SxS Elite Flies !!

[CLS447]

I finally got the SxS off the ground today. Mostly just flying the runway & a couple of circles around the pattern. Everything is looking good so far. I have been using one 94 lb. bag of cement as ballast.

The prerotator can give me 180 rpm's at 3000 engine rpm's. After that I can really give her the gas. I'm still feeling these things out though.

I don't have my T-stick done yet so I am using the single stick in the middle. It feels a little different sitting off to the side & using the center stick. But after leaving the ground everything is easy. I am also using the turf runway(not the smoothest) for practice.

Then I took a passenger (Shar) for some flights down the runway. 3 takeoffs & landings with her. Then we hit a pothole taxiing back & bent the front wheel axle. Should be an easy fix tommorrow & we can get back at it.

I just didn't dedicate to leave the safety of the runway, but it won't be long!

More details to follow!

[barnstorm2]

Cool!

Congratulations!!

[ben]

way to go chris , a big con-grats to ya

[rehler]

Chris,

It looks like it is a fun gyro to fly. Glad it is working well for you - worth all the hard work!

[rfonseca]

Congratulations for first flight! How did you feel the SxS comparing it to a single seat?

[Screw]

Screw-In

Great Job Chris! Please tell me your bringing it to ROC! Enjoyed messing with you last year and look forward to it this year.

Your favorite "Trailer Queen" :eek:

Screw-Out

[StanFoster]

Chris: Congratulations.....glad to hear its airborn..

Stan

[quadrirotor]

It seems you have no problem to pilot on the left seat with a right handed prop!??!

[GyroRon]

congrats Chris. How was the performance with two on board?

[Chuck Irby]

Lookin Great Chris! Is that a hydraulic pre rotator? Let us know how it feels when you fly it with no ballast on the other side. I'll bet it will do fine after you really get the feel for it.

[CLS447]

Thanks everyone! I hope to do alot more flying this week after I get the axle fixed but it looks as though work is going to interfere some more. At least the building is done & it is at the airport ready to go.

John we really hope to be bringing it to ROC. Let's hope for a great forecast this year.

Ramon, so far it feels quite good other than the fact it took a little more forward stick to level the nose & a little right stick to level the mains. Trim may be something I will have to deal with. I need to do some S&L flying at different power settings to determine these things. All of my landings , even slow ones,behind the power curve, with power, have been very gentle with these blades. Lots of lift!

BTW The blades are now flying at 300rpm & there is not a trace of stick shake! I am very pleased with my Sport Rotors!

Chuck, it is Air Command's High Torque prerotator. Basically a Wunderlich with a larger diameter prop drum(9") & a longer lever to pull the rubber wheel in. It also uses a teleflex cable for engagement. Very positive!

Ron, the grass runway crosses the main runway. They were doing alot of glider tows & alot of other traffic on the the main runway, so I kept my flights confined to the section before the main. I was shooting max performance takeoffs. I would eat up half the strip till takeoff & climb as high as I could & still be able to land before crossing the active.

With Shar & I , I would say we achieved 100' & then had to chop for landing. I need to get the nose down & feel out my best climb speed to see how quickly I can get to 500'. . Then see what it takes to maintain/climb at what engine rpm. Hopefully I can throttle way back to maintain.

Max rpm on takeoff was 5060. I might have to knock off a degree or 2 for better climb, I don't know yet. I hardly got to look at the gauges yet but with the new Rabbit radiator my temps never exceed 180, even with all that full throttle stuff.

[GyroRon]

Chris what does the forecast have to do with bringing down the sxs? No matter what the forecast is, you know you will get to fly it! I hope the weather is good too, but I had more fun the last two Soggy years than I did the first two dry sunny years I went.

[birdy]

Heh heh,another happy chappy.

[CLS447]

Ron & Chuck, I edited my last post for you guys.

Ron OK , OK we'll bring it ! I just want to build some more confidence in the machine & myself.

Birdy, When I stop worrying about every little thing, & think about it, I am very happy. But I must still stay focused on safety. So I'm having a little trouble with the celebrations yet.

[GyroRon]

Chris now might be the time for a Trailer Upgrade so you can bring the whole fleet down with you! Both gyros and Bike!

Weather will be good I suspect but probably can count of getting wet a little due to that time of the year.

Sounds like the performance solo is great, And two up it sounds ok. As long as it ain't a dog that is all that matters!!! Also sounds like your running that EA-81 harder than most. I think most people pitch the props for 4600 or so max RPM?

[Chuck Irby]

Thanks Chris. WOW, it really sounds like a good performer.

[ben]

ron,
i got an ea-81 62 inch prop static rpm 5300 14 degrees pitch. scale that i had for thrust test only went to 350 lbs hit that at 4800 rpms.

[GyroRon]

Ben that is higher than I ran my EJ-22 on my old two placer.

