Jun 04, 2022     Enlarger Wheelpant Design       Category: Landing Gear

The Sonex hydraulic brake calipers did not work at all. After much ground handling frustrations from lack of steering capability, I switched to O'Keefe hyraulic brake calipers. These are much better and now I can steer left or right with brake application. However, the Van's nosewheel pants I had no longer fit. Instead of making bumps on those wheelpants, I decided to make a larger version of the Van's pressure receovery wheelpants.

I used the nosewheel pants as a mold of the shells of the new wheelpants. The outside of the Van's pants became the inside of the new, enlarged design. I left the center gap as a variable to fit around the wheel and brake to ensure the new design fit. It is a close fit for sure but now the fit. The existing lower intersection fairings also fit again with some persuasion with the attach screws. I just epoxy primed them yesterday and they are essentially done.

  Jun 04, 2022     Spoiler Center Actuator       Category: Controls

Flying with the stick in my left hand, having the spoiler actuator on the left sidewall does not work very well. So I made a new spoiler actuator in the center of the cockpit so it can be actuated with my right (throttle) hand. I also made an intermediate position between the two original spoiler positions as shown on the plans. This works very well. I kept the original left side spoiler actuator in place for the time being as a redundant system.

  Dec 25, 2021     Cowl Flap performance Category: Cowl Flaps

I did a series of glide tests with data collected every 1 sec. on the GRT Sport Ex. This is with the short (acro) wing tips. I found that the best glide speed is 55 kts so I did a comparison with cowl flap open and cowl flap closed. Engine was off, of course.

Cowl Flap Open: Glide Angle = -3.795 deg., VS = -370 fpm, L/D = 15.1:1

Cowl Flap Closed: Glide Angle = -3.380 deg., VS = -328 fpm, L/D = 16.9:1

So there is about a 12% improvement gliding with the cowl flap closed. In addition, the engine doesn't supercool when powered down for soaring.

Well worth the effort.

  Dec 14, 2021     Engine Cooling Plenum       Category: Reports

The engine plenum has been modified in order to get more cooling air to #4 cyl. I have installed a partition down the centerline with a small air tunnel to duct right side airflow to the left side. Also made temporary deflectors to direct air to #4 cyl. This has helped. Now #4 & #5 cyl. are the hottest CHT's.

  Dec 14, 2021     Glide Test Data with short wing tips       Category: Reports

Engine off glide tests with acro wing tips from approx. 7,000 ft to 4,000 ft was done engine off, cowl flaps closed at 50, 60, & 70 kts IAS. At 51 kts ave.: L/D = 15.5:1, -333 fpm descent, 60 kts L/D = 14.8:1, -411 fpm, 70 kts L/D: 13.3:1, 530 fpm descent.

I now need to do glide tests around the best so I will test at 45 kts and 55 kts.

  Oct 05, 2021     First Flight       Category: Inspection

First flight was 45 minutes on 10/1/21. A few minor adjustments needed and next flight next weekend.

  Oct 05, 2021     FAA Inspection       Category: Inspection

Three people from the FAA spent three hours inspecting. One cotter pin missing on the canopy hinge pin and a recommend to tie wrap my ELT antenna so it doesn't hit my canopy was it. I got my AWC!

  Jul 26, 2021     Fuselage Weight       Category: Engine

I weighed the completed fuselage so I can get a weight of the wings once I install them. Completed weight is 580 lbs.

  Jul 26, 2021     Tach Sender       Category: Engine

The GRT EIS would not allow the 2.44 pulses per rev. as the tach sense wire from the alternator requires. So I used a Honeywell SNDH-T4C-G01 hall effect speed sensor. The Jabiru mounting for the tach sender at the flywheel was too small and cramped so I made a bracket to mount up front to pick up the prop bolts. This worked out well, so far anyway. I haven't started the engine yet.

  Jul 26, 2021     Cowling Finished       Category: Engine Cowling

I ended up using #8 screws for the fasteners. Camlock receptacles would be too big to fit in some places. I had to use smaller than normal nutplates to fit the top firewall lip.