jetmex-RCU
Posts: 164
Joined: 12/6/2001
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline
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It's been a while since I've posted here. The Tigercat was finished about three months ago, but schedule conflicts kept us from getting together for the first flight. Today was a little hot, but a good day anyway, so we loaded up and went to the field.
Spent the first hour getting the YS-120's dialed in. They both run great, and with an short open pipe sound just like miniature versions of the R-2800's that power the real thing. We're swinging Master Airscrew 3-blade 15x6 props; the engine had no problem with them and they pull well. The only problem we have is with the retracts. The system doesn't seem to want to hold any pressure. There were no audible leaks, but we think the problem is in the cheesy retract valve supplied with the kit retracts. We never did get enough pressure to get the gear up, so we decided to do the maiden with gear down. That sort of surprised us, because the gear was working just fine on the bench.
Preflight was all good, so F82Fan taxied out an pointed her into the wind, which was about 10mph right down the runway. Put the throttles to her and off we went! She tracked right down the runway and lifted off with nary a wobble. First downwind turn was fine, she needed one click of right aileron and that was it. Airplane had plenty of control authority on low rates, so that's where we left it. Low flybys were a thing of beauty and the sound of the engines was nothing short of incredible. We did some stalls, she mushes in and just drops the nose. No pitch up with flaps down. All in all, she was solid as a rock. The first approach for landing was a little high and with about 20 degrees of flap, she just floated down the runway. Went around, the second landing was solid and predictable. We decided that the 20 flaps was enoughan engine out on final with more than that could cause a really quick roll...
We couldn't leave well enough alone, so we refueled and went again. Did some loops and aileron rolls on this flight, once again, no problems. About six or seven minutes into the flight, the left engine started going lean, and then flamed out. We heard it die, F82Fan caught it with the rudder and power on the right engine. He did one more circuit around the pattern on the right engine and touched down with no problem. That was enough excitement for one day, so now it's back to the shop to tweak the engines and replace the retract valve.
The landing gear was fine, no problem. We haven't fitted gear doors either.
All in all, a good day at the field.
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Jetmex
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RE: KMP F-7F Tigercat - 
