Scott Hersha
Well Known Member
I’ve found that during Phase 1 flight testing, this is what it is all about…….. fixing problems. My first flight, after my FAA inspection on 8/26/2022, and then fixing a fuel leak that I found that day, was on 8/31/22. This is what my plane looked like after my first flight -
View attachment 30659
I now have 6 flights logged and about 7 hours of flight time. I have an RV6 kit (now finished) that I bought used. The kit was started in 1992. I have a new O-360-A1A, standard compression, carbureted, with a carbon fiber GA fixed pitch prop, running one SureFly (left), and one new Slick mag.
First flight indicated a slightly heavy left wing, easily trimmed out with my manual roll trim system, and an elevated #1 cylinder CHT - just north of 400 until I leveled out and got some better cooling airflow and it came down below 400. What I didn’t notice, and is item #3 to be addressed is the lack of position reporting by my uAvionix Echo ADSB device - probably a setup programming error by me - more on that later. My #1 concern was the elevated CHT on #1. I cut down, then totally removed the baffle blocking plate in front of cyl #1. No noticeable effect on #1, or any other cylinder. This is what I think is happening with that #1 cylinder - the inlet duct, that basically acts as a Venturi to increase upper cowl pressure is mounted or configured too far aft on the right side, #1 cylinder. That Venturi doesn’t meet the surface of the upper cowl until it is at least 1/2 way past the #1 cylinder. That point is where the pressure rise as a result of the inlet duct will be at its maximum (almost anyway). I will be doing some surgery on that transition to make the transition end at the forward end of cyl #1. The other front cylinder - #2 - is further aft of the inlet and is my coolest cylinder. I expect at least a 30* change when I make this modification.
About the left roll tendency - I re-rigged the flaps, very slightly, to no noticeable effect. Then I re-rigged the left aileron, which made it worse. Today I un-re-rigged the left aileron, putting it back where it was before, and also slightly re-rigged the right aileron, because it was slightly off from where my measurements said it should be. I’m not at the point of squeezing trailing edges yet - a few more steps to accomplish first (I am using the Vans ‘heavy wing’ instructions). One of the things that need to be accomplished is landing gear fairings, including intersection fairings. Well, I had the lower intersection fairings installed, but the upper ones not ready for prime time yet. Yesterday when I got back from my #6 test flight, I found the aft end of my left lower intersection fairing……. missing. First time I’ve ever had a missing part on an airplane.
View attachment 30660
This is what is supposed to look like:
View attachment 30661
Basically, it became “unglued” when the landing gear flexed on landing - I’m guessing - couldn’t find any FOD on the runway. The fit was quite tight, and didn’t allow much movement, still guessing. Anyway, I’ve now removed both the forward and aft pieces of the left and right lower intersection fairings and going in a different direction with the not as cool Vans intersection fairings for the lowers. Still using the Fairings, Etc upper fairings.
View attachment 30662
View attachment 30663
I’m not sure what to do with that ‘wing’ that extends aft of the lower intx fairing on the Vans supplied piece. Not sure if it’s some sort of airflow enhancing appendage, or a speed brake. I’ve seen a couple other flying RV’s with these and they had a washer head screw and big drag inducing nut holding the back end together. Not sure I like that idea.
As far as Phase 1 issue #3 - my Echo position reporting setup. So far, in the 6 flights I’ve made, I haven’t been able to show a flight reply on FlightAware. I’m guessing I’m not outputting adequate ADSB data. I am seeing traffic on my EFIS - GRT Horizon 10.1, which controls the transponder (Sandia STX165R), and is connected directly to the Safe-Fly GPS and the Echo UAT. I’m also showing traffic on my iPhone, and my iPad mini, but I’m also showing a ghost image of me, which constantly gives me a “traffic” warning - about me! I’m sure I’ve made some sort of config programming error, but GRT is no help (they say call uAvionix), and uAvionix doesn’t answer their phone. I’ve put in a service request with uAvionix, but it takes 5 days to get a response, and who knows if that will be the answer I need. The uAvionix Echo manual has conflicting information as to programming, and I’ve followed th manual exactly like I did before on my last airplane (RV4) with EXACTLY this same system. This is what my setup looks like: (GRT Horizon 10.1, GRT Safe-Fly GPS, Echo UAT, EIS4000, all new):
This is what Phase 1 is all about, right? No worries, just want to fix these issues the easiest way possible. There are several issue topics here, so if you have any suggestions about anything here, I’d appreciate any help/recommendations you may have.
