A flight without a bike aboard

[A2022]

It’s been a while since I flew without a bicycle onboard. With the weather cool and expected to drop further next week (-13°C low forecast), I decided to get up in the air. I pulled out my engine preheating gear—one runs on grid power, the other on ship’s power and fuel. Both worked flawlessly. I installed the cowl inlet air dams in about five minutes. It felt great to be back in the air, with an OAT of -10°C at 4,000 feet. After the flight, I stopped by the local airport engine shop to test fit a printed part on a crankshaft flange. It’s great having a shop onsite, and they seemed busy with plenty of engines in progress.

Flying without a bicycle aboard feels weird but the airplane must have been ready to go because she fired up within one blade.


Chris Staples "Golden Age" (Official Video)
https://youtu.be/jBjLJ0moWBI?si=7Potireqnql1zyqd















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12 years of usage for this starter

[A2022]

Another flight without the bike aboard… -2°C at takeoff and -17°C at altitude, with gusts up to 24 knots straight down the runway. I practically had the sky to myself. The whole point was just to fly and keep the engine lubricated. Oil temperature only reached 158°F, so I hooked up the dehumidifier to purge any moisture. The oil looks fine, and I’m planning to go to 100 hours before changing it. Before takeoff, I checked my daughter’s hatchback seal for a small leak and rolled the airplane outside, securing it with hangar gust locks as the helicopter air care lifted off next to me. Gotta enjoy the cool air and great performance while it lasts. The coldest I have ever flown was -30°C.

While at the hangar, I knocked out 10 full pull-ups and 38 half pull-ups, still taking it easy with the full ones.

A little girl and her mom rocking out together....
https://youtube.com/shorts/okeQYR9ZZNQ? ... 6bCWUEHSG_

KORDHELL - MURDER IN MY MIND
https://youtu.be/w-sQRS-Lc9k?si=g7mb0NnT7ORpZzpY

[A2022]

It was 2°C at takeoff, then a -14°C layer appeared at 6,000 ft, but it warmed up to -3°C by 8,500 ft. Strange—a layer of air like that just happens sometimes. I swapped out the red air dams for black ones, and the oil temperature climbed into the yellow. I’m really pleased with my radio’s plastic glare shield mechanical attachment. The wind was gusting to 27 knots, 40 degrees off the runway heading, and there were a few bumps along the way today. One perk of flying on a day like today is that there’s hardly any traffic. In cool weather, I really have to pull the throttle to make the descent.

Jerro & Shallou - Breaking Apart
https://youtu.be/nI66AQ-vxkU?si=nQISbQBHRVpg1VO9

[A2022]

I practiced slow flight today, and there’s so much to pick up from keeping an aircraft right on the edge while maneuvering. After 12 years of owning the RV9, I’m still completely happy with its performance, handling, and the overall cost of owning and operating it. It handles like a dream in slow flight. It was -5C at takeoff and -13C at altitude.

Gotta like this guitar by Prince...
https://youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y?si=vennu5oWg0p2xuo1&t=202

[A2022]

Winter slow flight training is perfect for keeping engine temps low. At one point, I clocked a ground speed of just 9 knots. Flying right on the edge, maneuvering without stalling, is a great learning experience, and it doesn’t take much bank to make it happen. The RV9 feels comfortable in this regime. The oil still looks good, with a goal of hitting 100 hours before changing. It was a busy airport day, thanks to the great weather, though colder conditions are on the way. Today’s temps were 1°C at takeoff and -9°C at altitude.

This day, a manifold pressure of 12.2 Hg was just right for a flaps-up configuration during slow flight. Then, full flap was added and more right rudder applied for the slower speed to keep it coordinated. Finally, it was a fast run home at 180 knots.