Pietenpol-List: flight testing at gross
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2003 12:57 pm
Original Posted By: kirk
Walt;I have never test-flown a homebuilt. However, Marvin Barnard, the designer and builder of the prototype M-19 "Flying Squirrel", tested his airplane to the full limits of its design gross using sandbag ballast and other weights properly secured. During the flight test phase he moved (and secured) the weights around to simulate loading at the forward and aft limits of C.G., approaching each limit carefully and noting changes in flight characteristics.Call it personal preference, but in my mind I would like to know how my airplane handles in all areas of its flight envelope and I intend to do that. Doing that under controlled conditions, during flight test ops, is the best time, because more than likely the day will come that you will have your plane at a fly-in and somebody rich and famous like Paul Poberezny will take a shine to your plane and ask for a flight. You'll do a quick mental check and determine that with the fuel onboard, you'll be near or at gross and you sure don't want to turn down Mr. Poberezny so you'll want to know that the plane is a little different on the controls at full gross, or whatever the case... rather than find out in uh-oh mode that it's heavy on elevator in the flare, or whatever the case. You'll want to make a squeaker landing with Paul in that front 'pit, too.I'd say go for it with the dummy ballast. It might keep your "ash" out of a crack sometime ;o)Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 12:58:21 -0600
Walt;I have never test-flown a homebuilt. However, Marvin Barnard, the designer and builder of the prototype M-19 "Flying Squirrel", tested his airplane to the full limits of its design gross using sandbag ballast and other weights properly secured. During the flight test phase he moved (and secured) the weights around to simulate loading at the forward and aft limits of C.G., approaching each limit carefully and noting changes in flight characteristics.Call it personal preference, but in my mind I would like to know how my airplane handles in all areas of its flight envelope and I intend to do that. Doing that under controlled conditions, during flight test ops, is the best time, because more than likely the day will come that you will have your plane at a fly-in and somebody rich and famous like Paul Poberezny will take a shine to your plane and ask for a flight. You'll do a quick mental check and determine that with the fuel onboard, you'll be near or at gross and you sure don't want to turn down Mr. Poberezny so you'll want to know that the plane is a little different on the controls at full gross, or whatever the case... rather than find out in uh-oh mode that it's heavy on elevator in the flare, or whatever the case. You'll want to make a squeaker landing with Paul in that front 'pit, too.I'd say go for it with the dummy ballast. It might keep your "ash" out of a crack sometime ;o)Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 12:58:21 -0600