Shortfield Takeoff

Today @ThisGirlFlys takes control of the radios and flies out out of the Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA). We did a shortfield takeoff at KHEF which put us around 550ft to prepare for the shortfield landing at VG18 to check out the progress on the home we are building.

Fourth of July Flight to Outerbanks with Christie at the controls

 

Our Vans RV10 which had its first flight in January of 2021 now has 135 hours on it. It flys straight and true hands off and the full Garmin avionics combined with the Lycoming Thunderbolt IO540 make this a confidence inspiring cross country machine. 

Test Flight 5

Test Flight: 5

Date: Saturday February 6th 2021

Hobbs Start: 6.7 Hobbs End: 8.1

Description: A shorter flight than the previous trying to get back before the gusting cross-wind picked up into the 20s (I made it back when it was still 10kt right cross). With a little more trust in the autopilot, flew most of the flight via the Garmin. 1) I was able to get a nice slow mixture lean in order to gather another set of data before I start swapping on injector sizes. 2) I got some decent numbers at 4500 for 60% power LOP and 75% power ROP. I wanted to grab those numbers because I am going to start putting the wheel pants on. 3) I finally remembered to calibrate the pitch offset on the PFD. 4) I calibrated two of the AoA settings (viewable and caution). The controllers were busy all around, good job guys.

Objectives: Fuel topoff, preflight and run-up of the aircraft, normal take off with 0 degree flaps, depart the pattern for engine break in, auto pilot deployment, engine leaning data gathering, pitch offset calibration, AoA calibration, return to base, normal full flap landing.

Airplane Start Condition: 60 gallons of fuel, 9 qts of oil as read on the dip stick, 50lbs of ballast in the baggage compartment, single pilot (150lbs)

Airplane End Condition: 39.4 gallons of fuel, 8.75 qts of oil as read on the dip stick (probably .25 on the belly), 50lbs of ballast in the baggage compartment, single pilot (150lbs)

Test Flight Track Log:

Pilot Notes:

1. Autopilot was pretty rock solid. Heading, Nav, Alt, IAS, VS mode all functioned well
2. AoA calibration will need to be dialed in more as well as the actual Stall run needs to be calibrated yet.
3. 9qts of oil is still too much for that sump. A fair bit of oil on the belly and post flight checks verify that is all coming from the crank case vent.
4. Heat vents are pretty difficult to push open (yes, I thought I was being smart and installed them as a push rather than pull to open). Once at airpseed, there may just be too much force to have this in a push configuration, it feels like it is going to bend the push pull cable. That said, heat works well.
5. Left tank fuel vent is much better. I pulled it up further to the top of the tank as it was pissing fuel when the fuel trucks were filling to the bottom of the filler neck.
6. There is an odd behavior with what I think is mono/stereo on the audio panel. Either my audio recording works and the "alert" noises have a little static, or my phone wont pick up the transmissions but the audio alerts sound perfect.

Open Squawks:

1) COM2 breaking squelch on COM1 TX. COM2 sensitivity weaker than COM1. COM2 could use a ground plane.

2) Need to set "Flight" vs "Ground" calibration on the fuel levels. 

5) While the charging system is stable, I would still like to see if I can get the 0.2v differential out of the x-feed contactor. That is, my AUX bus when the alternator is on runs at a voltage 0.2v lower than MAIN. It is not that surprising given the number of connectors between the two busses. In order for the AUX battery to get alternator voltage it has to get through terminals on the MAIN contactor, X-FEED contactor, and then the AUX contactor. One or more of those terminal to terminal connections needs to be cleaned. 

Verified Closed Squawks:

N/A

Pilot Operating Handbook

The complete handbook (living document) is on google drive and can be found at the following location: N5412K - PoH

Vy Calibration Runs (Sawtooth Climb Performance)

While this is not complete data by any means, this session allowed me to get used to the procedure while at the same time not getting bored just running around in cruise circles. I need to repeat this session with 0 degree flaps as soon as I get the wheel pants on. Also, yes, I do have an EFIS that is recording at 1Hz and the abbreviated method of this calculation would be faster. That said, I am in Phase I and I am taking into account that it benefits me to learn the plane while still close to the airport, so longer procedures are not an issue. Calculations were based on this method. OAT was 6C at altitude and the airplane starting conditions had me weighing in at 2230lbs.

I ended up doing x8 valid 60 second climbs dropping the indicated air speed 5 knots per run. I started with 120 KIAS and ended at 85 KIAS. I still need to take this down to 75 but I want to run the power on stall tests before going lower. The figure below shows the 8 runs (the first one I am removing from the data set because I forgot to set a timer). The top sawtooth graph is Autopilot IAS versus Indicated Altitude. The bottom graph is KIAS versus Vertical Speed. A reminder on Vx and Vy. Vx is the slowest (IAS), and is the Maximum ANGLE of climb.  It allows one to climb to altitude within the shortest horizontal distance. Vy is slightly faster, and is the Maximum RATE of climb. It allows one to climb to altitude in the shortest time.

