Testing New SparrowHawk

[r.coplen]

I received the airworthiness certificate Monday for my SparrowHawk. I need to thank my team of Gordon Kalanquin (A&P), David Overman(CFI), Scott Tinnesand (Our Cheif Pilot) and all the staff at AAI for getting me to this point. The picture is from yesterday showing the SparrowHawk tied to an airpot tiedown We are continuing engine runs and system checks. Had to do a little tweaking with a small oil leak from an "O; ring not seated properly. Now its great. High speed engine runs great. She purs like a kitten at idle.

[Vance]

Congratulations Randy, That is a great step foward. It looks great. How does it fly?

[r.coplen]

Vance,

I think it is still a couple of days before we start crow hops. Did some short taxi runs. On turns there was a little rubbing of the break drum against the Wheel. Put in a thin stainless steel washer and it worked great. Here is a picture from today as we started to go into the test taxi runs. The turns (light rudder pedel pressure) are very easy with the new teflon cables and more foot room because of the wider cabin. You only need a light touch. It is much easier than Ruby.

We did a weight and balance last week and she came in at 898 lbs. with all fluids except usable fuel. The max gross weight is 1500 lbs. That gives us 602 lbs. usefull load.

[Vance]

Randy, I realy like the graphics on the tail. Knowing you and having seen the build process, I am sure that the ship is even more stunning in person. You manage details in such an elegant way. Please keep us posted on your progress. Thank you, Vance

[scott heger]

Boy Randy, those light weight blades in the picture must really give you an advantage!! Your ship looks really great. Good job on the paint also. I am just trying to figure out how you got the low N number ending in "SH", and what it stands for. That was not available when I ordered mine.

Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel, Ca SportCopter N86SH

[KenSandyEggo]

"I am just trying to figure out how you got the low N number ending in "SH", and what it stands for."

It means that you're the 17th "S"hit-"H"ead to ask that question.....sorry Scott, the devil made me do this......really. :o

[Vance]

Sierra Hotel

[Russell]

Sure is Heavy :D :D

[r.coplen]

Pictures from today. Had to take a picture with Mt. Rainier in the background. Just too nice of a day.

We checked the balance on the rotor blades today. There wasn't any adjustments that needed to be done.

We finished our taxi tests with high speed runs up to seventy miles per hour.

We have stopped between testing runs and torque tightened all bolts three times.

Start crow hops tomorrow morning.

[CLS447]

Randy , what is the teeter bolt height on the SH ? Is the droop stop attachment identical to the RAF as far as the swinging plastic blocks?

[thallett]

PRA Chap 30 meets Saturday AM Oct16 at Auburn airport by the Sparrowhawk hanger! Will we see some testing, Randy?

[r.coplen]

The SparrowHawk is at Thun Field. We are there because we have easy use of the 3800 foot runway. There is very little traffic at the airport.

We will be doing a weight and Balance on Randy Rogers gyro tomorrow at the PRA meeting.

CLS447 asked about the height to teeter bolt. About 9ft 8 inches. Veries a little because of the adjustment on the main landing gear. Droop Stoops..I don't know about the droop stops from RAF as I have none on my AAI Mod RAF. If I find out I will let you know.

[r.coplen]

David Overman getting last minute advice from Dr. G. and than of onto the foggy field. Nobody was in our way this morning. Great time for using the runway as much as we want.

[r.coplen]

Tied down again for final tweaking on prop blade angle. (final setting 11 degrees for the 72 inch prop) That gives us 5160 rpm.

Back onto the runway--now the fog is gone and time for some balancing on the mains.

[Vance]

It sure is exciting. Thank you for sharing the adventure, Vance

[CLS447]

Randy, I'm sorry. I meant the measurement between the center of teeter bolt to the top of the bearing plate. I think the RAF is close to 4 3/4". Do you or anyone else have more precise measurements?

[Rotornut]

Randy, Very Nice Ship Indeed! Thanks for the Pics they are great. Love the Mountains, icing on the cake. MJ :)