....no flying for me. Working on cars. Bleh.
v/r,dr
v/r,dr
Van's Air Force
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What did you do with your RV this weekend? (9/9-10/2023)
- Thread starter DeltaRomeo
- Start date
First flight this morning. Recruited friend, A&P and CFI friend to be an additional pilot. Justin has many hours in Vans Aircraft and him monitoring the engine parameters was a big asset. Flight lasted about an hour and consisted of a climb to 5,000 feet and about 5 orbits above the KTXK class D airspace.
Of note…
Plane flys itself off the ground at about 52mph.
Gotta get used to seeing over the nose in level flight. It’s not a 172!
Cylinder #1 ran about 30 degrees hotter in climb than all other cylinders, after flight I trimmed the #1 cylinder baffle by 1/2”
Dynon AP works sweet! Flew orbits with AP holding altitude and made turns with changing heading bug alone.
Stick movement in flight is minimal and even landings don't require must stick movement
Landed with full flaps (30 degrees). I need practice developing a landing routine in this RV9. Practice!
Ready for next flight with another RV Grin!
Of note…
Plane flys itself off the ground at about 52mph.
Gotta get used to seeing over the nose in level flight. It’s not a 172!
Cylinder #1 ran about 30 degrees hotter in climb than all other cylinders, after flight I trimmed the #1 cylinder baffle by 1/2”
Dynon AP works sweet! Flew orbits with AP holding altitude and made turns with changing heading bug alone.
Stick movement in flight is minimal and even landings don't require must stick movement
Landed with full flaps (30 degrees). I need practice developing a landing routine in this RV9. Practice!
Ready for next flight with another RV Grin!
Attachments
Much to my chagrin, I discovered my buddy’s newly acquired RV-4 is about 2 knots faster than my RV-3… which means I’m going to be looking for some speed mods because I won’t be able to sleep at night knowing he’s faster than me!
FWIW, I was a couple knots over Vne and he was a couple over that. Isn’t the redline on a 4 the same as a 3? Hmm.
Also, in my defense, he’s got an O360 and I’ve got an IO320.
FWIW, I was a couple knots over Vne and he was a couple over that. Isn’t the redline on a 4 the same as a 3? Hmm.
Also, in my defense, he’s got an O360 and I’ve got an IO320.
Just some local flying yesterday. Some low clouds just where I wanted to be! It was about a 8 knot crosswind and that is close to my max skill for landing but I nailed it!
The video is pretty boring but the landing was nice! I could have held the nose wheel off a bit more but it was pretty squirrelly and I just wanted to stay on target.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKQbVaU6MRo
The video is pretty boring but the landing was nice! I could have held the nose wheel off a bit more but it was pretty squirrelly and I just wanted to stay on target.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKQbVaU6MRo
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Flew my grandson to a Fly-in
A private grass-strip owner was generously having a fly-in at his place -- Spring Hill Airport (MD35) -- so a bunch of us from Essex Skypark headed over. My grandson Griffin (age 9) flew with me in the 7. It was a very nice fly-in with about 25 planes flying in including about six RVs. We enjoyed the BBQ Chicken lunch along with the live entertainment as well. Chalk up another great aviation day made possible by the RV.
A private grass-strip owner was generously having a fly-in at his place -- Spring Hill Airport (MD35) -- so a bunch of us from Essex Skypark headed over. My grandson Griffin (age 9) flew with me in the 7. It was a very nice fly-in with about 25 planes flying in including about six RVs. We enjoyed the BBQ Chicken lunch along with the live entertainment as well. Chalk up another great aviation day made possible by the RV.
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vinzer
Well Known Member
Finally re-installed my compass to a new location in the wingtip. Tested my new setup on the compass rose and then did some flying around the area - weather is great up here 
and what is most important - compass works now!
and what is most important - compass works now!Attachments
I had not flown my RV-4 in three weeks. For two of those weeks, I was in Europe for work, and then the last week, I was busy with some more work flying, and I did a four day motorcycle trip with friends. I usually fly my RV once every week or week and a half, so this was a long time for it to be sitting, unflown.
