Kitfox Aircraft Stick and Rudder Stein Air Grove Aircraft TCW Technologies Dynon Avionics AeroLED MGL Avionics Leading Edge Airfoils Desser EarthX Batteries Garmin G3X Touch
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 26

Thread: N36KJ Flies First Time

  1. #1
    Senior Member Maverick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Phoenix
    Posts
    295

    Default N36KJ Flies First Time

    I made the first flight of my KF5 this morning. In general, it was an uneventful flight. After two high speed taxi tests I took off and flew to 3000' and circled the airport pattern. I lifted off the runway at 40mph indicated. Climb was amazing. I climbed at 70mph and was getting just under 1000' fpm. I ran the engine at 5500 rpm and was indicating 100mph, 5650 rpm = 105mph and 5800 rpm = 110. I did not make any inflight adjustments to the prop. My static RPM was set to 5200 rpm prior to takeoff.

    The plane wanted to roll to the left. I'll make adjustments to the rigging this next week to deal with that.

    On approach for landing the first attempt I was high and fast. Attempted at 70 mph on final and just saw myself floating a long way so did a go-around. On the second approach I came down sooner and backed off to 60 mph. The landing wasn't stellar but, I didn't brake the plane. I did a full stop then went around the pattern again for another attempt and the tower controller indicated that my transmissions were garbled to near inaudible so I made a full stop landing. My approach again was at 60 and I tried to get it down to 55 but, I didn't use flaps so I couldn't seem to get it to slow down. Touchdown was a little bouncy. I have the tall landing gear so, I need to get in more practice with it to determine if I want to trade it out.

    My CFI was with another student in the pattern at the time of my radio call and he said it was loud and clear but lots of background noise so, he's loaning me a set of LightSpeed noise canceling that is supposed to noise cancel the microphone too.

    All in all, I'm happy with the flying experience but, I'm still a Rotax neophyte. I've only flown Continentals from A65, C85, 0200, 0300 & 0470 so getting used to the high rpms of the Rotax is a little disconcerting. I like the Continental better as a motor but, the difference between the climb and empty weight of this KF5 and my first one w/ the 0200 is so amazing, I'm sure I'll learn to cope with the Rotax.

    I have the Grand Rapids EIS which, after finally getting to work with it some, I like. I set my MaxEGT at 1450 degrees F and was exceeding that occasionally. Looking at the FlyRotax documentation it looks like that should be about right but, because I kept getting alerts, I think I'll raise the MaxEGT to 1500. I also set the MaxSplit to 85 degrees and I got alarms for it often also so, am thinking I'll go up to 100 degrees on it.

    Thanks to all the help from you guys and the past discussions you have had that I was able to garner from your experiences.20201024_091327[1].jpg20201024_091313[1].jpgAttachment 25894
    Attached Images Attached Images
    EAA, AOPA
    KF5 (N49FK & N36KJ)
    Phoenix, AZ

  2. #2
    Administrator DesertFox4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    3,562

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Congrats Fred. 😀👍


    DesertFox4
    Admin.
    7 Super Sport
    912 ULS Tri-gear


  3. #3
    Senior Member bbs428's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    SW Missouri
    Posts
    649

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Nice write up. Congratz on your 1st flight!
    Somebody said that carrier pilots were the best in the world, and they must be or there wouldn't be any of them left alive. — Ernie Pyle

    Brett Butler
    Flying: 1998 Model 5 Outback, 912ul Zipper 110hp, G3x avionics, ss7 upgrades

  4. #4
    Senior Member jmodguy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Carmel, IN
    Posts
    744

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Awesome! Another Series 5 takes to the sky! Nice looking bird
    Jeff
    KF 5
    340KF

  5. #5
    Senior Member PapuaPilot's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Nampa, Idaho
    Posts
    1,225

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Congrats Fred, that is great news. What is your empty weight?
    Phil Nelson
    A&P-IA, Maintenance Instructor
    KF 5 Outback, Cont. IO-240
    Flying since 2016

  6. #6
    Senior Member Delta Whisky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Amissville, VA
    Posts
    637

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Congrats and thanks for the details that support a vicarious enjoyment.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Steilacoom, WA
    Posts
    729

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Woohoo! Nicely done. Let us know how the continued shake down adjustments (both you and the plane) go.
    Kitfox 5 (under construction)
    Commercial SE/ME, CFII

  8. #8
    Senior Member Maverick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Phoenix
    Posts
    295

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Phil,
    my empty weight is 777lbs.
    Fred
    EAA, AOPA
    KF5 (N49FK & N36KJ)
    Phoenix, AZ

  9. #9
    Senior Member Cherrybark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Near Tyler, TX
    Posts
    509

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Congratulations Fred and a very nice report. Would enjoy reading more as you continue your test flights.
    Carl Strange
    Flying
    SS7, 912iS, Oratex, G3X

  10. #10
    Senior Member aviator79's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Los Alamos, NM
    Posts
    913

    Default Re: N36KJ Flies First Time

    Well done sir! Congrats.
    --Brian
    Flying - S7SS

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •