Flight test discussion - Phase 1

[Bryan Cotton]

Thanks all for the discussion!

I taped down a couple of straps to my bottom seat cushion, just to keep them from twisting. I took the rear seat cushion out. This let me keep the straps from getting twisted while I placed the ballast.

I put each of three 50 lb sand bags in their own trash bag, for mess patrol. I used a big reusable lawn and leaf bag to contain all the bags. I had a cam cleat strap go around the longitudinal axis, and a ratchet strap go around the roll axis. That was what I had in my collection. Here, the cam cleat strap excess is being fed through the hole in the top seat center so I can wrap it around the box beam and tie it off.

The red ratchet strap that goes around the roll axis also has excess strap. I fed that around the box beam on the outside and tied it off.

Besides the straps, I used the seatbelts of course. The bag had a couple of straps sewn into it and I went through those straps to keep the seatbelts located.

Seems secure. I'll find out. Any feedback is welcome.

[Bryan Cotton]

We´re not allowed to spin LSA´s up here, so I had a qualified test pilot do this for me, first only him and later on with fatty me next to him and in both cases half full tank.

Who else has done spin testing? I'd like to spin it at gross weight and at a representative CG with two people. I am curious who has explored spins at aft CG, but within the envelope of course.

For all other acro maneuvers I'd want to stay within the acrobatic weight and CG limits. Spins are a good training maneuver.

[GordonTurner]

Hi Bryan

Any chance you can borrow a parachute for those spin tests? Max GW…aft CG…we ant you and your plane back in one piece, but west case, we’ll all settle for just you :)

Gordon

[Bryan Cotton]

My chute arrives early November.

[Area 51%]

I rearranged my canopy hinge pin so it could be removed from the inside in case the plexi had to be jettisoned. It was a two-piece pin with loops to get your fingers into.

[BRS]

I rearranged my canopy hinge pin so it could be removed from the inside in case the plexi had to be jettisoned. It was a two-piece pin with loops to get your fingers into.

I'd like to see a picture of how you did that. It's something that I've wanted to do.

[Kai]

Is that neccessary?

I would not think jettison of canopy in flight would pose any difficulties?

There have been numerous inflight unintentional openings, and as far as I understand the whole thing is more or less wrenched from the hinges- or?

[Area 51%]

I didn't do it necessarily to aid in in-flight egress, but so I had an option on the ground in case of a jambed latch. An ancillary benefit is the pin can't be removed by some starving artist that has eyes for my GPS.
I'll look for a picture.

[Bryan Cotton]

Here is my first attempt at collecting takeoff performance data. This was a practice run. I need to record temperature and altimeter setting. I used the app phyphox. My kid had used it before in a physics class. Lets you record GPS data.

Data is clearly not perfect, but sort of looks like 1500' takeoff and 2500' to clear a 50' obstacle. This was pretty much at max gross weight and 68.5".

[pappas]

Don't forget. If you spin test at a max gross weight of 1100 or 1150 depending on your engine's HP, you will be 150 - 200 lbs over the max aerobatic gross weight of 950 in a Sonex.