13brv3
06-16-2007, 05:51 PM
Greetings,
I finished my Sport Pilot Gyroplane add-on rating a few weeks ago (RAF2000), and flew with Dave in the tandem last Saturday, so I'm ready.
The Dominator got it's airworthiness certificate today, which is the 5th aircraft that I've had inspected by the same DAR. Needless to say, we're getting pretty good at the routine by now.
Today, I fashioned a nylon wheel, to replace the little flip up thingy that is normally used for the rotor brake. The brake is now on anytime you push the stick aaaaaaaaall the way forward. I had heard of people doing this, but was still worried about it, until I saw that this is the way all the tandems are set up. I also made a custom length bungee that will hold the stick forward (brake on) for taxi. When not hooked to the stick, it hooks in a hole at the bottom of the panel.
Finally, I'm still fighting the pre-rotator adjustment. My latest thought is that it just needs a bit more throw on the cable. At the moment, I'm walking a tightrope between too tight, and too loose, when I just need a bit more throw. I ended up hacking off the top part of the handle, and welding a piece of 3/8" rod such that it will have more throw. I think this will only amount to about 1/4", more throw at the pulley, but that's 25% more than I have now. I'll find out tomorrow if it works better, but I'm sure it will.
First flight won't be this weekend because I'm on call, but it will probably happen within the next week. I did get to fly a Bell helicopter down the river today at 300 ft, and it was cool, but nothing I can't do in the Dominator :)
Cheers,
Rusty (beer in hand)
I finished my Sport Pilot Gyroplane add-on rating a few weeks ago (RAF2000), and flew with Dave in the tandem last Saturday, so I'm ready.
The Dominator got it's airworthiness certificate today, which is the 5th aircraft that I've had inspected by the same DAR. Needless to say, we're getting pretty good at the routine by now.
Today, I fashioned a nylon wheel, to replace the little flip up thingy that is normally used for the rotor brake. The brake is now on anytime you push the stick aaaaaaaaall the way forward. I had heard of people doing this, but was still worried about it, until I saw that this is the way all the tandems are set up. I also made a custom length bungee that will hold the stick forward (brake on) for taxi. When not hooked to the stick, it hooks in a hole at the bottom of the panel.
Finally, I'm still fighting the pre-rotator adjustment. My latest thought is that it just needs a bit more throw on the cable. At the moment, I'm walking a tightrope between too tight, and too loose, when I just need a bit more throw. I ended up hacking off the top part of the handle, and welding a piece of 3/8" rod such that it will have more throw. I think this will only amount to about 1/4", more throw at the pulley, but that's 25% more than I have now. I'll find out tomorrow if it works better, but I'm sure it will.
First flight won't be this weekend because I'm on call, but it will probably happen within the next week. I did get to fly a Bell helicopter down the river today at 300 ft, and it was cool, but nothing I can't do in the Dominator :)
Cheers,
Rusty (beer in hand)