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Just curious. I have flown 3 hours testing engine and airframe. All has performed as expected. I have done all the flights over the airport to n the "co e" at 5,500 MSL (3,300 AGL). What criteria will tell me I can go further away to test (out of glide distance from the airport)? It is all desert and straight country roads in my test area. I can't find any information on this anywhere.

I stayed in the "cone" 10 hr before leaving the leaving the security of knowing the airport was within gliding distance if needed. It seems like I read or someone told me to stay in the cone for at least 10 hrs.

I'd say you can leave it once you are confident in the engine, have zero safety squawks and lots of emergency landing spots enroute.

Dana, 10 hours, squak free, and your own confidence level is satisfied. 10 hours is per my EAA Flight Advisor. Also, do a mini annual before venturing out away from airport. Take off all inspection covers, check linkages, bell cranks, rod ends, etc. Change oil on engine, give it a once over, check security of engine controls, mounts, wiring, and fuel lines. Number one, be safe! Jake

I am helping friend building sonex with jab3300 taildragger. Can anyone please advise on how they found learning to deal with ground handling

I'm not sure which part of ground handling you are asking about. I have just started test flying and I have found taxiing to be very responsive in turning I did a u turn between hangers. It was the size of a 4 way stop type to ntersection. It does not turn on a dime and that is ok with me. As far as on the landing roll out it is just like the Citabria I did tail wheel training in. Hope this helps.

skyflyer69 wrote:I am helping friend building sonex with jab3300 taildragger. Can anyone please advise on how they found learning to deal with ground handling

I didn't have any tailwheel training when I finished my Sonex, so I took it out and just taxied it around to get use to how it steered. I just kept picking up the speed until I got comfortable at that speed. Then I started doing runs up and down the runway up to 40 mph, which is landing speed in my Sonex. It was real tricky at first but got easier the more I did it, although they say not to do high speed taxi testing.

I did my tailwheel endorsement in a Kitfox which was harder to takeoff and land then my Sonex.

Mike

Hi. I havent flown tailwheel in about 10yrs and will be getting checked out hopefully not long now. Appreciate feedback

I left the cone of the airport after the 15 hours on my insurance kicked in and not before ;-)

I agree with all the posters before and add the following:

You kind of know when it and you are ready.

AP #618

I am helping friend building sonex with jab3300 taildragger. Can anyone please advise on how they found learning to deal with ground handling

Seems like we got a bit off topic here, but i do have some advice regarding ground handling with a 3300 tail dragger: Take-offs require pretty careful throttle opening, especially with any cross wind from the left. I had about 6 years experience in a Skyfox (factory built Kitfox) with a 70 HP Aeropower engine, but it didn't prepare me for nearly twice the power in the same weight aircraft. Taxying with strong cross-winds on loose surfaces such as gravel requires care because there's not much weight on the tail. I have found that I have to hold the stick back, even with wind from the rear quarter.

Peter Anson
Sonex 894
190 hours