N16BL First Flight!

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Thu May 07, 2009 8:25 pm

Today was the day! After drowning in over a week of rain and thunderstorms we were able to pull it off! Photos and videos on the website.
http://www.flightinnovations.com/

She flies straight and true and with no significant squawks. Time to fly!

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Thu May 07, 2009 8:27 pm

Enjoy flight testing. You will have a blast!

Pat

clreding · Post by **clreding** » Thu May 07, 2009 8:55 pm

Congratulations!!!!

Midnight Sun · Post by **Midnight Sun** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:07 pm

Congratz !!!!!!!

lancef53 · Post by **lancef53** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:21 pm

Cool stuff!! Congrats!

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:43 pm

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:45 pm

Can't stand it. Got to post my favorite.

Conragtulations Brett!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:36 pm

Big CONGRATS Brett!!! What a day!! Have fun man!!

Post by **Spike** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:52 am

That is soooo coool

I expect to see it at OSH!!

Spike

Post by **bullojm1** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:13 am

Hey Bret,

Congratulations!!! You did it like I am planning -- have a test pilot do the first flight, then make my own first flight!

dons · Post by **dons** » Fri May 08, 2009 12:22 pm

Very big congrats Bret, that is great news!

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Fri May 08, 2009 5:28 pm

bullojm1 wrote:Hey Bret,

Congratulations!!! You did it like I am planning -- have a test pilot do the first flight, then make my own first flight!

Mike,

After downloading the Data Log, this is what we discovered during the stability (flutter) test...

At 15:01:25, during his high speed descent, heâ€™s showing 190 kts, 2944 RPM (for only about 10 seconds) and a vertical speed of -3850 fpm (which appears to be a max display value), with the nose down 28 degrees about 10 seconds earlier. If you look at the altitude change from 15:01:15 and :20, he lost 600 feet in that 5 seconds, which is a vertical speed of -7200 fpm.

This is why I had a test pilot. Vern wanted to guarantee my safety and the safety of my family. He risked his own life for me. What do you suppose that is worth?

Post by **Spike** » Sun May 10, 2009 3:37 pm

I am a little curious, with such a well known and well tested airframe, what were you guys testing for?

Spike

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Tue May 12, 2009 8:52 am

Spike wrote:I am a little curious, with such a well known and well tested airframe, what were you guys testing for?

Spike

Spike,

I can only assume Vern was verifying the Vne and checking for "flutter". Although I suspect he was just having a blast burning my fuel....

Post by **Spike** » Tue May 12, 2009 9:32 am

smithhb wrote:[... he was just having a blast burning my fuel....

*snicker*

Dan A · Post by **Dan A** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:56 pm

My experience has shown that Van's VNE is conservative. Shortly after flying my 40 hrs off I visited a friend of mine to show off my 8. When I left I decided to give him a low high speed pass. I noticed when I started to level off that the controls were unusually stiff. After leveling off I glanced at the air speed. Then did a double take. The indicator was at 230 KTS!! No sign of flutter. Yup!, They are made strong.

Enjoy your new toy!
Dan

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Tue May 12, 2009 1:49 pm

Congratulations Bret!!!

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:31 pm

Oh Boy! First Flight Video!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1BzBUPiKtw

Keep pounding those rivets!!!!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:28 pm

Great stuff Brett!!!! Can't wait!!