EdFred
Taxi to Parking
I've owned my Cherokee for almost two years, and once I got a grasp on the power that was actually being delivered to my engine, I have always got 117-118 KTAS with it. Whether I was heavy, or light, hot or cold, I would always true out at 177-118. After waiting for a month (!) to get my plane back from annual, and having the knots2U flap seals, aileron seals, stabilator seals, wing root fairings, and flap hinge fairings installed, I got to take it up today after the Great Lakes Aviation conference.
After a more thorough than normal preflight, it was time to climb inside and see how it handled. Temperature today was just above freezing at the surface with 00000KT and SKC. My dad (230lbs) was in the right seat next to me, and I was about 1/2 full with fuel. Rolled on the power, headed down 30 and let it lift off the runway. Pitched for Vy and watched a 1300 fpm climb up through 3000'. Maintained nearly 1000 fpm with a 30 degree bank as I spiraled all the way up to 8500'. Ok, climbs real well, but I am going to attribute some of that to the cold smooth air. Let's see what my airspeed ends up being.
I call up Grand Rapids approach and let them know I will doing some manuevering over Hastings. I get my transponder squawk, increase power to 75%, and roll into a heading of 270. The air is as smooth as I have ever felt it, and I check the Garmin 430 for my ground speed. 102 kts. Hmmm, this isn't what I paid for. I turn left to a heading of 180 and get my second reading. 138 knots. This is better, let's see what 090 gives me. Roll out of my turn onto my 090 heading, level out, and check the ground speed. 148 knots. That's a nice wind out of the northwest. One more heading to check out and I get a reading of 112 knots at 360. (102+138+148+112)/4
125kts at 8500, -8C, 30.41" Hg, 2650 rpm.
Pulled the power, put in a 30 degree bank, and spiraled back down. Cancelled radar services with GRR, and let local know where I was. Ok, now lets see how all these mods affect landing. Wow. It lands sloooooooow. I have never had that much nose up trim set in before, and I've flown on colder days and been lighter than this. First time landing, it floated quite a bit, more than I thought it would, even though I expected some float with the less drag, but not this much. Flew two more patterns with a slower airspeed each time. I would say that I can land this at least 5-7 knots slower than I could before.
I can land with less airspeed, and can get a faster cruise. Tell me how this is a bad thing? So far, I'm happy with the investment.
Next up, wheel pants.
After a more thorough than normal preflight, it was time to climb inside and see how it handled. Temperature today was just above freezing at the surface with 00000KT and SKC. My dad (230lbs) was in the right seat next to me, and I was about 1/2 full with fuel. Rolled on the power, headed down 30 and let it lift off the runway. Pitched for Vy and watched a 1300 fpm climb up through 3000'. Maintained nearly 1000 fpm with a 30 degree bank as I spiraled all the way up to 8500'. Ok, climbs real well, but I am going to attribute some of that to the cold smooth air. Let's see what my airspeed ends up being.
I call up Grand Rapids approach and let them know I will doing some manuevering over Hastings. I get my transponder squawk, increase power to 75%, and roll into a heading of 270. The air is as smooth as I have ever felt it, and I check the Garmin 430 for my ground speed. 102 kts. Hmmm, this isn't what I paid for. I turn left to a heading of 180 and get my second reading. 138 knots. This is better, let's see what 090 gives me. Roll out of my turn onto my 090 heading, level out, and check the ground speed. 148 knots. That's a nice wind out of the northwest. One more heading to check out and I get a reading of 112 knots at 360. (102+138+148+112)/4
125kts at 8500, -8C, 30.41" Hg, 2650 rpm.
Pulled the power, put in a 30 degree bank, and spiraled back down. Cancelled radar services with GRR, and let local know where I was. Ok, now lets see how all these mods affect landing. Wow. It lands sloooooooow. I have never had that much nose up trim set in before, and I've flown on colder days and been lighter than this. First time landing, it floated quite a bit, more than I thought it would, even though I expected some float with the less drag, but not this much. Flew two more patterns with a slower airspeed each time. I would say that I can land this at least 5-7 knots slower than I could before.
I can land with less airspeed, and can get a faster cruise. Tell me how this is a bad thing? So far, I'm happy with the investment.
Next up, wheel pants.
