Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/108002
W h a t o ur M e m b e r s a r e B uil d in g Richard says he raised the gear right after liftoff and was soon surprised to find himself screaming along at 180 mph. Pulling back the power he settled in at 140 mph, then completed a short evaluation. He says the airplane was quite nimble at 140 mph, while the controls were very stiff at 180 mph. It stalls around 65 mph. The flight and the landing were uneventful. In discussions following the flight, Don remembered how, during the war, F4F pilots would escape the Zero by diving to the surface and pulling out abruptly. Those stiff controls at high speeds would prevent the Zero pilot from pulling out before going into the ocean. The half-scale Zero seems to retain characteristics of its forerunner. All in all, Richard says it is a nice flying airplane and very stable, and being quite slippery it is very fast. It was flown four times, at approximately six-month intervals while Don made minor adjustments. It last flew about three years ago. Don is a member of the greatest generation; he had experienced combat in World War II and had unique familiarity with this now rare warbird. He wishes he could find a good home for his creation but says there is not much of a market in this country. He wonders whether putting it on eBay in Japan might get a bite. There was a Japanese pilot training for the instrument rating at Flying W who was very much interested in it and asked Don for permission to fly it. But the man had no taildragger time, so that was not possible. Meanwhile Don has a Sunday morning coffee klatch of buddies who sit around the airport hangar and shoot the breeze. There must be some really great stories told. Video of the Month Jeff Joern attended EAA AirVenture 2008 looking for an airplane for back country and cross-country flying that would be easy to maintain. A Kitfox Model VII fit that bill. Jeff and his son spent a week at the Kitfox factory in early 2009 to learn about the building process. Jeff also took some tailwheel instruction. Now, he's having fun learning about back country flying and exploring his home state of Montana. 24 Vol.2 No.2 / February 2 013