Steve,
Tucano flight performance: In all truth I'm still in awe of the fact that it actual worked. But here are some thoughts on flight performance that I almost remember. From first release, to the end of the four flight series I was in a state of "After glow",...I new it felt good, but I could not really remember why, ha ha.
Flt #1: Bill only had to toss it into the air and away it went, even given it's high wing loading. His launch style caught me somewhat off guard. Funny that I've watch him launch for the last five years and never gave it a second thought. He had more faith the the Tucano then me I guess. Anyway, in short order it was pulling my arm from the joint. Pull like this I've not felt in a very long time if ever. This I attribute to both high weight, and the fact that all line tension adjustments were/are near max deflection. I hope I can dial it down some. The rudder was cranked over hard, and the L.O. slider was way back in the wing tip. Tip weight is at 3/4oz's dead weight, plus the hardware of the weight box, and tip trim tab (whatever they may be). Conditions were rather breezy to the point of me thinking...."Maybe this isn't such a good day for a first flight"..... Launch rpm was approx. 9200 on the TNC tach. It seemed to me to be cutting quick lap times and Bill stated it was in the 5.1 range at the front end of the run. Line length is 65' eye to eye (.018's), plus wing span, and handle leader,.. maybe 68 total to fuselage center. At a point I'd call half tank, the engine turned down on the rpm and Bill called it 5.6 to 6 seconds a lap. It was buffeted about quiet a bit with the wind, and yawing a lot with all the preloaded offset trim in place. I could see the trailing edge of the outboard gearleg door. Mostly level flights on this first one, with maybe a loop at the end, trying to keep with my game plan of no risky business until things were proven somewhat. I kept it high on the approach for the first landing. The engine makes a marked rpm increase prior to the flame out, so it tells you when the time is near, approx. 1 lap notice. With flame out there was no tendency to float up, which would indicate tail heavy, something I'd thought would happen. With neutral input it held it's line and pitch attitude very nicely. The landing was a thing of beauty if I do say so myself. Taking a page out of your book Steve,..like a F-100 pilot I came in hot and forced the gear to work through the tall grass. No hint of a nose over and even given the grass it rolled for maybe 12ft or so no trouble. Big smile on my face at this point. (Pix #1 in the opening post was shot after flt#2, that's the grass it landed in.) I timed the tank run and it comes in around 8 min's on approx. 4 oz's of fuel. Having started the clock as I walked to the handle, I kept forgetting to stop it at flame out. Clock said 9.45 after the recovery to the pit area.
Flt:2 Very much the same as #1, but dialed the rpm back to approx 8600. No really change in flight performance, still major pull. Lap times in the 5.5 range. With no trim changes I tell myself,.."I'm just gonna fly the thing and enjoy it a bit before I start in on trim",....it was yawing as before. Bill could see this from outside the circle. Got some more loops in and some sorta wing overs. No engine run change on this one.
Flt:3 Took approx half the rudder offset out and left everything else alone. Looks like tip weight will be needed. The outboard was lifting in some area's. More loops, wing overs and short runs into inverted to test the outside turn. Felt like the inside and outside turns are not the same. Inside good, outside slower/bigger to turn. Landing as noted in #1, again was great. I did put the larger wheels on for "rough field" service,..bumped them from 55mm to 60mm size (largest I've got of this brand). I'd like to think this paid off somewhat. Engine again ran steady here, at a ground set of 8600 at release.
Flt:4 A little braver on this one so the adrenaline was flowing again making for a mind numbing euphoria. I went inverted for complete laps but was in that "after glow" fog so can't relate much other then , "Hey it'll fly upside down, Cool!" Did note the outside turn is not the same or as good as the inside. Engine run again steady. Landing was bang on again.
Wed. night the quest will continue, weather permitting. It's going to take a pile of fuel and time to get this beast to it's best, whatever that turns out to be. I'm hoping to learn a bunch on the way. P.W's trim sheet at the ready here.
Cat, Randy,
Thanks for the comments. It's great to be back!!
. All the worries were forgotten and I actual enjoyed myself. Sometimes I think to much I guess. It will not be a very competitive model given it's weight, but it's done, it flies, and it's all mine. Thanks for the kind words and the support gents.
Steve
Sure would be nice if Elwyn could shoot some in flight photos, not to mention getting to meet you in person.