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Johns Web Site
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Date: 8-1-2017
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Number of Hours: 0.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: First Flight Test
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On August 1, 2017, at 9:39 AM, after praying for wisdom and skill, Panther SN # 039 took off for the first time. The flight went well; the engine performed perfectly, the handling was crisp and positive, stalls were straight ahead, and she felt solid, not twitchy.
I had been concerned about engine temperatures because I couldn’t run at full power on the ground for more than one minute and 20 seconds without hitting the CHT redline of 425°. Both Dan and I suspected that it would be OK in flight when the airspeed provided flow through the cowling. That proved to be true. After climbing to 3000 feet at full power, the highest CHT was 376°, the highest EGT was 1202°, and the oil temperature was 218°. EXCELLENT results!!!
The only negative about this flight was the fact that the ASI was not working correctly. As I climbed out, the airspeed quickly dropped to zero. I was well past the end of the runway so I continued to climb. The plane was still climbing as expected and I estimated the climb speed to be between 80 and 100 mph. When I got to 3000 feet and leveled out, the IAS climbed to ~ 60 mph. I quickly came to the belief that the static source residing in the wing was the problem.
The detailed flight test sequence I had planned was discarded, focusing on only the information I needed to get her back on the ground safely. I did a 1-G stall while watching the GPS ground speed; it indicated 46 knots (53-mph) at the break, telling me that the airplane was doing great, but the ASI was worthless for this flight. I did a second stall noting carefully how the plane acted just before the prestall buffet; it gets real quiet. With that knowledge in hand, I made several approaches, each sequentially lower and slower. On the fourth approach everything felt right on target and I successfully set her down, making the taxiway at about 1000 feet.
Now on to static system diagnosis.
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First Take-Off
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