sight picture (over the nose)

[BRS]

My sonex is the first and only one that I've flown in. I was wondering if the nose sight picture, on others, is like mine in level flight. Can't really see a thing in front of me (I'm 5'10) when sitting in the middle seat (between the cushons) and flying straight and level.

First Pic, view at apx level attitude with camera held at eye level (bumpy day)

Click to see full image

Second Pic, slight desent (170 fpm shown)

Click to see full image

[Bryan Cotton]

Same issue here

[daleandee]

Higher airspeed will bring the nose down a bit. Mine looks about like your second photo but when I fill the tank and the CG is forward I can feel it and see it ...

Dale
3.0 Corvair/Tailwheel

[XenosN42]

The sight picture from my OneX is about the same.

[builderflyer]

Brock, to me your top photo looks like my Sonex nose in a climb. In your bottom photo, the nose looks to be a little high for a normal cruise. That's sitting in the left seat, standard, not lowered.

Art,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sonex taildragger #95,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jabiru 3300 #261

[jaflint]

I second Art’s observation, from a lowered left seat pilot perspective.

[BRS]

I second Art’s observation, from a lowered left seat pilot perspective.

Well then, I might just have to try flying from the left one of these days. Have only flown from the center thus far. Might just double check the flaps rigging, after taking another picture while in smooth conditions.

Thanks for all the input.

[sonex892.]

As Dale mentioned the higher the speed the lower the nose. I fly a 3300 Jab and it is noticably higher on the nose when flying at 100kts compared to 130kts. So probably cant really compare the sight picture of a 120 HP plane to an 80HP plane.
If you think it is higher than normal. You could check the rigging instructions in the plans and double check your wing incidence is correct and also check the ailerons and flaps are set up correctly

[gammaxy]

I fly from the left with a 80 HP Sonex A. My headset occasionally bumps the canopy. Definitely would consider a center stick and fly from the middle solo if it worked with the lowered seat. My sight picture is much closer to the second picture than the first. The first seems closer to what I see when I'm climbing at 70-80mph. I typically lower my nose to where I can see the horizon and for engine cooling once I'm around pattern altitude. All this could just be that my eye level is a little higher, but I don't feel like I sit particularly tall (I'm about 6'1" though).

[rbarber]

All up weight and CG location will effect this too...

R.
N157SX, J3300