Rick Martins new toy

I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart.................................

Do you think that strategy will work?

My plan is to fly it until the weather gets hot again and then do the coating during those nasty hot months. I want to keep this one a long time. So that is my motivation to do it the right way. We'll see.
 
Here are a few shots with the tail on from yesterday.
 

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Rick, it IS looking good !

Electric start, 582 ? How about some closeups of the engine ?

Oil Injected ? Prerotator ? Details, details !

Watch Rick climb out NOW !
 
The Tail turned out nice Rick. Good job ! Cant wait to see it Fly.
 
Rick Martin said:
I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart. I will take it back apart.................................

Hmmm. Not sure. That sounds a bit like you need ruby slippers to make that work.

Maybe a different approach....something in a 3-chord blues:

Take It Apart Blues:

I'm gonna take it back apart, Baby

You know I'll take it back apart

Yeahhh, I'll take it back apart, Baby

Gonna take it all apart

And when I take it all apart

Gonna paint it, yeah, yeah,

Gonna paint it.....


I'm thinkin' key of "E"

:D
 
Thanks guys,

Chris, yes it is an electric start, oil injected 582. There are pre-rotator photos earlier in this thread. If you need a particular photo, let me know.

No laura, I will not quite be in the air by New Years. But I do hope to get it hung and get the control rods finalized over this weekend.
 
Rick- I bet you are excited to fly that. Looks like a very nice machine.


When you paint it...what colors have you picked out?


Stan
 
Stan,

It's going to be a "Florida Gator" gyro. Gator blue, orange and white. My daughter already got me two large gator decals for the tail. I've comissioned a local high school kid in a drafting class to put it in a cad program and print me several different color combinations so that I can get a good idea of which scheme I prefer.
 
OK Rick, you're leaving us hanging again !

Did you get a flex shaft on that prerotator yet ?

Can't wait to see some more pics of her ! Who cares about the paint !
 
Gator Yuck!:puke: Needs Red and Black paint and bulldog stickers on it. Probably wont fly if you put them gator stickers on it.:lol:
 
Rick, we're dying here ! More pics ,please !
 
Sorry Chris,

Sometimes I just get lazy about posting stuff and my desktop is real sick which makes the picture thing a little harder for me right now.

My flex shaft shipped today. I'll try to get a few shots this weekend but most of the work I've been doing lately is not going to be very evident. If I get anything else installed this weekend I'll try to get a few shots. I don't think I'll have my tail back on until next weekend.
 
Before I start, Chris (and all) I'm really sorry about not posting more photos during the last few months as I neared completion. I'm just a slug these days. And what time I do have is spent working on the gyro (not posting photos). I don't even have any right now to share.

But.........................
my maiden flight was this morning. It was actually very uneventful. I had fast taxied and picked up the wheels a little last weekend before the wind started crying Mary. I went to the airport last night in hopes that this morning would be good, and was rewarded with a perfect dawn.

I didn't screw around. As soon as I let go of the pre-rotator and eased the stick back the nose wheel popped up (I wasn't even moving yet). The rest was easy. Switch feet to rudder pedals, ease the stick forward, add power and start to gain speed. I made sure I took off with good airspeed and good power. It climbed very well. There were no surprises except the available power compared to the old 447(I stilll love that engine!).

Everything was adjusted almost perfect on the first flight, and I did a little testing.

AUW with 5 gallons is about 720 lbs (remember I'm 240)
582 oil injected with a 68" Warp
23' dragon Wings (might need 24's yet, and Ernie said I needed 25's)

The addition of power from straight and level cruise caused no abrupt pitch changes. Jake mounted the engine a little nose down and I put about 2 degrees negitive incidence in the horizontal. When power was reduced, there was a predictable slow nose over. My slowest sustained flight was about 30 mph with 5000 to 5300 engine rpm. Flew for half an hour close to the airport and did about four touch and goes. Landings improved quickly.

The settings must be wrong on my Red Lion rotor tach because I know I pre-rotated to more than 90 and I definitely wasn't flying at 200.

I did have more stick shake than I wanted, so I'll work on that tomorrow. Because of this, I didn't do any speed tests or load the blades up very much. It was happier flying slow.

And the rudder travel is too extreme so I'll also fix that also.

After the first flight, I tweaked the control rod adjustments for better ergonomics, added just a little more trim spring pressure and went flying again. I did a few vertical decents to help analyze the stick shake. It didn't go away but it got noticeably better with zero airspeed. And I can see that the blades are about 3" out of track. So tomorrow I'll do the shim thing and check the space between the towers again.

All in all, It was an extremely satisfying first flight (thanks to Jake). And I know it's only going to get better. And yes, when I need another gyro kit, I will call Jake again. A great deal on a great machine!

22 days to go!
 
Oh man Rick, that aint fair! We all wanted to be there for that first flight! Congrats bro!
I have vivid thoughts of that first flight moment. You have done it more than once.
Sneak up on it, and be careful. We want details! Mike.
 
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