Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airport
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 7:54 am
by Gripdana
Just curious. I have flown 3 hours testing engine and airframe. All has performed as expected. I have done all the flights over the airport to n the “co e” at 5,500 MSL (3,300 AGL). What criteria will tell me I can go further away to test (out of glide distance from the airport)? It is all desert and straight country roads in my test area. I can’t find any information on this anywhere.
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:39 am
by nwawingman
I stayed in the “cone” 10 hr before leaving the leaving the security of knowing the airport was within gliding distance if needed. It seems like I read or someone told me to stay in the cone for at least 10 hrs.
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:56 am
by fastj22
I’d say you can leave it once you are confident in the engine, have zero safety squawks and lots of emergency landing spots enroute.
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:04 am
by SonexN76ET
Dana, 10 hours, squak free, and your own confidence level is satisfied. 10 hours is per my EAA Flight Advisor. Also, do a mini annual before venturing out away from airport. Take off all inspection covers, check linkages, bell cranks, rod ends, etc. Change oil on engine, give it a once over, check security of engine controls, mounts, wiring, and fuel lines. Number one, be safe! Jake
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:44 pm
by skyflyer69
I am helping friend building sonex with jab3300 taildragger. Can anyone please advise on how they found learning to deal with ground handling
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:36 pm
by Gripdana
I’m not sure which part of ground handling you are asking about. I have just started test flying and I have found taxiing to be very responsive in turning I did a u turn between hangers. It was the size of a 4 way stop type to ntersection. It does not turn on a dime and that is ok with me. As far as on the landing roll out it is just like the Citabria I did tail wheel training in. Hope this helps.
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 11:19 am
by Sonex 772
skyflyer69 wrote:I am helping friend building sonex with jab3300 taildragger. Can anyone please advise on how they found learning to deal with ground handling
I didn’t have any tailwheel training when I finished my Sonex, so I took it out and just taxied it around to get use to how it steered. I just kept picking up the speed until I got comfortable at that speed. Then I started doing runs up and down the runway up to 40 mph, which is landing speed in my Sonex. It was real tricky at first but got easier the more I did it, although they say not to do high speed taxi testing.
I did my tailwheel endorsement in a Kitfox which was harder to takeoff and land then my Sonex.
Mike
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:22 pm
by skyflyer69
Hi. I havent flown tailwheel in about 10yrs and will be getting checked out hopefully not long now. Appreciate feedback
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 2:41 pm
by andrewp
I left the cone of the airport after the 15 hours on my insurance kicked in and not before 
I agree with all the posters before and add the following:
You kind of know when it and you are ready.
AP #618
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 9:38 am
by peter anson
I am helping friend building sonex with jab3300 taildragger. Can anyone please advise on how they found learning to deal with ground handling
Seems like we got a bit off topic here, but i do have some advice regarding ground handling with a 3300 tail dragger: Take-offs require pretty careful throttle opening, especially with any cross wind from the left. I had about 6 years experience in a Skyfox (factory built Kitfox) with a 70 HP Aeropower engine, but it didn’t prepare me for nearly twice the power in the same weight aircraft. Taxying with strong cross-winds on loose surfaces such as gravel requires care because there’s not much weight on the tail. I have found that I have to hold the stick back, even with wind from the rear quarter.
Peter Anson
Sonex 894
190 hours
Re: Flight Testing when to leave the “Cone” above the Airpor
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 1:23 pm
by sonex1284
I went back and checked my logs. Maybe I was foolish, or overconfident…but after I spent my first 2 flights getting my CHTs under control (less than 1 hour of time), I ventured out. Here was the video…but it’s pretty boring. Just a couple of trips around the field and then off I went. I stayed within 15-20 miles of home. My DAR had given me a 100 mile radius (all you have to do is ask when you apply!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VL0Q8x4xKU
I do need to add that except for tweaking my aeroinjector needle a little, my plane went nearly unchanged for the entire 40 hours…including the electrical! I was really fortunate.