[ben]

ron, chris and i know a guy ej 22 carb 68inch prop same as chris, chris tops about 52oo the other guy 5300 . 1/2 a degree in pitch

[GyroRon]

I doubt it is a problem running that high a RPM, because in the cars I suspect the redline is even higher. But as a observation, most gyros will limit the max RPM of their subarus to no more than what you guys are turning and even lower for the EA-81.

[jucie]

Congrats, Chris.

[barnstorm2]

More info Chris!

What is your takeoff/landing speed? mine is 45-50mph

Is that an AC rotorhead?

[CLS447]

Yesterday, I had the axle straightened & the welding beefed up..$20.

We also have a plan for making it more suitable for rough turf. Maybe a larger diameter wheel & tire & a second fork as I try to illustrate in the photo.

So I reassembled the front wheel assembly & dragged the beast back out of the hanger. A good preflight assured me that nothing is coming apart ...yet!

She started up with just a quick turn of the key ,as always so far,& I taxied back to the turf as soon as the Cub was done with it's T&L practice.

With the 100lb bag as a passenger, I started my prerotation. One note... the rubber wheel on the P.R. is starting to lose a few chunks of rubber. It is a soft compound & even when trying to engage gently, the weight of my blades give it a hell of a starting jolt. I was hoping to wear down the diameter of the wheel, but this is rediculous.
I will try to get a wheel with a harder compound more like is on my 447.

I am getting closer to 190 now on prerotation. I still feed power in slowly, during takeoff roll, untill I am sure of rpm increase.... then to full power.

Tim, I am not really watching the ASI on takeoff, but I would say 45- 50 is about where I launch.Yes that is AC's double bearing rotorhead with tall towers.With the weight of these blades I will be considering something like Sport Copters new head with spreader bar & teeter stops. I think he only wants $2500 for it .....WHOA! BTW before it goes in the hanger I have foam covers I made to protect the blades from hanger rash, that I slide on. I see that Vanek is now offering vinyl covers for $125. I may consider a set of these. Maybe he'll throw in a set.... yeah right! My blades are now up to $4500.

So off I go to fly around the pattern a few times, watching & absorbing as much info as I can. Fore & aft pressure on the stick are very light but when bank turning it takes a little more pressure than I am used to. Chopping the power causes no attitude changes & some forward stick gets the speed up nicely. I still did not land at Idle yet.

My next post will give you the bad news.

[GyroRon]

I don't care how much I like them.... Even gold plated, 4500$ is a rip off for a set of blades. There is not that much more into these blades than the other blades on the market.

[CLS447]

After a few trips around the patch , I decided to put her down and let that flight sink in a little. After touching down at a complete stop I bought her to an idle to observe the engine gauges. I turned to my ground crew(Shar) & she is yelling for me to cut the engine....uh-oh.

I shut it down & she said something was smoking. It turns out I had another coolant relief blowoff, which hits the engine & steams off. My engine temps are great so I figure that this is just expansion taking place.

If you noticed ,I am using a Morrosso expansion/filler tank. With the small capacity of my system, I figured that if I only have the tank filled less than half way, there would be plenty of room for expansion without the cap ever having to pop open.

Well, I think I am going to have to install an overflow bottle after all. No big deal, just more clutter.

So I start her back up & taxi off the side of the runway. After shutdown Shar then informs me that I have one hell of a gearbox leak....Oh-no!

Turn out that the prop shaft seal pushed out some how but lost no fluid until shutdown. Then it was just pouring out. I quickly pushed it back in far enough to stop the loss. Well the cuts the flying for the day. So I tapped the seal back in place. I figured there was enough lube left to taxi her back to the hanger.

Then I got out the old reliable 447 & burnt up a couple gallons of premix. I still love that little machine ! BTW we are having beautiful weather right now so performance is better than I would be having in the extreme heat & humidity. Keep this in mind.

Today, I don't have work so I will be talking with Doug at AC & also talking to Joe Souza out there in California.

I also ordered really cool Rad hoses from COOLFLEX & they should be here soon. Since I already have one of those folding ladders I will be getting a rope hoist & making a blade crane like in the PRA mag. Then I will bring her back home to do the upgrades & checking out the gearbox. I will have to remove the prop & prop hub, then the gearbox cover can come off for inspection.

I am thinking a better seal & having a seal retainer plate machined to be attached to the box so that the seal can naver pop out.

So I have a few bugs to work out before I can resume flight testing .....Bummer huh!

[CLS447]

Oh yeah one more note, The stick sensitivety can be adjusted by changing the rod positions on the scissors assembly. Right now it is at the slowest position.... lower rods on the outside , & the upper rods on the middle. If I switch positions around the head will travel further with less stick throw.

I plan on experimenting with this to get a more responsive stick. I have to really move the stick forward right now to level off.

Any thoughts on this subject would be appreciated.

[ToddP]

Its looks great Chris. I'm sure glad your gearbox seal failed on the ground! Its a great looking machine, you've done a fantastic job on it.

