Test pilot?

[captain_john]

Tell me, Do you savvy yourself a test pilot?

Do you plan on test flying your airplane or will someone else be at the helm for it's initial flight?

I know that many people have someone else test fly their airplanes, but I won't for a couple of reasons. One is, if it were to fail in flight and the test pilot was injured or killed... I would feel terrible. Two is, I am selfish. I WANT to be the first to fly my plane.

I plan on being VERY current and have RV transition training beforehand, so I should be prepared for the day.

What are you doing? Respond in writing and/or the poll.

CJ

[Spike]

Too many years of my life going into this thing to let someone else do it. And, like you, I don't want to saddle someone else with the risk.

-- John

[tshort]

WOW! That is weird ... last night in the shop I was thinking of making a poll on the same question....

I would love to be my own test pilot and am planning on doing so now ... however, I am pretty nervous about the whole deal. Funny thing is, I'm not nervous or worried about getting hurt or killed - just about messing up years worth of work!

I, too plan on having tons of TW time - I just bought this to build time in:



I also have a good friend / CFI who has a -6; I think if I fly from the R seat that will help the transition to the -8 somewhat.

Thomas

[captain_john]

Thomas, that thing is SAAAAAWEEEET!

WHOA! I wish I was wealthy like you instead of so DAMN GOOD LOOKING!

CJ

[tshort]

HA!
Wealthy is a relative term ... no wife, no kids, no fancy car ... someone referred to me the other day as "airplane poor"!!

I stumbled across that airplane and got a great deal on it. Better investment than a flashy car that will be worth next to nothing in a few years!

Sorry for stealing your thread - didn't mean to do that...

Thomas
-8 ailerons

[Guest]

I did my own test flying. I had flown my T-cart about 1,000 hrs. and had some time in a 6A, about 8 hrs, about 8 years ago. With that experience I didn't see any sense in having someone else do it for me. My first flight was about 45 minutes long and 2DA performed far beyond my expectations. I'm glad I test flying.
Dan

[Thermos]

I've been a professional flight test engineer for several years, and worked/flown with many test pilots. From them I've learned a lot of things that apply directly to us as potential RV test pilots.

Stick and rudder skills, currency and flight time are essential for a successful flight test program - that's pretty obvious. However, they're useless - and quite probably dangerous - without the discipline to plan your flights in detail, and then to fly the plan to the letter. Lack of planning and discipline has been the downfall of many experienced test pilots. Don't fall into the same trap.

If you choose to be your own test pilot, approach this task with as much care and consideration as you've used during the construction of your RV. Read up on the subject...if you don't already have a copy of AC 90-89A, Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook, get one. You can find a PDF version on the FAA website. Another good reference is Flight Testing Homebuilt Aircraft by Vaughn Askue; it should be available from Van's, Spruce or the usual online book sources.

Hope this helps, let me know if you'd like more info.

Dave

[cjensen]

i plan to fly my own first flight as well. also planning on purchasing a t-craft/pacer/luscomb or something about a year before i plan to finish this thing to build the TW time. we'll see!

[Spike]

...if you don't already have a copy of AC 90-89A, Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook, get one. You can find a PDF version on the FAA website.

You dont even have to go that far. There is a copy of that (and many other excellent references) in our document share. Click on the link above or on the main page. Sheesh, dont you guys ever look around?

I competely agree with you Thermos. I recently went to a builder's online construction log. In it he showed what he did for his first 40 hours, etc. From what I read it sure seemed like all he did was poke holes in the sky and do speed runs. I don't think that he is alone. I am with you in that those hours should be spent flying specific profiles and tests to completely define the aircraft behaviour and flight envelope. I dont want to continue being a test pilot once those 40 hours are over and the wife is next to me going somewhere.

Excellent Advice

-- John