StanFoster
04-26-2004, 05:30 PM
I have logged over 50 hours in my RAF since the issuance of its airworthiness certificate Feb. 29th. I thought I would condense what I have said over various threads that I have posted in exuberance over my experiences so far. I am doing this mainly because I would have loved to have read this while I was making my decisions on buying my RAF in the first place.
I transitioned from my Air Command with very little problems at all. It seems the only problems I have had were being too cautious while experiencing for myself what this machine feels like.
My intitial plan was to just taxi and balance on the mains for awhile and then go see Ron Menzie for some lessons. I talked to him on the phone a few times and his comments gave me a lot of assurance that I would do fine with my RAF after getting some lessons. Well...my balancing on the mains seemed no problem...so as long as I was comfortable...I proceeded with more power and some crow hops. This continued for quite awhile as I was getting the feel of this machine and the reflexes to control it. I felt very relaxed and that point I feel is the main problem learning to fly...if you arent relaxed...the reflexes arent going to be as smooth and as quick.
Soon the RAF was flying the runway and I felt very comfortable in it. Pattern work followed with different approach speeds being conservatively checked out. I found for myself that the recommended 60 mph approach was too fast and had to much float...so I went to 55 mph approaches.....then to 50 mph approaches. For myself. 50 mph with the throttle back works best for me...this approach is more engine out like and thats what I practice for.
I have had no problem with lack of rudder....except in a good crosswind...then I just leave on a little more throttle. A strong crosswind..I just turn into it squarely anyway.
I had read many times that there would be problems flying with the doors on. I find this totally untrue with my Parham stab. I have flown in very high variable winds and for hours at a time and wasnt the least bit uncomfortable. I bought this machine to fly year round...but had read so much negative stuff...that my initial intentions were to fly all this year without the doors..and then experiment with them when it gets cold this fall. Well..the crow hops and short flights down the runway indicated no problems,,and I ended up not even experiencing flying with the doors off until it got hot one day. I cant really say I can tell the difference except for the noise level and you can feel the air when you are crabbing. Ron Menzie told me that his students have no problem with the doors on..and I place a lot of confidence in what that guy says.
The rotor seems to have more reserve energy for flaring compared to my Air Command. It took me a little bit of time to get used to this extra kinetic energy....especially with my earlier higher appoach speeds. Now that I land slower with a steeper power off descent, I find the flare to be easy to execute with less float.
My rotor is fairly smooth...I do have a little cabin hop..not bad enough to cause me to put it on my priority list...but still is in the back of my mind to tinker with later on. Otherwise...I am content if I dont improve it a bit. Ken J's probably has gone to more effort to fix the rotor problem he was having than anyone..and his excellent post have probably saved me a bunch of waisted time. I believe his final solution of getting SC blades was his correct way to go with all the problems he was having...as they are very consistent in their construction..and if Ken says they are smooth....I would bet my life that they are smooth. :)
I will stop the ranting in this post with this last comment. I am very satisfied with my RAF and I intend to fly it for a long time as I feel I really have my machine I have been dreaming about for years. If I would have known what I know now...I would have bought one years ago. But I have no regrets in approaching my decision with caution. My biggest surprise with this whole experience is that there havent been ANY surprises at all.
Honest as I can be.....Stan
I transitioned from my Air Command with very little problems at all. It seems the only problems I have had were being too cautious while experiencing for myself what this machine feels like.
My intitial plan was to just taxi and balance on the mains for awhile and then go see Ron Menzie for some lessons. I talked to him on the phone a few times and his comments gave me a lot of assurance that I would do fine with my RAF after getting some lessons. Well...my balancing on the mains seemed no problem...so as long as I was comfortable...I proceeded with more power and some crow hops. This continued for quite awhile as I was getting the feel of this machine and the reflexes to control it. I felt very relaxed and that point I feel is the main problem learning to fly...if you arent relaxed...the reflexes arent going to be as smooth and as quick.
Soon the RAF was flying the runway and I felt very comfortable in it. Pattern work followed with different approach speeds being conservatively checked out. I found for myself that the recommended 60 mph approach was too fast and had to much float...so I went to 55 mph approaches.....then to 50 mph approaches. For myself. 50 mph with the throttle back works best for me...this approach is more engine out like and thats what I practice for.
I have had no problem with lack of rudder....except in a good crosswind...then I just leave on a little more throttle. A strong crosswind..I just turn into it squarely anyway.
I had read many times that there would be problems flying with the doors on. I find this totally untrue with my Parham stab. I have flown in very high variable winds and for hours at a time and wasnt the least bit uncomfortable. I bought this machine to fly year round...but had read so much negative stuff...that my initial intentions were to fly all this year without the doors..and then experiment with them when it gets cold this fall. Well..the crow hops and short flights down the runway indicated no problems,,and I ended up not even experiencing flying with the doors off until it got hot one day. I cant really say I can tell the difference except for the noise level and you can feel the air when you are crabbing. Ron Menzie told me that his students have no problem with the doors on..and I place a lot of confidence in what that guy says.
The rotor seems to have more reserve energy for flaring compared to my Air Command. It took me a little bit of time to get used to this extra kinetic energy....especially with my earlier higher appoach speeds. Now that I land slower with a steeper power off descent, I find the flare to be easy to execute with less float.
My rotor is fairly smooth...I do have a little cabin hop..not bad enough to cause me to put it on my priority list...but still is in the back of my mind to tinker with later on. Otherwise...I am content if I dont improve it a bit. Ken J's probably has gone to more effort to fix the rotor problem he was having than anyone..and his excellent post have probably saved me a bunch of waisted time. I believe his final solution of getting SC blades was his correct way to go with all the problems he was having...as they are very consistent in their construction..and if Ken says they are smooth....I would bet my life that they are smooth. :)
I will stop the ranting in this post with this last comment. I am very satisfied with my RAF and I intend to fly it for a long time as I feel I really have my machine I have been dreaming about for years. If I would have known what I know now...I would have bought one years ago. But I have no regrets in approaching my decision with caution. My biggest surprise with this whole experience is that there havent been ANY surprises at all.
Honest as I can be.....Stan