Transition Training

garrys · Post by **garrys** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:05 pm

My RV-7A is ready for first flight.............but I'm not. I need some transition training and perhaps a first flight test pilot. I'm having a tough time finding someone to do the transition training for me, and I even asked for help at the Vans booth at Sun N'Fun today but they were no help. Any ideas? I am hangered at Zephyrhills near Tampa Florida.
Garry Stout

Dan A · Post by **Dan A** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:36 pm

Garry,

How many flight hours do you have and in what? If you fly a Cessna or Piiper, you should have no problems. Just maintain about 80 MPH on final with full flaps and you will greese her on. The Van's Series of aircraft are very easy to fly and handle better than most other aircraft. But the control pressures are very light so you don't move them much and need only your first finger and thumb. (Now, no smart remarks from the rest of you!!

)

You will love flying it. And If I were closer I'd make the first flight for you myself, But I live in Washington state,about as far as I can be from Tampa.
Sorry!
Dan N742DA

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:08 pm

Dan A wrote:...and need only your first finger and thumb. (Now, no smart remarks from the rest of you!! )

Who...us???

I wouldn't dream of making a remark on such a SMALL detail...

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:19 pm

Garry, I used this link from Dan Checkoway's site to find nearby Van's builders/flyers. It might help you.

http://www.rvproject.com/registry/rvfinder.jsp

Also, the aircraft registration section of the FAA website lets you search for any given make and or model, but it isn't broken down by state. If you search for Van's you won't get many hits since people like to use their own names, but you can type in RV7 and get quite a handful.

garrys · Post by **garrys** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:16 am

I should have mentioned, I have 800 hours, 450 of which are in my Europa........turbo, CS prop, fixed gear. I fly at least 2 times per week, so I feel "current" with flying. I have a pvt SEL with seaplane rating.

Garry Stout

allbee · Post by **allbee** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:35 am

I think you have more flying experience than most. I fly every day and in a kitfox. When it comes time I'll just get in the set and go out to the runway, have the posted speeds copied on the dash and firewall the throttle and smile away. If I did go for transision training it will be for the advance handling, the kind that shows you what the rv can do outside the norm. I think you might have a little bit of the case of the nerves for the first flight, which is normal.

TomC · Post by **TomC** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:29 pm

Garry,

As I finished my 7A, I wondered about transition training also. I was nearing the completion of my multi-thousand dollar project and wanted to insure the happy completion of the journey. At that time, there were no transition trainers in the midwest. I talked with Mike Seager from Scappoose, Oregon and made arrangements to do the training with him. With his charges, commercial airfare, car rental and motel, the bill was over $1,500. This may seem like alot of money but, in my opinion, was well worth the expense. Two days of training with Mike taught me some of the details of RV flying. As the first day progressed, I really wondered "What have I gotten myself into? I cannot fly this thing!" However, early on the second day, the light bulb went on and everything made sense. Without Mike's help, I cannot imagine what might have happened on my first few flights. Its just my opinion, but I would not be counting pennies and loose the entire dollar. Most RV's cost well over $60,000, many much more. How much is your life worth?

Good Luck,

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:29 pm

Get Transition training!! I have had 21/2 hours with Mike Seagar in 1998 and 2000 and about 10 hours flying RV-6A's since then. I am still building and hope to have mine flyable this summer but I will get transition training. I have slightly over 400 hours in Cessnas mostly 172's but some 150's and about 40 hours in a Champ. You could try Thomas H. Irlbeck, retired Airline Pilot, former Navy Test pilot and RV-8 Test Pilot. He spends summers in Wisconsin and winters in Cape Coral. He will test fly the plane and give you necessary transition if needed. His Florida number is available if you telephone me. 320/253-8620 but Tom may have left Florida already.

garrys · Post by **garrys** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:31 pm

Thanks to all who replied. I have found a local guy..........a CFI who built an RV-6. We're scheduled for this coming Wednesday for first flight (he'll fly it). Then comes the sticky part. Since he has sold his 6, he'll have to do the training in my 7A. If the FAA gets nosey we'll have to say that he is a "required crew member". Any thoughts?

Garry Stout

Post by **Spike** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:17 pm

garrys wrote:... If the FAA gets nosey we'll have to say that he is a "required crew member". Any thoughts?

I doubt you would win that argument. Especially after you posted publicly that the reason for it would be transition training.

allbee · Post by **allbee** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:27 pm

It's ok to do training in your experimental.

Post by **Spike** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:13 pm

allbee wrote:It's ok to do training in your experimental.

I agree. However, I dont think that training would satisfy the FAA as to the need for a second person on board the aircraft during its fly off period.

garrys · Post by **garrys** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:18 pm

The arguement is that the second "crewmember" is required in order to conduct the flight test program. The Captain (me) flys the plane, while the second officer records the times, speeds, performance characteristics, etc. One cannot be expected to fly the plane and record performance data at the same time, right?

Garry Stout
Tampa FL

TomC · Post by **TomC** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:38 pm

Garry,

Read you operating limitations. My stated that the phase 1 hours had to be flown off with no passengers. I asked the FAA inspector (he was an actual FAA inspector, not a DAR) and he stated the same thing, no passengers, no "required crewmembers".

Good luck,

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:40 pm

garrys wrote:The arguement is that the second "crewmember" is required in order to conduct the flight test program. The Captain (me) flys the plane, while the second officer records the times, speeds, performance characteristics, etc. One cannot be expected to fly the plane and record performance data at the same time, right?

Nice try.

Can I fly your airplane until your licence suspension is over?

Pat

allbee · Post by **allbee** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:54 am

Tell the guy to put the gas in and fly the phase one off. When he's done then start the training. I'm sure the guy would have fun flying off the time. Of course you can always offer to pay the gas to.