Well, my ME flew yesterday. Whew! It was great, but I had a few problems. But none the airplanes fault, just mine. First my 46FX needed some adjusting to get it to run right. It had been sitting for a while. Then, when the ME took off on it's maiden flight, it experienced a radio glitch. It lurched up then banked one way then other.
It straightened up, and I was able to turn into the down wind leg. I needed to give it some up elevator trim and a little right aileron trim. Just before I began the turn for final, it lurched again. It did fine on final and I was able to make a very nice landing.
One of the more experienced club members took a look at the plane and pointed out the battery cable runnning beside my metal throttle pushrod for about 4". :stupid: I moved the cable to the opposite side of the fuse and packed just enough foam to keep it and the other wires away from the pushrod. I also put 5 or 6 gentle twists in the battery cable. (It's supposed to help prevent interference.) I did two more range checks - one without and one with the engine running. Everything looked good.
Flight two was much better. My ME looked smart and tracked well while taxiing. It lifted off very smoothly. I gave it some more up elevator trim. (I actually balanced it at 4" and was still a little nose heavy. For it's first flights I left it as is.) It rolled cleanly on the recommended low rates. At high rates it rolled very crisply. I started with an Master Airscrew 11x6. It pulled very well, and I was pleased to see how well the ME could go vertical with that prop. Next time out I'll put on an APC 12.25x3.75. I also flew it inverted easily. I had to give some down elevator. But when I get the CG right, I shouldn't have to do much of that. I tried a knife edge too. I was able to hold that fairly well - but again the CG. Next I tried some loops, split S's, and cuban 8's. The ME tracked through them nicely. I just realised, that on it's first real flight I got confident with the plane rather quickly.
My wife and kids showed up at the field, just in time for the third flight. My 3 year old daughter wanted to see Clifford the Big Red Dog fly! I began a tradition of letting the kids pick the pilots for my planes. Within reason of course! Well, she had a Clifford figure made of rubber that stands approx 1 1/2". He's fairly light weight, and being red, looks amusingly at home in a mostly red airplane. I have to try to post a pic soon. He is sitting with both is ears straight out to the sides, as if he's pulling G's. I know, what ever!
The third flight required some more engine adjustments. But, it was fine otherwise. More of the same manuevers from flight two. Ooops. A bit of a bounce at landing, then a float down the runway until it settled in. Otherwise, sweet. My little girl was happy to see Clifford come down in one piece. That was a nice cap to the day, having my wife and kids show up unexpectedly. I know, only three flights. But after all the adjustments and discussion, I was tapped. I cleaned up and packed feeling good.
Despite the problems I had getting this ME into the air, I came away feeling very good about it. I think it was well worth the $119 I plunked down for it. After wathcing me fly it, one of my club mates said he was sold on getting one.
Oh jeesh! BTW, the elevator pushrods worked fine. They were still securely joined after I was done flying. But I still wonder if the ME would work fine with the elevators joined and operated with one pushrod. I know my Sig Something Extra is set up that way.