N110TD turns One Today!
No crashes, no fires, no emergency landings, no engine outs, no PSRU failures, no prop failures. We did have our initial electrical problem that did do a number on the engine. 93 flying hours on the Hobbs. The problems we have: leaky tanks, BMA EFIS/One and nose wheel shimmy. We did have a small crack develop in the flex plate between the engine and the PSRU because someone, me, did not fully torque it in place during a swap out.
N110TD has been in the following states Georgia, SC, NC, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and of course Wisconsin.
Basically the first year has been proof on concept. We have larger than required air intakes for the cowl and we have kept the EGT's down to 1350. Fuel burn at cruise is about 13 to 15GPH. I think as we work on reducing cooling drag this will improve significantly. Since most of trips have been less than 1.5 hours I usually plan for 17 GPH just to be sure. The good news is our 17 GPH is at about $2.73 a gallon.
For those you with or building a Chevy powered RV-10 you will discover taking off is a blast. I doubt there is Lyco powered RV-10 that can accelerate and climb like a Chevy powered one.
To those who follow the Matronics RV-10 board: The write up Thane did about our flight departing Oshkosh was 100% correct except for the take-off part. I had an extra 150 lbs of dead weight in the plane besides all our camping stuff. I was nowhere near full throttle on take-off. I probably was just a little past half throttle. But everything else is true for a comparison.
Many will say that the Lyco blows the LS2 away for fuel consumption. They are correct. But we have yet to really work on the system.
Lycoming 10,000,000 hours or more of engine running time.
LS2 100 hours maybe?
Lycoming in an RV-10 10,000+ hours
LS2 in an RV-10 93.1 hours.
So for a plane system with under 100 hours on it flying it is probably only 20 to 30% behind in efficiency and easily ahead in cost per hour to run and maintain. Yes, I know it is not as safe. But with time I believe a good safety record will be established.