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Post by Bruce on Mar 12, 2011 11:19:58 GMT 12
cke successfully flew this morning- details to follow when i get home
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 12, 2011 11:38:07 GMT 12
cke successfully flew this morning- details to follow when i get home Great, congrats! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2011 11:43:42 GMT 12
Awesome news Bruce!! Though I could not make it this morning in the end but I had every confidence it would fly. Well done and congrats!
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Post by yak2 on Mar 12, 2011 12:08:54 GMT 12
Congratulations Bruce. Yours is a wonderful achievement and more exciting milestones ahead with the project. Enjoy the experience.
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 12, 2011 13:28:54 GMT 12
Well done, Bruce!  |
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Post by Bruce on Mar 12, 2011 16:34:49 GMT 12
Today started with the arrival of Test Pilot Dave Monds from Fielding, who flew up in his Pitts Special. This was delayed a little due to fog over Hamilton airport (which is built in the most cosistently foggy location in the Waikato basin!) After a chat and a walk around we took CKE over to one of the Grass runway 25/07 to give Dave a chance to carry out some fast taxi runs. This was all pretty good, so I handed the aircraft over to Dave for the test flight. It was the first time I had seen it running from outside, an obviously there were a few nerves.  after a hold to wait for Dash-8 Wake turbulence to clear, it took off into beautifully clear skies for the first flight. Without a zoom lens on my Camera I didnt get any photos of the liftoff (But my mate Bill Izard was there with his video) but it left the gound at 11.21am local. First flight lasted 0.4hrs and included basic handling and some low speed flight. The report from Dave was encouraging - 500FPM climb, 95kt Cruise (with the prop set to fine for climb) and extremely good low speed handling - it didn't want to stall. There were a few little snags which should be easily addressed before the next series of flights, but nothing major. After a brief lunch break, a second flight was made of another 0.4hrs, which just confirmed the findings of the first flight. below is a photo cropped from a larger image showing CKE returning - just to prove it is flying!  The initial test programme will continue on 22nd March, and shortly thereafter it will move to Te Kowhai. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2011 16:46:05 GMT 12
Considering it has been sitting outdoors all this time, the paintwork still looks fresh as the day you did it. Must be good stuff.
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Post by Darren Masters on Mar 12, 2011 17:25:29 GMT 12
Good stuff mate. Glad she flew! Could not have picked a better morning. Was magic flying at the Waikato this morning (until it heated up). Looking forward to seeing you/and her at Te Kowhai.
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Post by ZacYates on Mar 12, 2011 17:46:24 GMT 12
Fantastic news and pics Bruce, surely a dream come true! I cannot wait to see her fly in the flesh, keep us posted on the test programme when you can.
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Post by Bruce on Mar 12, 2011 19:46:08 GMT 12
Video from my mate, Bill Izard:
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Mar 12, 2011 19:55:40 GMT 12
Nice one Bruce, are there many other examples of the Avian flying in NZ?
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Post by Bruce on Mar 12, 2011 20:02:16 GMT 12
Nope, shes my own design so absolutely one of a kind!
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Post by philip on Mar 12, 2011 20:08:08 GMT 12
Fantastic, congratulations
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Mar 12, 2011 20:33:36 GMT 12
Good to see Dave M doing something useful, just kidding. Dave's a good chap and will get the job done. Who is he flying for now Bruce??
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Post by Bruce on Mar 12, 2011 20:46:15 GMT 12
Dave currently flies Peter Jackson's Gulfstream G550 - exec pilots seem to have more free time than Airline pilots!
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Post by Naki on Mar 12, 2011 21:14:11 GMT 12
Awesome congrats!
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Mar 12, 2011 21:42:11 GMT 12
Great to hear, havnt seen him since he came back from overseas.
Also great to hear the Avian has flown, one step closer to your first..
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Post by Dave.K on Mar 13, 2011 9:16:53 GMT 12
Well done Bruce, looks good.The stress / frustration level will be down a bit now,nothing like seeing your own creation leave the ground, next big high is when you get it airborne.
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Post by bobgod on Mar 13, 2011 13:58:33 GMT 12
Congratulations,Bruce--It doesnt sound anything like a Fergie !!!!!!!
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 13, 2011 16:41:06 GMT 12
What a stunning little machine. Hearty congratulations, Bruce.
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