Page 1 of 1
N16BL First Flight!
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:25 pm
by smithhb
Today was the day! After drowning in over a week of rain and thunderstorms we were able to pull it off! Photos and videos on the website.
http://www.flightinnovations.com/
She flies straight and true and with no significant squawks. Time to fly!
Congratulations!
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:27 pm
by 4kilo
Enjoy flight testing. You will have a blast!
Pat
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:55 pm
by clreding
Congratulations!!!!
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:07 pm
by Midnight Sun
Congratz !!!!!!!
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:21 pm
by lancef53
Cool stuff!! Congrats!
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:43 pm
by svanarts
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:45 pm
by svanarts
Can't stand it. Got to post my favorite.
Conragtulations Brett!
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:36 pm
by cjensen
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:52 am
by Spike
That is soooo coool
I expect to see it at OSH!!
Spike
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 9:13 am
by bullojm1
Hey Bret,
Congratulations!!! You did it like I am planning -- have a test pilot do the first flight, then make my own first flight!
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 12:22 pm
by dons
Very big congrats Bret, that is great news!
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:28 pm
by smithhb
bullojm1 wrote:Hey Bret,
Congratulations!!! You did it like I am planning -- have a test pilot do the first flight, then make my own first flight!
Mike,
After downloading the Data Log, this is what we discovered during the stability (flutter) test...
At 15:01:25, during his high speed descent, he’s showing 190 kts, 2944 RPM (for only about 10 seconds) and a vertical speed of -3850 fpm (which appears to be a max display value), with the nose down 28 degrees about 10 seconds earlier. If you look at the altitude change from 15:01:15 and :20, he lost 600 feet in that 5 seconds, which is a vertical speed of -7200 fpm.
This is why I had a test pilot. Vern wanted to guarantee my safety and the safety of my family. He risked his own life for me. What do you suppose that is worth?
Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:37 pm
by Spike
I am a little curious, with such a well known and well tested airframe, what were you guys testing for?
Spike
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:52 am
by smithhb
Spike wrote:I am a little curious, with such a well known and well tested airframe, what were you guys testing for?
Spike
Spike,
I can only assume Vern was verifying the Vne and checking for "flutter". Although I suspect he was just having a blast burning my fuel....
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:32 am
by Spike
smithhb wrote:[... he was just having a blast burning my fuel....
*snicker*
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 12:56 pm
by Dan A
My experience has shown that Van's VNE is conservative. Shortly after flying my 40 hrs off I visited a friend of mine to show off my 8. When I left I decided to give him a low high speed pass. I noticed when I started to level off that the controls were unusually stiff. After leveling off I glanced at the air speed. Then did a double take. The indicator was at 230 KTS!! No sign of flutter. Yup!, They are made strong.
Enjoy your new toy!
Dan
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:49 pm
by RV7Factory
Congratulations Bret!!!
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 2:31 pm
by smithhb
Oh Boy! First Flight Video!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1BzBUPiKtw
Keep pounding those rivets!!!!
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 4:28 pm
by cjensen
