rdooley79
03-06-2014, 06:56 PM
So yesterday afternoon, we finally got a break from the weather here on the front range. Prior to this my CFI who has 9000+hrs and many thousands in alaska flying everything and specializes in floats. Plus he's a cool guy in general. He had a Luscombe 8A that was supposed to be his trainer but unfortunately age brought out a few too many issues this winter and he decided to ground her. Too bad it would have been a good starter and then transition. :(
So, we decided to take it up yesterday afternoon. As this was the first flight, Kevin took the left seat and I watched all the temps and watched for traffic. It was so cool to take off for the first time. For his first time in the plane it was o.k. but definately different than he was used to and raised the tail too late and tried to get it off a little too fast but not bad. we climbed out well at about 500fpm. However the ASI was reading 0! I was so focused on the engine temps that I didnt notice until Kevin pointed it out. He even said that it was a good flying plane and the sight picture and feel was good enough that he didnt notice until we were off. We decided to fly the pattern and bring it back to the hanger for investigation. The landing was fast, but kevin just held it in ground effect until all the airspeed went away and she just bumped on the runway with a little wobble but not bad at all! I have to give Kevin a hand for handling it with cool skill. Once we got back I noticed that the pitot tube "dust" cover was stuck and wouldn't flip back in flight. It came off immediately. ASI worked great!
Taxied back out and took off again and headed over to KEIK about 7 miles away. We were running about 6000 and getting about 85 cruise. I'm looking out the window and looking at the wing. It was a cool feeling of flying in my new plane. It's soooo different than my trike. I'm used to being completely out in the open. The KF is a tight cabin with a dash and doors and wings right above my head. My trike has a big wing but it's way higher up and the view is amazing. The trike also flies about 65 and is made for STOL on rough terrain. I wanted a faster enclosed mini bush plane and that is a KF 100%! Cruising at 85 is awesome! I'm just loving the KF. But as cool as it was we found that the air was rather rough, which can happen right along the Rocky Mountains. We got knocked kind-of hard and we watched the wind shift from the south to the west. Right over the mountains which is bad air. So as it was the first flight but had successfully proven that it was at least a solid plane to this point. We decided to turn around and head back to KBDU. We had some radio problems as well, it was like we weren't able to receive or transmit at any range. So coming back Kevin lined up and I called the airspeeds out for him. Approach right at 65 then 60 and hold it till just over the numbers, then bleed it back till the tail settles... well that was the plan and that all happened except for the tail settling.... she held airspeed and we bumped once then a bit of a bounce as it came to the ground. Not bad considering with the wind coming off the mountains puts the runway in a mechanical rotor as well, I was impressed. I know what it's like landing in similar conditions with the trike and it is challenging. Taxied back and put her back in the hanger. Flight time about 30 minutes. Short but definitely confidence inspiring.
Kevin wants to fly the KF with me in the right seat for a bit longer until he's comfortable. I totally agree. But the plan is next flight if thing's go smooth I'll get my first chance to take the controls!
I think the radio problem is antenna or antenna ground related. I'm going to take the whip antenna off of my trike and test with it. if that works then the whip is getting installed on the KF and I'll just order a longer one for the trike that will fit better. -upgrades- :cool:
I'll keep you guys posted.
So, we decided to take it up yesterday afternoon. As this was the first flight, Kevin took the left seat and I watched all the temps and watched for traffic. It was so cool to take off for the first time. For his first time in the plane it was o.k. but definately different than he was used to and raised the tail too late and tried to get it off a little too fast but not bad. we climbed out well at about 500fpm. However the ASI was reading 0! I was so focused on the engine temps that I didnt notice until Kevin pointed it out. He even said that it was a good flying plane and the sight picture and feel was good enough that he didnt notice until we were off. We decided to fly the pattern and bring it back to the hanger for investigation. The landing was fast, but kevin just held it in ground effect until all the airspeed went away and she just bumped on the runway with a little wobble but not bad at all! I have to give Kevin a hand for handling it with cool skill. Once we got back I noticed that the pitot tube "dust" cover was stuck and wouldn't flip back in flight. It came off immediately. ASI worked great!
Taxied back out and took off again and headed over to KEIK about 7 miles away. We were running about 6000 and getting about 85 cruise. I'm looking out the window and looking at the wing. It was a cool feeling of flying in my new plane. It's soooo different than my trike. I'm used to being completely out in the open. The KF is a tight cabin with a dash and doors and wings right above my head. My trike has a big wing but it's way higher up and the view is amazing. The trike also flies about 65 and is made for STOL on rough terrain. I wanted a faster enclosed mini bush plane and that is a KF 100%! Cruising at 85 is awesome! I'm just loving the KF. But as cool as it was we found that the air was rather rough, which can happen right along the Rocky Mountains. We got knocked kind-of hard and we watched the wind shift from the south to the west. Right over the mountains which is bad air. So as it was the first flight but had successfully proven that it was at least a solid plane to this point. We decided to turn around and head back to KBDU. We had some radio problems as well, it was like we weren't able to receive or transmit at any range. So coming back Kevin lined up and I called the airspeeds out for him. Approach right at 65 then 60 and hold it till just over the numbers, then bleed it back till the tail settles... well that was the plan and that all happened except for the tail settling.... she held airspeed and we bumped once then a bit of a bounce as it came to the ground. Not bad considering with the wind coming off the mountains puts the runway in a mechanical rotor as well, I was impressed. I know what it's like landing in similar conditions with the trike and it is challenging. Taxied back and put her back in the hanger. Flight time about 30 minutes. Short but definitely confidence inspiring.
Kevin wants to fly the KF with me in the right seat for a bit longer until he's comfortable. I totally agree. But the plan is next flight if thing's go smooth I'll get my first chance to take the controls!
I think the radio problem is antenna or antenna ground related. I'm going to take the whip antenna off of my trike and test with it. if that works then the whip is getting installed on the KF and I'll just order a longer one for the trike that will fit better. -upgrades- :cool:
I'll keep you guys posted.