Rebel "652" Flies
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:17 pm
Hi Guys and Gals. Well the big day was to-day. My wife Olga and I got up at
6:30 A.M. to the sight of heavy overcast and light rain. But because the
weather report had said Sat. was going to be sunny with cloudy periods (and
they're never wrong) it was off to the airport. (St.Catharines CYSN). By the
time I washed the airplane the weather was clearing somewhat. We have the
Air Cadets glider training here both spring and fall and if they were
willing to pull out the gliders and tow plane then it must be O.K. My only
problem was they use the infield grass which left me with 5,000 feet of hard
surface. Was this enough for my Rebel? I started up and made the appropriate
radio calls, taxied and backtracked runway 24 to the end. Having a rebuilt
engine I did not want to run it long at a low power setting so I had began
an immediate taxi on start up. I swung around, did a quick run-up and mag
check, released the brakes and hit the throttle--WOW-I was airborne before
the tach. hit 2300 RPM. At mid point of the runway I was passing thru 500 ft
and started my turn out at 1300 ft (circuit ht.) and had not even reached
the end of the runway. This was going to be a fun ride. I leveled off at
2500 to cruise around for a while to try and break in the engine properly.
but maintaining full power was taking me past the aircrafts vne of 150
mph.Besides I had to back off the power do to all temps approaching
redlines. At 2300 r.p.m. things started settling down where I could also.I
maintained this altitude through out most of my 1.4 hr flight throttling up
to full power as often and as long as I could. After about an hour temps
started to drop indicating ring seating was taking place. Now was the time
for my prep for landing. A couple of power off stalls with and without flaps
gave me some indication of where I should not be on landing and off we went
back to the circuit. By the way, in all this time I was within gliding
distance and contact with the tower. Very helpful people. My landing was my
first and second in a Rebel. In fact the tower said as I was taxiing off
(well it looks like you still have all the parts you left with so it must
have been a successful 1st. flight.) Basically the Rebel flew hands off. I
did not off-set the fin and I did have to hold right rudder some what, looks
like a trim tab coming up.-opps what will it do to my cruise.(at 2300 rpm
the indicated cruise was 140 mph.) What an airplane-My Rebel empty weight is
978 lb with an O320 H2AD 160 HP supporting a 74" 58"pitch (38 lb) Sensenich
prop and I did not cut the firewall back. My empty C. of G. is 11.14". As is
often said--Keep at it- it really is worth it. I had more people inquiring
about this airplane to-day then you could imagine. Even the tow plane pilots
where making inquiries through the tower shortly after my 1st. take off. I
guess you can tell I am REAL EXCITED.
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6:30 A.M. to the sight of heavy overcast and light rain. But because the
weather report had said Sat. was going to be sunny with cloudy periods (and
they're never wrong) it was off to the airport. (St.Catharines CYSN). By the
time I washed the airplane the weather was clearing somewhat. We have the
Air Cadets glider training here both spring and fall and if they were
willing to pull out the gliders and tow plane then it must be O.K. My only
problem was they use the infield grass which left me with 5,000 feet of hard
surface. Was this enough for my Rebel? I started up and made the appropriate
radio calls, taxied and backtracked runway 24 to the end. Having a rebuilt
engine I did not want to run it long at a low power setting so I had began
an immediate taxi on start up. I swung around, did a quick run-up and mag
check, released the brakes and hit the throttle--WOW-I was airborne before
the tach. hit 2300 RPM. At mid point of the runway I was passing thru 500 ft
and started my turn out at 1300 ft (circuit ht.) and had not even reached
the end of the runway. This was going to be a fun ride. I leveled off at
2500 to cruise around for a while to try and break in the engine properly.
but maintaining full power was taking me past the aircrafts vne of 150
mph.Besides I had to back off the power do to all temps approaching
redlines. At 2300 r.p.m. things started settling down where I could also.I
maintained this altitude through out most of my 1.4 hr flight throttling up
to full power as often and as long as I could. After about an hour temps
started to drop indicating ring seating was taking place. Now was the time
for my prep for landing. A couple of power off stalls with and without flaps
gave me some indication of where I should not be on landing and off we went
back to the circuit. By the way, in all this time I was within gliding
distance and contact with the tower. Very helpful people. My landing was my
first and second in a Rebel. In fact the tower said as I was taxiing off
(well it looks like you still have all the parts you left with so it must
have been a successful 1st. flight.) Basically the Rebel flew hands off. I
did not off-set the fin and I did have to hold right rudder some what, looks
like a trim tab coming up.-opps what will it do to my cruise.(at 2300 rpm
the indicated cruise was 140 mph.) What an airplane-My Rebel empty weight is
978 lb with an O320 H2AD 160 HP supporting a 74" 58"pitch (38 lb) Sensenich
prop and I did not cut the firewall back. My empty C. of G. is 11.14". As is
often said--Keep at it- it really is worth it. I had more people inquiring
about this airplane to-day then you could imagine. Even the tow plane pilots
where making inquiries through the tower shortly after my 1st. take off. I
guess you can tell I am REAL EXCITED.
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List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
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