[barnstorm2]

Chris, we must be living some kind of parallel lives.

My SxS is grounded due to redrive problems also. And I have been flying the 447 to relieve the pain. I love my little AC447, so simple.

During hang testing I purposely had the cheek plates cut so that she was level with 2 x 200lb people and mostly full fuel. Because of this when I fly solo she is alittle nose up. I think this might be what you are experiencing. With 2 people or old’salty (140lbs) or General Sand (160lbs) the nose was quite level after adjusting the trim spring.

[CLS447]

I called Souza & discussed my problem. He said to install new seal with "Ultr Gray" silicone. Make sure breather is working. I got 2 new seals...$6.50 each & ultra gray.

I took the cover plate off, Wow that gearbox is really built! Everything looks fine, just a seal problem. I think that when the box warms up the aluminum expands so I may use green loctite just concerned about the next removal.

Took the box cover to the machine shop & they are making a seal retainer plate. It will index into the seal recess and be held on the face with 4 small flathead screws. Even if the seal gets loose it will not be able to pop out. The O.D. is the problem not the I.D. I am hoping for a class A job. I am worried about my box cover getting botched up.


I ordered 3 different collant overflow bottles from L.E.A.F. to catch the expanding coolant. Should be here by this weekend.

I will take lots of pics of the redrive & reassembly to post. Souza wants 140w mineral gear oil. I was going to use Mobil 1 syn. he said no, Wonder why?

So I hope to be back flying by next week. Looks like I got a couple months work now so my style is getting cramped again but I need the bucks.

[CLS447]

The machine shop did not even start my seal retainer plate! Maybe next week. Also my LEAF order & Coolflex lines did not show up yet either!

So we started reorganizing the garage & pulled the KB-2 front & center. I am anxious to get started on her.

Checked out a couple of side plumbing jobs I promised to do. I also have a roof leak on my garage at my city home that must be tended to.
We dissasembled the gearbox at the airport hangar so I didn't have to trailer it home. Probably stop up there today to pay my rent for 2 machines now. I will take pics of the gearbox. Also need to make a prop hub holding tool for when I tighten the nut that holds it on.

The weather is really hot & sticky now so we'll probably just take the Harley out for a ride today. I also have got to do some work on the bike.... My inspection is now a year late! I just hate to replace a perfectly good tire!

I will be posting the KB-2 project from start to finish under the Bensen thread. I will be doing an EA-81 rebuild install on it. I have a MAC 72 but don't think I want to start that learning process right now & I have some really nice goodies for the 81, such as New Tenn. 52x26 prop, electric start unit, Redone heads,cam & lifters. I might install new forged pistons. I also need to get one of those instrument pods, John S. What was that phone # again? I have a mount for the KB for the 81. I think that it was done by Ed A.

Need to get a Weber carb & adapter for the stock intake & get a prerotator & brake. I also want the front wheel to steer with the rudder pedals. This will make a nice winter project.

Well enough BS. Have a great day everyone!

[mrford61]

:eek: Chris! when do you get time to eat and sleep? :D


Way to go, dont let life pass you by.

[CLS447]

Mark, I wished I had less time to eat & more time to sleep. I wished I was wealthy so I didn't have to work! It seems the more time I have the less I get done , sometimes.

I ran the Harley out of gas yesterday but managed to just make it to the gas station. It seems that my Pingle petcock is using the reserve even in the on position. That $100 petcock with dual outlets sure is pretty but has been a pain since day one!

We got to the airport to pay rent and I took some internal photos of the Souza redrive. more to come....

[GyroRon]

Looks like a nice set of insides in that gearbox

[barnstorm2]

Chris, how much offset do you get with that?

[CLS447]

Tim, for you, I will get you an exact measurement!

Ron, after checking out the guts, I really have no doubt about it's strength. I just don't want that seal going anywhere again!

BTW, the Sporster uses a seal retainer plate, similar to the one I'm having made, on the tranny mainshaft seal. Not an uncommon problem I suppose.

[Parke Hoover]

Chris congats on your maiden flight, I can only dream about mine for next spring or summer. I'm very interested in your cooling system with the overflow tank and coolflex lines, that is next on my agenda after the engine is mounted.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Looks great Chris. Can't wait to see it at ROC! I wanna ride!

Screw-OUt

[CLS447]

Parke & John, I got my Coolflex hoses & 3 expansion tanks. I also called the machine shop & they claim that my retainer is mounted to my gearbox cover. I will stop to either pick it up or have changes made tommorrow after work.

We will make the changes & upgrades this weekend. I promise to take & post alot of pics.

Parke, we really like the looks of the Coolflex hoses. They are not light but that boosts my confidence in them. They have a Lifetime warranty. Did you check out the website? We will probably be using the 1 Qt. Rotax overflow bottle($24 from LEAF)

Goodnight all!

[CLS447]

Another bump ! AIR COMMAND LIVES

[CLS447]

Another bump.....old stuff !