Apr 23, 2024     Complete - (6 hours) Category: Flight

Today I completed the task based flight test program and signed the phase 1 flight test as complete!

  Mar 16, 2024     First Flight! - (3 hours)       Category: Flight

Everything finally came together today for the first test flight. It all went well and the plane flies great. Engine break in completed quickly and everything looks good after with no leaks and no metal in the oil filter.

  Mar 09, 2024     Pitot Static - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Over the past week or so, I've just been doing a lot of misc stuff and I replaced all of the push on fittings with poly-Flo brass fittings to eliminate leaks.

  Feb 29, 2024     Transponder - (1 hour) Category: Inspection

The transponders was certified today and that is the final hurdle making me legal to fly!

Now I just have to wait a week or two for the weather to cooperate.

  Feb 28, 2024     Airworthiness - (1 hour)       Category: Inspection

Today my DAR inspected the airplane and issued the Airworthiness Certificate...It's officially an airplane today!

  Feb 27, 2024     Misc items - (6 hours) Category: Engine

I spent yesterday helping my friend Jim hang the engine on his RV-14. I spent today fixing the few minor issues/suggestions that Scott McDaniels found on Friday. I'm now ready for the airworthiness inspection tomorrow!

  Feb 25, 2024     Filter - (4 hours) Category: Engine

After the engine run completed last night, it was time to remove the cowling and check for leaks or other problems and there were none. I then pulled the challenger oil filter and checked it for metal…also none! I then spent some time putting stuff together for the airworthiness inspection.

  Feb 24, 2024     Engine run - (8 hours)       Category: Engine

Today I spent several hours reworking the throttle linkage. I had to make a new bracket to hold the throttle cable, which took several iterations to get it right. I think I'm probably the first person to use the Aerosport console/quadrant with the SDS throttle body. This required a lot of customization. Once I finally got that sorted, we were able to do a 3 min engine run with the cowling off. That went pretty well so we removed the lower spark plugs and did a compression check while the engine was still warm. Readings were 80/80, 79/80, 79/80, & 76/80.
With that complete, we installed the cowling and moved the airplane to do a ground run. There were a few anomalies, but overall, the engine run went well. Things appear to work as designed. After running the engine and testing the electrical system and prop, I taxied the airplane back to the hangar, at the brake work great and the steering worked good.
Pitot-static/transponder test in a few days and airworthiness inspection next Thursday.

  Feb 23, 2024     Engine start attempt. - (7 hours)       Category: Wings

Yesterday, I filled the oil cooler with oil and then removed the lower spark plugs. Once this was done, I motored the engine with the starter to pre-oil the engine. Oil pressure quickly went up to 40 psi. After the, I re-installed the lower spark plugs and prepped for the first engine start. The engine wouldn't start and was repeatedly kicking back.
Today, I had Scott Mcdaniels come by and do an EAA Tech Counselor inspection. I would have used him to sign off the airworthiness inspection, but he's currently having issues with the FAA. He had a few suggestions, but overall he was impressed with my work and would have signed it off if he could. I'll be getting the actual inspection with DAR Gary Brown on the 29th.
Once Scott left and after consulting with SDS, I was able to start the engine, but it immediately went to about 2000 rpm, and I shut it off with the coil pack switches. This pointed me to the real problem, which was the throttle linkage, which I'll fix tomorrow.

  Feb 16, 2024     Flap position - (5 hours)       Category: Wings

Today I installed a fire extinguisher, fixed the wiring for flap position and calibrated the flap position indications in the EFIS, troubleshot a GPS problem to an antenna cable connector which I replaced. Finally, I fixed a minor leak on a brake line and then bled the brakes.