After getting back from the motorcycle trip this afternoon, I headed out to the airport to fly. Met a nice guy a few hangars down that just bought himself a very nice looking Super Cub, and he was flying with his daughter. After I was done ogling, I went to my RV-4 and got it ready to fly. As usual, I had nowhere to go.. so I made up a route on the fly. Flew east for a bit to check out some motorcycle roads, and a private airport. From there, headed south to find some waterfalls. After no success, headed to the coast to it northbound until I was abeam the home airport, and then headed that way. 45 minutes after takeoff, parked the airplane right back where we started, but I was now "reset" for the week.
After getting back from the motorcycle trip this afternoon, I headed out to the airport to fly. Met a nice guy a few hangars down that just bought himself a very nice looking Super Cub, and he was flying with his daughter. After I was done ogling, I went to my RV-4 and got it ready to fly. As usual, I had nowhere to go.. so I made up a route on the fly. Flew east for a bit to check out some motorcycle roads, and a private airport. From there, headed south to find some waterfalls. After no success, headed to the coast to it northbound until I was abeam the home airport, and then headed that way. 45 minutes after takeoff, parked the airplane right back where we started, but I was now "reset" for the week.
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simpkinsona
Well Known Member
I live in Hood River and was admiring your machine this weekend. Beautiful aircraft!
BTW, I see you’re in Vacaville. One of my fellow Alaska Airlines buddies lives there and we share the same name (I still occasionally get his mail after 23 years!) He was a C-141 driver in a previous life. Have you run into him?
wjb
Well Known Member
Bomber pattern practice
Back in early days, I had a perfect day in an empty pattern .. running circuits at about 2:45 minutes a lap; boy that was fun!
Fast forward a few years ... must be getting older and slower, since it's now taking me about 30 mins a circuit. However, can't see outside the cockpit and can't see the ground (even if I peeked) and needed to mix it it up with the big iron arrivals and depatures at SFO.
Having fun with instrument training! Talk about a "bomber pattern" ... almost as bad as Cirrus driver.
Back in early days, I had a perfect day in an empty pattern .. running circuits at about 2:45 minutes a lap; boy that was fun!
Fast forward a few years ... must be getting older and slower, since it's now taking me about 30 mins a circuit. However, can't see outside the cockpit and can't see the ground (even if I peeked) and needed to mix it it up with the big iron arrivals and depatures at SFO.
Having fun with instrument training! Talk about a "bomber pattern" ... almost as bad as Cirrus driver.
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Ricksrv4
Member
Engine out landing
Well, had some excitement Saturday when the idle mixture screw fell out of the MS carb on my 0320 in my RV4. Pulled power back on 45 enter downwind and engine ran rough then quit. Decided to land rather than trouble shoot. Pulled cowl and found the idle mixture screw laying on top of the airbox. Spring was still on the screw. Anyone heard of this happening? Do I need to put more tension on the spring? Glad I practice engine out landings occasionally.
Well, had some excitement Saturday when the idle mixture screw fell out of the MS carb on my 0320 in my RV4. Pulled power back on 45 enter downwind and engine ran rough then quit. Decided to land rather than trouble shoot. Pulled cowl and found the idle mixture screw laying on top of the airbox. Spring was still on the screw. Anyone heard of this happening? Do I need to put more tension on the spring? Glad I practice engine out landings occasionally.
fixnflyguy
Well Known Member
Idle screw..safety that bugger!
Rick,
Yes, I have seen the idle screw fall out more than once on various aircraft. I always safety that little bugger. I don't drill a hole in the head for safety wire, rather just creatively wrap it so as to pass through the slot and prevent rotation. No biggie if it moves a hair, but it certainly wont fall out. I use .020-.025 wire for ease.
Rick,
Yes, I have seen the idle screw fall out more than once on various aircraft. I always safety that little bugger. I don't drill a hole in the head for safety wire, rather just creatively wrap it so as to pass through the slot and prevent rotation. No biggie if it moves a hair, but it certainly wont fall out. I use .020-.025 wire for ease.
ronschreck
Well Known Member
Walt
Well Known Member
Probably safe to assume your idle mixture kept getting richer and richer as the screw worked its way out, but went unnoticed somehow.
I don't think it's quite as common as suggested, especially if the idle mixture is checked every year at annual, or more often as needed.
(adjusting idle mixture appears to be a lost art these days)
I don't think it's quite as common as suggested, especially if the idle mixture is checked every year at annual, or more often as needed.
(adjusting idle mixture appears to be a lost art these days)
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