MARTY FINT'S CHINOOK PLUS 2 IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
It has been less than two weeks since my daughter and I completed our beautiful, red, 503 powered Chinook.
First flight was Nov.16, 2005.
It was suggested that I taxi around awhile and get
used to how she felt. I started her up and checked all the gauges. Everything looked good. I waved at all the
concerned faces onlooking and taxied out to the runway. It was a 3000 ft grass strip. I checked
traffic and started taxiing downwind. At 3/4 of the runway length I decided to turn around. It was kind of
a tight fit as I narrowly missed the top of a wire fence on the turn. Now I was faced upwind.
Hmmmmmm.
Guess I've had enough taxi practice. Methodically I
did my pre take-off checklist. Here we go! Adding smooth full throttle input I am
startled at the acceleration of the 503. I hardly have time to look down at the airspeed indicator before I
reach 45mph and begin to pull back. Man, this plane gets off the ground in a hurry!
Comfortable with my nose attitude I look down to see that I am going 65mph. I increase elevator to bring it
back to 55mph. The climb becomes very steep, but that is what is needed to keep her at 55mph. I look down
and notice my VSI says 1000 fpm. Very nice. I level out at 1000ft AGL. Cruise is 70mph at 5800-6000rpm.
I believe that will increase with a repitch of the prop. The ride is incredibly smooth, and the view is
awesome.
My first landing is without flaperons and no wind.
Final approach was too easy. Maintained 50mph all the way in but did not slow below this on touchdown.
Landed on the mains and rolled until the tail settled down. Easy as you please. First Flight a success!
I have made three more flights as of this writing.
With the use of flaperons I was able to slow the Chinook to 45mph and come in for a very short, perfect
3 point landing. My last flight was with a 90 degree runway crosswind of 10-12 mph. The upper level winds
were higher. I was able to crab the Chinook, no flaperons, all the way in til about 50ft AGL and with
proper rudder/aileron application, brought her in for another perfect landing. The stability of the Chinook
is impressive. Anyone want a ride?
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