Twinstarr #14 first flight report

[barnstorm2]

I flew the twinstarr #14 yesterday after work.

Here are my notes so far.

1. Tailwheel is bent. I found it not to be a problem but I want to have it fixed before I attempt any short field landings.

2. Single person climb out is strong but it seems to climb slow after 500ft. I think this is a pilot issue more than a gyro one as I am used to haveing (spoilt I mean) a VSI and using the VSI to tune by rate of climb. Now once I get some altitude I loose ground reference and have to try and be more patient. Also with no clock or GPS installed I have no accurate refernce. I need to install a clock before I leave the pattern.

3. Gas gauge is squirly.
It took forever for the guage to go from F to 1/2 tank then it dropped from 1/2 to 1/4 so fast I thought I might have a fuel leak! :eek: Also, the gauge 'twitches'. I thought it might be something electrical with the strobes but I turned them off and even on the ground with nothing on but the master it still twitches.

4. Very low rotor shake
Wway smooth! Not as smooth as my old single place AirCommand mind you but just as smooth as Twinstarr #1 and about the same as my SxS with DWs was.

5. Trim
It has an electrical trim that does pull and relax the trim spring however it seems to have little usefull effect in flight. The electric trim I had on my 2 place SxS worked great and I could almost fly the thing with it. Perhaps since the Twinstarr is NOT CLT the electric trim spring settings are less helpful?

6. brakes
Twinstar has 'toe breaks' like a fixed wing. It has taken some getting used to and I am somewhat afraid that I might apply brakes accidently while landing and do a nose/tail swap. Now that I have played with them I am really liking it because I can turn on a DIME. My nose-wheel turned 2-place CLT had a very wide turning radius.

7. Engine RPM
There is no Redline indicated on the Tach. I don't know what the red line is for my 0-320 160hp Lycoming. She goes up to about and maybe above 3000 RPM (I figgured the prop would have been pitched to keep from over - reving?) So I have been backing off to 2500-2600 as soon as I brake ground.

Notes:
I really miss my VSI!!
Low rotorshake makes me feel better about flying the RAF blades until I get the SportCopter blades and get help installing them.
I would like to know more about recommened power settings on the lycoming
I would like to know how to troubleshoot my fuel gauge

[PW_Plack]

Tim,

You're overrevving it. These engines have lots of reciprocating mass, and don't like to be wound up. Lycoming specifies (http://www.lycoming.textron.com/main.jsp?bodyPage=products/engines/overhauledEngines.html) max takeoff RPM at 2700. Better add some more pitch!

[GyroRon]

Tim, Paul is right, 2700 is max. With a certified aircraft engine it is somewhat common to fly them close to max performace all day long. 2200 would be considered a very low flight rpm, and 2400-2500 would be considered a average rpm. On 2 stroke Rotax and four stroke auto conversions we think backing off the throttle by 1000 rpms is a good cruise setting, but on a certified engine you only back off 1-3 hundred rpm.

[Caribean_gyro]

Your prop is fixed pitch send me your mailing adress and I will mailed you an operating manual. I took some data given by the factory adn add my gyro data. 2700 measn you are not bitting enought. this link of sensencih should help.
http://www.sensenich.com/
http://www.sensenichprop.com/sen_html/aircraft_cet/aircraft/experimental.html

hre you will find 2 farrington listed prop
chuck

[Caribean_gyro]

I for got. at 1320 full tank I crusie at 70 with 2300 to 2400 RPM. single full tank 2200. I have gone down to 2100, and hold altt.

[Brent_Brown]

I can't tell what prop is reconmened for the 0-320 160 hp. I was told they used a 74" Sensenich?

[KenSandyEggo]

Don't Robinson, Hughes and Brantly helis cruise at around 2800 rpm and turn near 3,000 on climbout?

[brett s]

R22's are run close to normal airplane rpm (around 2650), that along with the fact they're derated quite a bit is why they have a 2200 hr TBO & usually make it with no trouble.

Most older designs like the Bell 47's were turning quite a bit more rpm because they needed the extra power - up to 3400 on takeoff depending on the exact model. They also had 1200 hr TBO's & if worked hard didn't usually even make that without a top overhaul along the way.

[Brent Drake]

Tim, mine runs about 2.750 full out. Cruise is 2,350

[Caribean_gyro]

today I install a trim spring as tim has. what a diference no more right crabing or stick pusk I was doing 70 at 2000 rpm level flight. I even got carried awya did a low pass at 100 at 2400 rpm. when I remeber the vne of 85 iI reduce power and climb. it the 1500 mark and the blades were at 330 from a normal 300.

didnt fell any vibration or flapping just a desire to continued to speed up. I am getting ready for my around the island cross contry.

Tim have seat empty

chuckP

[barnstorm2]

Sounds good!

[Timchick]

Chuck,
How about some caribean flying videos? www.youtube.com makes posting them real easy.