Pietenpol-List: 1st Flight on New Engine
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 11:21 pm
Original Posted By: lshutks(at)webtv.net (Leon Stefan)
Subject: Pietenpol-List: 1st Flight on New EngineYEEEE HHAAAAWWWW !!What a beautiful evening to do a first flight !! As they say, it was uneventful, and went just as I hoped it would...prayers answered. A little after7pm, the cross wind died down, and we did a short run with the cowling on for thefirst time, and shut down for a quick inspection, re-started, taxi to the south end of the field, turn around, add full power, help the tail come up a little with forward stick, and WOW, I could see the whole runway ahead of me !!What a sight and sound. Tippee Toed a little bit around 35 MPH, then held it off the ground around 40 MPH. Speed shot right up, and I had to control the airspeed with lots of aft stick around 55, and was over 60 feet altitude by thetime I got to the crowd of people standing at the other end of the field. Shewas climbing like the perverbial 'Homesick Angle' !! What a rush !! Gave 'em a big "YEEEE HAAAWWW" !! I did 5 or 6 fly-bys, and then went out to our test area where there is lots of fields, then did fly-bys at a couple of otherfields, just to let them know another Pietenpol is in the air. Flew for 1.1 hours, then came back and greased in a one bounce landing. It's been six monthssince I flew this little gem, and it behaves just like she did with the Model A, except for the substantial increase in climb rate. She sure is a 'Stick & Rudder' airplane. Weight & Ballance came in just as I estimated, and she's almost 60 lbs lighter, and almost twice the power. I was actually having funin the air again !! I love flying this plane !! Next flight...tomorrow morning, then another flight tomorrow evening. Weather is looking perfect.Chuck GantzerNX770CGp.s. Brodhead / Oshkosh / Wheeling is closer than ever !!________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pietenpol-List: 1st Flight on New EngineYEEEE HHAAAAWWWW !!What a beautiful evening to do a first flight !! As they say, it was uneventful, and went just as I hoped it would...prayers answered. A little after7pm, the cross wind died down, and we did a short run with the cowling on for thefirst time, and shut down for a quick inspection, re-started, taxi to the south end of the field, turn around, add full power, help the tail come up a little with forward stick, and WOW, I could see the whole runway ahead of me !!What a sight and sound. Tippee Toed a little bit around 35 MPH, then held it off the ground around 40 MPH. Speed shot right up, and I had to control the airspeed with lots of aft stick around 55, and was over 60 feet altitude by thetime I got to the crowd of people standing at the other end of the field. Shewas climbing like the perverbial 'Homesick Angle' !! What a rush !! Gave 'em a big "YEEEE HAAAWWW" !! I did 5 or 6 fly-bys, and then went out to our test area where there is lots of fields, then did fly-bys at a couple of otherfields, just to let them know another Pietenpol is in the air. Flew for 1.1 hours, then came back and greased in a one bounce landing. It's been six monthssince I flew this little gem, and it behaves just like she did with the Model A, except for the substantial increase in climb rate. She sure is a 'Stick & Rudder' airplane. Weight & Ballance came in just as I estimated, and she's almost 60 lbs lighter, and almost twice the power. I was actually having funin the air again !! I love flying this plane !! Next flight...tomorrow morning, then another flight tomorrow evening. Weather is looking perfect.Chuck GantzerNX770CGp.s. Brodhead / Oshkosh / Wheeling is closer than ever !!________________________________________________________________________________