Source: 2024 Q3 Beartracks, Lamar Wallace
First flight for the plane, first flight out of Merrill field. R&B io540 engine. Taxi to 25 for the Shoreline departure. Delayed for arrivals then cleared for takeoff and told to expedite. Shocking how quickly airborne. Climbed to 4500, ran the engine hard to commence the break-in. Controls rigged at 25lbs, way too stiff. Heavy left wing. Orbit around Wasilla for about 1.8 hours. Proceeded to Birchwood for fuel, 75% power really gulps gas. 1st landing, better than expected. 26″ Goodyears help absorb. After refueling, back to Merril for normal landing. No flaps used on either.
When people asked when I was going to fly it, my response was always, “Tuesday.” The year and month to be determined. It was indeed a Tuesday I flew. Work had me away for a week. When I returned, I reduced the roll and pitch tension to 15lbs. Left flap was found slightly deployed up. Right deployed down. Reversed this. Ailerons rerigged to reference wing tips. Removed cowling to verify condition and security. The next day with weather moving in, I conducted pattern work. Aircraft flew straight. It is very much a rudder airplane and need to reprogram my brain for that.
Next flight was to Palmer for circuits and pictures then back to Merrill. Drained oil, pulled both screens. Metal, rtv and Labrador’s hair all present. Cleaned screens, safety wired and added mineral oil. The following flight, orbit over Wasilla, deployed flaps. Observed normal flight. No roll. Conducted one stall clean mainly to get AOA calibration on EFIS. Conducted landings at Wasilla and taxi backs.
Last flight. Orbits over Wasilla. Conducted stalls with each flap setting. Full flaps, elevator full up, no break, just mushes. Around 38 knots. Circuits at Wasilla. Departed south executed 2 full procedure LPV approaches. I increased autopilots response time. Getting better. Trim is wickedly sensitive and the a/p has a hard time with it. Return to Merrill. 8.2 hours on tach. 11 on Hobbs. Excited to fly again. Again quick takeoff. Have been super conservative on landing. Other than the trim being sensitive, I haven’t found any bad characteristics. It is a pleasure to hand fly. Very pleased with the outcome. Added tie down rails and rings. The holes lined up with a little massaging for the fore and aft seat anchor points.