Michael's Sonex #145

[rizzz]

Nothing fancy yet, just some rolls and a couple of loops:
https://youtu.be/QBKzdHn0Ur4

Still being very careful at this stage, plenty of altitude and wearing a parachute of course.
The rolls went OK, I think I need a bit more speed on the loops (notice especially the second one, nearly spun out there), I'm entering at about 120KT at this stage, pulling up to 4G on the last one.
Great fun though!

[Bryan Cotton]

Very cool! Looks slightly different down there than up here. Went to the hangar to turn the heat on, got the truck stuck then unstuck, plan to walk back so I am not in the way of the plows. Have you spun it yet?

[Darick]

Excellent ! Looks really good.
Nice compact slip/skid ball on the panel..do you remember where you bought it?

[Rynoth]

Nice Michael, looks like a blast! If I may offer a suggestion, during your loops, when you're approaching vertical, tilt your head way back (or even do without the cap) so you can find the horizon sooner. It will help you keep the wings level and pull through a straighter loop.

2 questions (just curious): do you have the aerobatic ailerons, and were you going full-deflection during the rolls?

[gammaxy]

Great video. Just a few months ago it seems you were deep in the heart of your engine, now you're doing loops and the plane appears to be flying great.

I noticed your altimeter seems to drop 200-300 feet at the beginning of each loop and by about 100 during the roll entries. It's interesting and I don't know why that would happen. Is it caused by acceleration or by angle of attack? If it is caused by angle of attack, I'd expect it to also happen when landing or taking off. If it was caused by acceleration, I'd expect it to cause you to actually gain altitude in a steep turn. Maybe it only happens when the rate of acceleration or angle of attack are changing?

[rizzz]

Very cool! Looks slightly different down there than up here. Went to the hangar to turn the heat on, got the truck stuck then unstuck, plan to walk back so I am not in the way of the plows. Have you spun it yet?

No spins yet, I need to build up a bit more confidence first.

[rizzz]

Excellent ! Looks really good.
Nice compact slip/skid ball on the panel..do you remember where you bought it?

From Spruce, here it is:
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... ckkey=7510

[rizzz]

Great video. Just a few months ago it seems you were deep in the heart of your engine, now you're doing loops and the plane appears to be flying great.

Yeah,
Heartbreaking at the time, as was me stuffing up the wing rigging, but in hindsight these were all just minor setbacks.

I noticed your altimeter seems to drop 200-300 feet at the beginning of each loop and by about 100 during the roll entries. It's interesting and I don't know why that would happen. Is it caused by acceleration or by angle of attack? If it is caused by angle of attack, I'd expect it to also happen when landing or taking off. If it was caused by acceleration, I'd expect it to cause you to actually gain altitude in a steep turn. Maybe it only happens when the rate of acceleration or angle of attack are changing?

I believe it's the G forces that do that, I had never noticed it before.
Maybe someone with a bit more experience/knowledge in aerobatics can comment on this?

[rizzz]

Nice Michael, looks like a blast! If I may offer a suggestion, during your loops, when you're approaching vertical, tilt your head way back (or even do without the cap) so you can find the horizon sooner. It will help you keep the wings level and pull through a straighter loop.

2 questions (just curious): do you have the aerobatic ailerons, and were you going full-deflection during the rolls?

My instructor used to yell at me about not looking for the horizon soon enough, also during the pull up I tend to forget to look at the horizon over the wingtip.
I haven't done aero's since I last flew the Citabria which is a couple of months ago now, I'll need to get back into the routine.

I have the standard ailerons and yes, I was going close to full deflection on the ailerons I think combined with about half rudder (or so).

[Bryan Cotton]

The pressure must be increasing at the static port while pulling G. Never noticed that in the pitts. When I was first starting, I thought my loops were perfect as I started and ended on section lines. This was down in Florida. My instructor pointed out I was changing heading by 90 degrees with each loop. Whoops!