DaleB
Final Approach
My last two flights were each 0.2, and resulted in emergency landings. Partial loss of power on climb out, 700’ the first time and even lower the second time a week later. Long story, but in the end it was a simple case of bad fuel. Problem was resolved and my three co-owners have been flying the wings off the thing since then. My only contact with it has been troubleshooting the original issue, then installing a new exhaust system and heater control cable. I didn’t even do the post maintenance test flight… just couldn’t do it. I have been planning to sell my share in the plane, and pondering whether I even want to continue building the biplane I’ve started.
Tuesday my buddy, a co-owner, texted me to say we should go flying today. I agreed. So at 4 this afternoon we went up. It’s an RV-12, winds were 8G16 and variable crosswind up to 60 off the runway heading, hot day… perfect for a reluctant pax, right?
We did an hour long flight. Went to another airport, he did a couple landings to get - err, umm, I mean stay current, then back home. I’m not going to lie, the first 5-10 minutes scared the crap out of me, just waiting for that sputter and loss of power. After that it got better. The new exhaust was a huge improvement for several reasons, plus the prop balance we had done last year. The plane is so much smoother it’s amazing.
I didn’t touch the stick or rudder the whole time, but I think it cured me of my case of “the yips”. As we shut down, I briefly thought of taking it up for a few laps around the pattern - obviously not something I’d do, but if it were a smooth, calm day I’d have been mighty tempted.
Maybe I’ll keep my share and get current again, get a flight review, and keep on building. All it took was ten or fifteen minutes in the air for me to get back to thinking about where I wanted to fly and what my engine choices for the biplane are…
Tuesday my buddy, a co-owner, texted me to say we should go flying today. I agreed. So at 4 this afternoon we went up. It’s an RV-12, winds were 8G16 and variable crosswind up to 60 off the runway heading, hot day… perfect for a reluctant pax, right?
We did an hour long flight. Went to another airport, he did a couple landings to get - err, umm, I mean stay current, then back home. I’m not going to lie, the first 5-10 minutes scared the crap out of me, just waiting for that sputter and loss of power. After that it got better. The new exhaust was a huge improvement for several reasons, plus the prop balance we had done last year. The plane is so much smoother it’s amazing.
I didn’t touch the stick or rudder the whole time, but I think it cured me of my case of “the yips”. As we shut down, I briefly thought of taking it up for a few laps around the pattern - obviously not something I’d do, but if it were a smooth, calm day I’d have been mighty tempted.
Maybe I’ll keep my share and get current again, get a flight review, and keep on building. All it took was ten or fifteen minutes in the air for me to get back to thinking about where I wanted to fly and what my engine choices for the biplane are…