Thanks
View attachment 30659
I now have 6 flights logged and about 7 hours of flight time. I have an RV6 kit (now finished) that I bought used. The kit was started in 1992. I have a new O-360-A1A, standard compression, carbureted, with a carbon fiber GA fixed pitch prop, running one SureFly (left), and one new Slick mag.
First flight indicated a slightly heavy left wing, easily trimmed out with my manual roll trim system, and an elevated #1 cylinder CHT - just north of 400 until I leveled out and got some better cooling airflow and it came down below 400. What I didn’t notice, and is item #3 to be addressed is the lack of position reporting by my uAvionix Echo ADSB device - probably a setup programming error by me - more on that later. My #1 concern was the elevated CHT on #1. I cut down, then totally removed the baffle blocking plate in front of cyl #1. No noticeable effect on #1, or any other cylinder. This is what I think is happening with that #1 cylinder - the inlet duct, that basically acts as a Venturi to increase upper cowl pressure is mounted or configured too far aft on the right side, #1 cylinder. That Venturi doesn’t meet the surface of the upper cowl until it is at least 1/2 way past the #1 cylinder. That point is where the pressure rise as a result of the inlet duct will be at its maximum (almost anyway). I will be doing some surgery on that transition to make the transition end at the forward end of cyl #1. The other front cylinder - #2 - is further aft of the inlet and is my coolest cylinder. I expect at least a 30* change when I make this modification.
About the left roll tendency - I re-rigged the flaps, very slightly, to no noticeable effect. Then I re-rigged the left aileron, which made it worse. Today I un-re-rigged the left aileron, putting it back where it was before, and also slightly re-rigged the right aileron, because it was slightly off from where my measurements said it should be. I’m not at the point of squeezing trailing edges yet - a few more steps to accomplish first (I am using the Vans ‘heavy wing’ instructions). One of the things that need to be accomplished is landing gear fairings, including intersection fairings. Well, I had the lower intersection fairings installed, but the upper ones not ready for prime time yet. Yesterday when I got back from my #6 test flight, I found the aft end of my left lower intersection fairing……. missing. First time I’ve ever had a missing part on an airplane.
View attachment 30660
This is what is supposed to look like:
View attachment 30661
Basically, it became “unglued” when the landing gear flexed on landing - I’m guessing - couldn’t find any FOD on the runway. The fit was quite tight, and didn’t allow much movement, still guessing. Anyway, I’ve now removed both the forward and aft pieces of the left and right lower intersection fairings and going in a different direction with the not as cool Vans intersection fairings for the lowers. Still using the Fairings, Etc upper fairings.
View attachment 30662
View attachment 30663
I’m not sure what to do with that ‘wing’ that extends aft of the lower intx fairing on the Vans supplied piece. Not sure if it’s some sort of airflow enhancing appendage, or a speed brake. I’ve seen a couple other flying RV’s with these and they had a washer head screw and big drag inducing nut holding the back end together. Not sure I like that idea.
As far as Phase 1 issue #3 - my Echo position reporting setup. So far, in the 6 flights I’ve made, I haven’t been able to show a flight reply on FlightAware. I’m guessing I’m not outputting adequate ADSB data. I am seeing traffic on my EFIS - GRT Horizon 10.1, which controls the transponder (Sandia STX165R), and is connected directly to the Safe-Fly GPS and the Echo UAT. I’m also showing traffic on my iPhone, and my iPad mini, but I’m also showing a ghost image of me, which constantly gives me a “traffic” warning - about me! I’m sure I’ve made some sort of config programming error, but GRT is no help (they say call uAvionix), and uAvionix doesn’t answer their phone. I’ve put in a service request with uAvionix, but it takes 5 days to get a response, and who knows if that will be the answer I need. The uAvionix Echo manual has conflicting information as to programming, and I’ve followed th manual exactly like I did before on my last airplane (RV4) with EXACTLY this same system. This is what my setup looks like: (GRT Horizon 10.1, GRT Safe-Fly GPS, Echo UAT, EIS4000, all new):
This is what Phase 1 is all about, right? No worries, just want to fix these issues the easiest way possible. There are several issue topics here, so if you have any suggestions about anything here, I’d appreciate any help/recommendations you may have.
Thanks