<todo: get the excel diagram output here>

Below are the calculated angles as defined by Google Earth Pro:

Test Flight 4: Auto-pilot, Vx, Vy, Engine Leaning in cruise

Test Flight: 4

Date: Saturday January 30th 2021

Hobbs Start: 5.0 Hobbs End: 6.7

Description: A very busy airspace, but overall productive flight. With extended time on the ground I worked on ground leaning procedures a bit and that turned out well with a very clean ignition check. Each ignition was a drop of 50 or so. Audio recording finally worked, but a couple of notes on that. My helmet ANR was set for mono, 3D audio on the GMA245 was on. I changed those two settings as well as unplugged and plugged my phone in after the audio panel was booted and everything finally started working. CHTs came down a good 50 degrees from the previous flights. My max CHT was in the 345 range on a WOT 85 knot climb. I ran a slow injector data gathering leaning run. My injector spread is .8 GPH. I will run that again before I start swapping out restrictors. Climbs were awesome being able to hold stable at +2000 FPM without hitting CHT overtemp. (it was 46F though)

Objectives: Fuel topoff, preflight and run-up of the aircraft, normal take off with 0 degree flaps, depart the pattern for engine break in, auto pilot deployment, verification of squawk resolutions (max RPM, Autopilot servo configuration), engine leaning data gathering, race track Vx and Vy runs (1 minute pulls), return to base, normal full flap landing.

Airplane Start Condition: 60 gallons of fuel, 10 qts of oil as read on the dip stick (fresh after oil change) , 50lbs of ballast in the baggage compartment, single pilot (150lbs)

Airplane End Condition: 38.4 gallons of fuel, 9 qts of oil as read on the dip stick (A lot of this went to the oil filter), 50lbs of ballast in the baggage compartment, single pilot (150lbs)

Test Flight Track Log:

Pilot Notes:

1) Max RPM on takeoff was 2700. The governor appears to be perfect now. Also adjusted the cable itself and got rid of the play at the full forward end.

2) Autopilot HDG, ALT, YD modes function well. Used the following settings:

Roll Servo
Servo Direction = Normal
Max Torque = 75%
Servo Gain = 0.80
Fine Adjust Time = 0.20
Fine Adjust Amount = 0 (disabled)

Pitch Servo
Servo Direction = Reversed
Max Torque = 100%
Servo Gain = 2.50
Fine Adjust Time = 0.20
Fine Adjust Amount = 1

Pitch Gain
Min Airspeed Limit = 70 kt
Max Airspeed Limit = 180 kt
Vertical Speed Gain = 1.40
Vertical Accel Gain = 1.00
Airspeed Gain = 1.35
Airspeed Accel Gain = 1.00

Yaw Servo
Servo Direction = Normal
Max Torque = 100%
Servo Gain = 1.50

Manual Electric Trim
Airspeed Threshold = 80 kt / 140 kt
Roll Trim Motor Speed = 100% / 50%
Pitch Trim Motor Speed = 100% / 50%

3) CHTs really came down. Pushed the engine hard for VX VY testing and only saw 379 as a max CHT on a 85 KIAS climb.

4) Worked on engine leaning at cruise. Got some good data on EGT/CHTs on leaning again. My Fuel Flow spread is .8, but I think I need to take a look at cylinder 2 and see if perhaps that injector needs a cleaning before I start messing with restrictor sizes.

5) There is something weird with recording the audio if the phone is connected before the plane is powered. Reset the connection after the avionics were powered and everything was fine. Also though I turned off 3d audio and flipped my helmet to stereo opposed to mono mode.

6) Flew some initial Vx and Vy tests. Used 4500ft as my floor, would stage at 4000, set the auto pilot for an IAS climb, mixture forward, prop forward, power forward. Upon crossing 4500 when stable, start a 1 minute timer. After 1 minute drop back down to 4000ft while turning to the reciprocal heading and starting over again.

7) I realized after doing this that I did these runs in Reflex mode. Re-run this test again with 0 flaps.

Open Squawks:

1) COM2 breaking squelch on COM1 TX. COM2 sensitivity weaker than COM1. COM2 could use a ground plane.

2) Need to set "Flight" vs "Ground" calibration on the fuel levels. 

5) While the charging system is stable, I would still like to see if I can get the 0.2v differential out of the x-feed contactor. That is, my AUX bus when the alternator is on runs at a voltage 0.2v lower than MAIN. It is not that surprising given the number of connectors between the two busses. In order for the AUX battery to get alternator voltage it has to get through terminals on the MAIN contactor, X-FEED contactor, and then the AUX contactor. One or more of those terminal to terminal connections needs to be cleaned. 

Verified Closed Squawks:

1) CHT1 is no longer the hottest cylinder. Cut back the Right air dam and now Cylinder 2 is the hottest but the spread is much smaller. Going to run it like this for a while.

2) Max RPM on takeoff was 2700. Proper Governor Max RPM is good.

3) Flaps are now configured for position based deployment. Confirm working well

4) Autopilot servo settings are holding heading and altitude well

5) Changed oil at 5 hours to 65

6) Added Tanis pre-heater system.

