After 12 years of on and off construction, RV-4 N455J is officially a flyable airplane. After receiving the airworthiness certificate this morning, I performed a full power ground run on the engine just to make sure it would develop adequate power and to see that there were no issues with the fuel delivery system. A quick adjustment of the low speed idle and another 15 gallons of 100LL (for a total of 20 gallons, 10 in each side) I was ready to go. At 1715 this afternoon I pulled onto runway 18 at 17J (Donalsonville, GA) and applied full power. The take-off roll was brisk but the airplane tracked straight. It broke ground after a short ground run and climbed away at 1500 FPM. At 2000 feet I orbited the airport feeling out the controls and watching the oil pressure. The left wing is slightly heavy and I hope to correct that with a squeeze of the left aileron. Also, right rudder was required to keep the ball centered. I may try to correct the rudder first before squeezing the aileron, just to see how it affects the heavy wing. Stalls were non events at less than 50 knots indicated. Oil pressure was to high and I had to throttle back to keep it in limits. The oil pressure relief is adjustable so that should be a simple fix. The most annoying thing was a canopy buzz on the trailing end at high speed. How do you stop that?
I would like to report that the first landing was a greaser but that would not be so. After the third bounce I remembered to plant the main gear on by raising the tail. Life was good after that. The 4 sure handles better than my Cessna C140A on the ground and in the air. I think I can get use to this airplane.
Thanks to Pierre Smith, Louisville, GA., for my transition training. I was as prepared for this flight as any I have ever made.
Jerry Isler
Donalsonville, GA
RV-4 N455J - Flying
I would like to report that the first landing was a greaser but that would not be so. After the third bounce I remembered to plant the main gear on by raising the tail. Life was good after that. The 4 sure handles better than my Cessna C140A on the ground and in the air. I think I can get use to this airplane.
Thanks to Pierre Smith, Louisville, GA., for my transition training. I was as prepared for this flight as any I have ever made.
Jerry Isler
Donalsonville, GA
RV-4 N455J - Flying
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