May 17, 2024     Aircraft test flights and tweaking. - (20 hours) Category: Misc

testing

  Apr 01, 2024     Wings fixed - (6 hours) Category: Misc

Plane with firm left roll since I started flying it. Thought I messed up attaching lift strut fairings on left side and created large “trim tab”. I cut them off and put “corrective” trim tab on right liftstrut to get more right roll. Long story short, no improvement to foll at all. I spent some time to check (confirm) the proper wing dihedral and incidence that I had originally paid extra to have factory do for me before my kit was delivered. Dihedral and wing twist was off. I recorrected to contruction manual specs. Plane flew a LOT better. Now only slight right rudder will get the ball into his cage.
I have since removed the trim tab from right lift strut and applied it with masking tape to rudder.

  Jan 30, 2024     First flights - (5.0 hours)       Category: Misc

First flight only 6 minutes airborne due to false engine over temp indications. Getting high indicated temps when I turn on landing lights, nav lights, strobe or pitot heat. Some type of electrical interference. Went up for second flight and did several touch and goes. Heavy left wing.....maybe due to solo flight with weight on left seat.

  Jan 23, 2024     Plane is "blessed" - (5.0 hours)       Category: Misc

Time includes time spent on phone in last couple of weeks to complete Airworthiness application with FAA. Had to deal with Frank Sperandeo (DAR), William Champion (MIDO in San Antonio) and Geary Mockton (FSDO) in Albq. Frank said my inspection was toughest he had done.....only 6 pages of forms but took over a month to get all worked out and completed online, my phone and in person..DAR visit to "bless" the plane. DAR was not familiar with Rotax, turbo, intercooloer nor electric, constant speed prop. He twisted a few bolts, but found no significant issues.
AWC comes with operations limitations. Annotated map shows my proposed and approved plan to fly out of El Paso airport KELP. Red area is exiting immediate airport area north of heavy density housing and over the desert. The green is transition over lightly populated area to turquoise area for major test flight area.





Paperwork completed and I have my special airworthiness certificate. YEAH!!.

  Jan 11, 2024     Transition training plane and airport - (5.0 hours)       Category: Misc

Aerial photo of Reno-Stead KRTS airport AFTER plowing. Over 2 days and 4 flights at 5.5 flight hours, I did 23 landings....in a tail wheel, on packed snow, frozen and slushy ice. Never saw any dry pavement. I was able to land the plane but unable to keep plane straight after landing.....brakes and steering is WAY different. No intent to get tail wheel endorsement.

  Jan 11, 2024     Wing cuff detail from trainer plane - (1.0 hour)       Category: Misc

Photos of wing root cuffs showing fitting to wing.

  Jan 10, 2024     Other Kitfox details - (3.0 hours)       Category: Misc

Several photos of details noted on other Kitfoxes I saw in Reno

  Jan 09, 2024     Trent Palmer meeting - (1.0 hour)       Category: Misc

Earlier, had flown over Trent Palmer property. Then found out he had something to show Fred Williams and flew over to Fred's hangar after we landed morning flight.
Freedom Fox plane came too. Trent just like he appears on Youtube.

  Jan 08, 2024     Transition training - (10.0 hours) Category: Misc

Transition training with Fred Williams at Reno Stead airport outside of Reno, NV. Spent 1-6-24--1-13-24. Weather great for ski areas but terrible for flying. Able to get 5.5 hours of training. Twenty-three landings with a tail wheel on snow packed, icy and at times, slushy runways. Never saw the pavement. One day, took flight tour over Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Donner Pass, Incline Village, Carson City, multiple ski areas. Got one day skiing at Diamond Peak outside Incline Village.

  Jan 03, 2024     Move to airport - (3.0 hours)       Category: Misc

Move to airport with special trailer. Cost an arm and two legs but got to airport without any damage.