Congrats on the first flight of your bird - great feeling isn't it ?
Hope the test programme is completed quickly, without any problems and all
is signed off ready to go soon.
Tony Bale
XS 336 G-CCUL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Marston" <robertmarston@hotmail.com>
Subject: Europa-List: First flight G-CDBX
<robertmarston@hotmail.com>
>
> Im delighted to announce the first flight of G-CDBX, which took place at
> 14.05 today at Shenstone airfield in the very capable hands of Lyndon
Thorne
> (Taff).
>
> The day started with the weather not looking good enough to fly, there was
a
> crosswind and it was gusting quite badly.
> We checked the plane out this morning and Taff then decided to do some
> fast taxiing down the runway. From the moment he got in and started
> taxiing it was clear that he could make it perform like I never could,
even
> though he had never been in it before. The fast taxiing consisted of 2
> runs up and down the runway, during which the airspeed indicator touched
40
> knots. It seemed to perform fine so it was back to the hangar. Next
was
> a full power check for two minutes, with 2 people on each wing holding it
> back. Again, no problems.
> Then the top cowling was removed, and the engine checked for loose bits
and
> leaks.
>
> The weather was still not looking good so lunch was started.
> At about 14.00 Taff said he was going to perform some more fast taxiing,
> and that she might fly. The hint as enough, I thought I knew him well
> enough to know she was going. I watched him walk to the plane, climb in,
> and close the canopy, thats when it began to dawn on me that she might
just
> be going flying. I quickly spread the word to my wife, children and
> friends. By now Taff was already taxiing out to the runway.
> We watched as he went to the end of the runway, did a 180-degree turn and
> stopped. By now there was a crowd of 15 of more expectant observers.
Taff
> waited at the end of the runway, we heard the engine run up, mag. checks
and
> so on. Taff had waited too long, this was no fast taxi check, this was the
> real thing.
> The wiggle of the tail showed the power had come on, full power and he
meant
> business as it accelerated down the runway. After 150m there was daylight
> beneath the wheels. She hugged the ground for a while gaining airspeed
> before climbing effortlessly into the air. He told me later that because
of
> the gusty conditions he wanted to accelerate to about 75knts for the climb
> out. The climb looked good. At what looked like 500ft I heard the engine
> throttle back slightly as Taff told me he would. So far everything looked
> fine and I was more than relieved.
> After 5 minutes or so, Taff was on the hand held radio saying he was going
> to 'fly an approach and overshoot'. There was clearly a crosswind as he
> crabbed in, but the plane looked great. The sight of G-CDBX as Taff flew
> past at 20 ft down the runway was definitely the best. This was when I
> knew she really did fly.
> There followed another circuit, and then the landing. The approach looked
> good, even thought the wind didnt. The round out at 6 inches above the
> ground was followed by the smoothest of landings. Some people, Taff,
> amongst others seem to produce a perfect landing in less than favourable
> conditions and I struggle to produce an acceptable landing in perfect
> conditions.
> This was just another day for Taff but clearly one I will not forget.
> Im sure the next few weeks and indeed my first flight in G_CDBX will be
> equally satisfying.
> My thanks to everyone who has helped me in this project.
>
> Robert Marston
>
>
|