Greg Mitchell
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2004
- Messages
- 1,959
- Location
- Australia
- Aircraft
- Butterfly Monarch 582
- Total Flight Time
- 200 hrs
Yesterday was suppose to be 10-20 knots dropping to 5-15 knots during the day. Goeff Blackberry and Ole Mate Nudge (Nigel) and myself attended the Cranbourne Airfield, contending with 10-20 knots to start increased to 20-25 knot winds. It wasn't till about 5 pm that the wind dropped to 10-15 knots.
We flew off and on all day, then I went back and flew again this morning in still air. We got lots of pics and video. Ole Mate Nudge flew his X-Air into Cranbourne around 9.00 am and couldn't leave till around 5 pm when the wind dropped. It was a southerly , no sea breeze at all and the wind was pretty much straight down the strip all day and we were flying right hand circuits.
First spin up I got 280 rrpm with 20 knots of wind.
Second spin up 280 rrpm, third and fourth spin ups 290 rrpm. All wind assisted.
I am presently uploading a video to Youtube, so I'll link it when it's ready....290 rrpm and about 6-7 seconds to launch.
This morning was dead calm and I took advantage of that, headed to the northern training area and 'paddock bashed' for 1 1/2 hours...to much fun to be legal !!!!!
First spin up I got 300 rrpm and let he go, very smooth. 36 litres of fuel on board, so nearly a full load. Off the ground in no time at all.
Second spin up I got past 300, I saw 308, 307, 309, 308 and then 310 rrpm and let her go! Same thing.
My cut and strapped new stick with tig welds for added security worked great. Full back stick now at the rotor head and brake up front forward of horizontal. Adjustments to the tophats and rotors excellent.
Nil stick shake and can fly hands off (guarding the stick) with no problems at all.
Lifted both feet off the pedals (2") at 500 feet from 35 to 55 knots S & L and the tail tracks true and does not flutter. I certainly would not have conducted this test yesterday. Seriously the wind sock was at the horizontal for most of the day and the Predator (Geoff's new gyro) and Monarch lapped it up.
Chopped the throttle with various rates and Monarch noses over into a glide approach attitude, it does not pitch forward abruptly. I did this again from 35 knots increasing in 5 knot intervals to 55 knots and the Monarch did not suddenly pitch forward on any occassion, it noses over gradually.
I had a blast over the last two days. I am very happy with upgrades 582 rotax, 40 litre Jerry Goodwin seat tank, new stick shape and Metro Launch System pre-rotator...did I mention it spins the 75 lb Patroneys 23 1/2 footers to 310 rotor rpm. :smokin:
Fly Safe,
Mitch
Here you go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhu2MokE5N4
We flew off and on all day, then I went back and flew again this morning in still air. We got lots of pics and video. Ole Mate Nudge flew his X-Air into Cranbourne around 9.00 am and couldn't leave till around 5 pm when the wind dropped. It was a southerly , no sea breeze at all and the wind was pretty much straight down the strip all day and we were flying right hand circuits.
First spin up I got 280 rrpm with 20 knots of wind.
Second spin up 280 rrpm, third and fourth spin ups 290 rrpm. All wind assisted.
I am presently uploading a video to Youtube, so I'll link it when it's ready....290 rrpm and about 6-7 seconds to launch.
This morning was dead calm and I took advantage of that, headed to the northern training area and 'paddock bashed' for 1 1/2 hours...to much fun to be legal !!!!!
First spin up I got 300 rrpm and let he go, very smooth. 36 litres of fuel on board, so nearly a full load. Off the ground in no time at all.
Second spin up I got past 300, I saw 308, 307, 309, 308 and then 310 rrpm and let her go! Same thing.
My cut and strapped new stick with tig welds for added security worked great. Full back stick now at the rotor head and brake up front forward of horizontal. Adjustments to the tophats and rotors excellent.
Nil stick shake and can fly hands off (guarding the stick) with no problems at all.
Lifted both feet off the pedals (2") at 500 feet from 35 to 55 knots S & L and the tail tracks true and does not flutter. I certainly would not have conducted this test yesterday. Seriously the wind sock was at the horizontal for most of the day and the Predator (Geoff's new gyro) and Monarch lapped it up.
Chopped the throttle with various rates and Monarch noses over into a glide approach attitude, it does not pitch forward abruptly. I did this again from 35 knots increasing in 5 knot intervals to 55 knots and the Monarch did not suddenly pitch forward on any occassion, it noses over gradually.
I had a blast over the last two days. I am very happy with upgrades 582 rotax, 40 litre Jerry Goodwin seat tank, new stick shape and Metro Launch System pre-rotator...did I mention it spins the 75 lb Patroneys 23 1/2 footers to 310 rotor rpm. :smokin:
Fly Safe,
Mitch
Here you go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhu2MokE5N4