and other positive maneuvers. All are easy with little effort.
My longest flight duration was 2.5 hours (shortest .5), and the leather covered confor foam seat stayed comfortable even for my 225 lbs. My average flight was 1.2 hrs.
As you know I added a Harmon Turtledeck and Todd's custom canopy to complete the look.
I have had a few issues with my avionics....radio transmission problems finally fixed. I switched out a digital altimeter back to a standard "steam" gage (a story in it's own right). Did I tell you I love the TruTrac ADI w/ HSI and the Flight Data Systems Chrono/"G" meter and my Garmin 296! I also like the electric flaps with fixed stops and electric elevator trim.
Just don't think there's anything negative about the plane....it's fast, easy to fly, easy to land and it looks cool....It's also paid for.
Painting has to wait a bit...I'm unemployeed so I'm hanging on to any extra $$. It's lighter upainted anyway....
During this time I have made 70 landings (all but 2 were on pavement). I prefer 3-Point so I've zeroed-in on perfecting them. Take offs are one of the shortest duration things I've done so far....apply throttle, forward pressure on the stick and I'm airborn....I'm not sure of the amount of runway required, but it just can't be that much (pavement or grass).
My 4 has a Penn Yan built ECI Lyc clone. 0-360 with Hartzell cs prop, Lightspeed Plasma II ignition, Skytec 12N starter and Plane Power 60 amp alternator.
The engine has done well during the break in period. I started with standard single weight mineral oil for the first 30 hours and then switched to 15W-50 Aeroshell. My OT has stabilized at approximately 187 degrees F. I'm still messing with getting all 4 CHTs close to even, but I'm close. At higher constant break-in RPMs I'm burning approx. 9 gals/hr.
I have done spins (no more than 1 turn left & right), aileron rolls (L & R), loops, split S and other positive maneuvers. All are easy with little effort.
My longest flight duration was 2.5 hours (shortest .5), and the leather covered confor foam seat stayed comfortable even for my 225 lbs. My average flight was 1.2 hrs.
As you know I added a Harmon Turtledeck and Todd's custom canopy to complete the look.
I have had a few issues with my avionics....radio transmission problems finally fixed. I switched out a digital altimeter back to a standard "steam" gage (a story in it's own right). Did I tell you I love the TruTrac ADI w/ HSI and the Flight Data Systems Chrono/"G" meter and my Garmin 296! I also like the electric flaps with fixed stops and electric elevator trim.
Just don't think there's anything negative about the plane....it's fast, easy to fly, easy to land and it looks cool....It's also paid for.
Painting has to wait a bit...I'm unemployeed so I'm hanging on to any extra $$. It's lighter upainted anyway....