Test Flight 3: Rough Pitot check, Autopilot squawk correction, engine break-in

 

Test Flight: 3

Date: Thursday January 21st

Hobbs Start: 3.3 Hobbs End: 5.0

Description: Third flight of the aircraft. Straight up the most chaotic flight I have had as a pilot and even the first real (non-practice) go-around I have done. The flight was a bit adhoc because I was needing to change my oil based on winter finally arriving, but then we ended up getting a 60 degree day and I decided to run over and get a flight in. (I couldn't find 65 Mineral Oil this week and the temps at night dropped down to the twenties). The pre-flight started with an iPad update taking my device off of the cell network. Following that was in the 30 minute window I tried to depart, the tower (where we get our DC SFRA codes from) had shut down due to an unplanned COVID19 screening. 2 of my cylinders were acting up on the run-up (but cleaned up after burning off some carbon). My transponder did not go into ALT mode automatically (probably because I switched it to 'ON' while on the ground), so I almost got turned around until we reset it. I was attempting to conduct some tests of the pitot system in various flight configurations, but due to traffic like I have not seen before could not make a straight line for more than 30 seconds at a time (look at the track log). It took about 6 calls to get a SFRA clearance to come back in, and then when I got a squawk I had to orbit only for them to release me from my code thinking that I was outbound not inbound after they lost track of me. Then finally on landing I bounced it and chose to make a go-around. (I came in full flaps, but 80 is definitely too fast over the numbers with full flaps). I was fighting cross wind gusting but then in the go around I realized why everything felt so weird. I turned off autopilot right before base to final and given the wind conditions I ended up with heavy left aileron trim. I probably flew too short of a final to figure out what was wind, where some of the control forces were coming from, etc. Anyways, no harm, go around went just fine to a nice greaser landing. 

Objectives: Fuel topoff, preflight and run-up of the aircraft, normal take off with 0 degree flaps, depart the pattern for engine break in, auto pilot deployment, verification of squawk resolutions (autopilot pitch trim direction reversal, fuel level readings), clover patterns comparing Air speed to Ground speed and recording that with measured wind, initial engine leaning data gathering, return to base, normal full flap landing.

Airplane Condition: 60 gallons of fuel, 8.5 qts of oil as read on the dip stick, 50lbs of ballast in the baggage compartment, single pilot (150lbs)

Test Flight Track Log:

Pilot Notes:

1) Max RPM on takeoff was 2720. 

2) Autopilot HDG, ALT, YD modes function. Altitude wanders 100ft in turns and heading hunts 5 degrees or so in a direct cross wind. Heading holds well in head and tail winds. Need to fine tune the servo settings at some point.

3) Fuel gauges were more functional than last time. Need to re-calibrate again for proper flight attitude. I believe that my initial calibration of the 20 gallons and below was at the wrong attitude.

4) Worked on engine leaning at cruise. Got some good data on EGT/CHTs on leaning. I need to cut down the air dam on the right side before I continue this further as the CHT1 still warms up a bit more than everything else. Will work injector balancing later in the program.

5) Screwed up audio recording again. I am using the bump in the wire from NFlight which has always worked on other aircraft, but it does not seem to be picking up audio as soon as the TX button is depressed. Stereo vs mono? Something with 3d audio? Bad connector somewhere?

6) 80 knots over the numbers with full flaps is still fast. I will feel better about reducing this number after in air stall tests. The stick was back pretty far in the flare and while fighting the cross wind gusts I ended up with a light bounce. I ended up going around just because why not.

7) Need to parse the data on the airspeed calibration runs, but from my counting with finger math during flight the air speed at least at the tested speeds was spot on.

8) Left tank vent may need to be moved up a bit. May have just been the ramp angle, but after the fuel truck topped me off the left vent vented more fuel than I like to see on the ground. (a) warn the fuel truck guy next time to stop a little lower (b) check where the vent is relative to the right tank vent

Open Squawks:

1) COM2 breaking squelch on COM1 TX. COM2 sensitivity weaker than COM1. COM2 could use a ground plane.

2) Max RPM on takeoff was 2720. Proper Governor Max RPM needs adjustment

3) CHT1 is still the hottest cylinder. The spread is only 40 degrees from hottest to coldest, but CHT1 could probably benefit from some additional right side air dam reduction

4) Fuel tank level curve is much better, but need to set "Flight" vs "Ground" calibration. 

5) While the charging system is stable, I would still like to see if I can get the 0.2v differential out of the x-feed contactor. That is, my AUX bus when the alternator is on runs at a voltage 0.2v lower than MAIN. It is not that surprising given the number of connectors between the two busses. In order for the AUX battery to get alternator voltage it has to get through terminals on the MAIN contactor, X-FEED contactor, and then the AUX contactor. One or more of those terminal to terminal connections needs to be cleaned. 

6) Move the flap deployment from momentary to position based now that I am comfortable with full flaps.

7) Probably our last 60 degree day. Swap the oil out for some 65.