Neil,
Many thanks for those kind words. I am also waiting for my permit and trying to clear up a little
misunderstanding between Andy and myself. He said it wasnt a problem , just a suplimentary inspection of my battery box mod and the inevitable paper chase!!!
Yes, very happy with the fin/rudder mod and whilst the aerodynamic improvement is only slight, I dont have thr worry of those "weedy" little hinges in the back of my mind. I dont know if I mentioned it but I put in an extra set of hinges in the middle .No hard evidence that these are necessary, just a piece of mind thing.Andy D was happy with the addition. By the way , I think you will be impressed by my gap-seals. I wont bother you with the detail here but it will be better if you see them your self. It involves the use of 10 thou Mylar dafting film...
Fuel tank sounds great. I may incorporate it in the near future.
The Optica flying was AMAZING. I was very privileded to be joined by a stella cast of TP's and seriously good pilots to be checked out on the a/c. Clive Davidson,(Yak display pilot and DA Examiner-Bloody nice bloke as well) Derrick Piggot, (film pilot, Manificent men, Blue max etc) Francis Donaldson (I think we all know him) John O'Hara (Citation II and CAA TP), Howard Fawkes (aerobatic display pilot and one time uk aeros champ).......and little old ME!!!. I felt very humbled to be in such company and seriously had doubts as to whether I could measure up...You know not too much flying whist doing the refurb over the last year.
I needent have worried. I was flying with the CAA Cheif test pilot Chris Taylor (Ex navy Wasp pilot and ETPS Boscombe Down graduate and EXCEPTIONALLY nice bloke and pilot)
I was the last one to fly and we took off into light rain and went off to do the upper airwork. Stalls, S/L,in the turn with flap,approach config etc etc. Did a couple of PFL's that all went very well Chris didnt have to grab the controls once!! Honestly... we then went back to do a couple of circuits and on the first approach and landing we encountered some of the heaviest rain I have ever flown in..Chris asked am I ok to continue and I was and so I did and pulled off on of the best landings I have ever done.We did a touch and go and then had to leave the circuit because of the bad viz .
The upshod of all this is I got to fly for nearly an hour where everone else only got 25 min !!! Pretty jammy Eh!
What an amazing experience. AWSOME view out, quite nice if somwhat quirky handling but not at all difficult to fly. Floats forever in ground effect with 10 Deg flap (despite its weight -1105 kg, empty)
Chris signed me off as ok for transit flying and promo/demo flying but not full blown display flying. That will come later and the aformentioned Clive Davidson is going to coach and examin me on that one (he is a Diplay Authorisation examiner.)
Any way enough of me blowing my own horn.
Keep up the good work . Let me know when you get your permit . We shall meet up
Neil re" interesting developments," could you email me your Mobile and home tel nos. It could be to your advantage.
pat.bsopp@ntlworld.comKind regards, Pat