|
Personal
Cruiser - Flight Reports
3/23/2010 - Flight Report:
I flew the Personal
Cruiser last night before sunset after being
hangered over the winter. 1800 ft/min initial
in the climb ingesting the cool air off Lake
Michigan. Buzzed around the local area for
about 20 minutes, went WOT and saw 165-170 mph
indicated for a minute or so, then set up for
approach. Was high and fast so I slipped it,
(Yes - a V-tail can slip) for about 1000 ft and
greased the landing. Had a small vibration
throughout the flight, most likely from a
sticky lifter that was replaced last fall - will
check that before next flight. 3200 rpm max at
WOT and should be 3350 rpm. Ample carb heat,
and cabin heat - aaah. Nice flight. -
Scott V.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4/11/2008 - Sun-n-fun 2008 Update
(From Chicago). The Personal Cruiser was
ready to go on Wednesday this past week to make
the trip from Chicago to Lakeland, FL. I
departed in the afternoon hoping to get into
northern Georgia by sunset and about 100 miles
into the trip, the integrated handheld radio
decided not to continue charging and went dead.
I headed back to the home airport at Waukegan.
I used my cell phone to pick up a clearance to
land from the tower which made for an uneventful
return.
The weather for the week provided
for one decent day of flying and Wednesday was
it. The trip would have been nice all
though the deluge of rain and the unofficial
renaming of the event to Mud-n-Fun eased the
pain of missing it.
The Plus side
-
new fuel cell
worked great - now with nearly 16 gallons
available - 500 mile legs are possible.
-
Weight and Balanced worked as planned including
a heavy pilot (250lbs, its been a long winter!)
and 25 lbs in the baggage area plus 15.5 gals of
fuel. The wt. and Bal. was verified with
digital scales and was still at 34% and 36% is
max. The new conformed fuel tank moves the
fuel forward and also the CG was helped with
relocating the battery and ELT to the front of
the plane.
- New exhaust system with a more
effective carb heat worked perfectly providing a
good 20-25c increase from ambient temperature.
This will most likely improve when the bottom
cowling is faired in. Currently the heat muff
pulls in some of the outside air. With
bottom faired in, warmed air from the engine
compartment will feed the heat muff.
---------------------------------------------
11/18/2007 More test flights. Some
just for fun :). Working on the
demonstrated cross wind. So far
11kts, with plenty of rudder
authority remaining. As soon as the
conditions are conducive for further
testing that number should go up.
The Corvair engine is now over
100hrs and has been completely
trouble free. In progress -
installing a more robust carb heat.
The current system is fine to about
40F. Also a heater muff for cabin
heat.
Internal
exhaust, the short stacks have a
great sound and looks but an
internal system will allow for the
possible addition of a muffler and
be more stream lined. Other
upgrades coming, wheel pants, larger
fuel capacity and internal lighting
and navigation lights. Stay tuned.
Our beta builders are showing great
progress and have done a wonderful
job proofing the construction
manuals. Order a Personal Cruiser
kit now and you could be sitting in
your fuselage by Christmas.
---------------------------------------------
9/26/2007 - Another flight today.
At 7,500 ft I set power to find the
best economy. 116 mph and 2.5 gph.
That's 46.4 mpg. No wheel pants or
fairings. 50 mpg coming soon!
---------------------------------------------
9/22/2007 - Though Morgan flew the
Cruiser from Daytona Beach to
Oshkosh,
I had not done any distance with the
PC. So over the weekend I did my
first long x-country in the Personal
Cruiser to go to the annual KR
gathering. The PC prototype has a 12
gal tank so I set the cruise at 3.0
gph and made the 290 miles to KMVN.
The fuel flow total was 8.9 gallons
which makes overall 32.5 mpg at a
trip average of 116 mph. I took off
just after sunrise and was there in
about 2.5 hours. I'll need to start
thinking about cabin heat soon as it
was 55F when taking off. It was
good to rub elbows with other real
home builders. As soon at our
builders finish their PC's we'll
have a gathering too!
---------------------------------------------
9/18/2007 - Installed and tested our
new Sensenich 64x52 prop. A good
climb at 1120 lbs gw of 700-1000 fpm
and top end was 150mph at 3100 rpm.
That was burning only 4.8gph.
Fairings and wheel pants should add
another 10+mph. This is a good
economy prop.
---------------------------------------------
9/13/2007 - Top speed now 156 mph.
We installed a borrowed Sterba 52x56
wood prop to see what changes might
come about. We did get 2900
static, but on the roll it appears
that it was partially stalled then
finally started to bite. Climb was
unimpressive but top speed finally
settled in at 150 mph indicated (156
mph CAS). We are thinking the prop
is too small and has too much
pitch. According to William Wynne
at
www.flycorvair.com a 64x52
should be more inline for the speed
we are looking for.
At 150 mph, the max RPM was about
the same as the Warp Drive at 3150 –
but 15 mph faster. Fuel burn at 4.8
to 5.0 gph. Not sure if we are
getting full HP from the Corvair.
We're looking into it.
Economy passed the 40 mpg mark at
41.7 mpg. 125 mph CAS at 3.0 gph.
118 mph indicated and calibrated for
OAT. These are good numbers but
there is still room for improvement.
We'll be installing a new Sensenich
64x52 in week or two. A few more mph
should be obtained plus the addition
of wheel pants and fairings will
help.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/5/2007 - We have finalized the
Personal Cruiser LSA configuration.
If you want to build your PC as an
LSA - GW is set at 1,050 lbs. With
the Corvair engine you should be a
pilot that weighs less than 200lbs.
If you happen to be a larger pilot
then lighter power plant will be
required - a Jabiru 80, or Rotax
80-100 hp, or VW conversion will
provide an adequate useful load for
pilots up to 275 lbs. Also the use
of Vortex Generators will be
required. If you have to have the
Corvair engine and you weigh more
than 200lbs then a leading edge cuff
can be installed to bring the stall
down a few more mph.
Still waiting to get in on an
affordable LSA? - it's ready now!
We have kit "A" #009 on the shelf
and waiting to be turned into YOUR
Personal Cruiser!
Also last week a 6' - 3.5" pilot sat
in the PC with plenty of room.
What's Next? We are currently
installing a new prop and should see
some higher top end speeds shortly -
stay tuned... testing to begin next
week.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8/28/2007 - Tested the stability at
35% - or cg at 32.7. The PC was
still stable but did not converge as
quickly as the flight at 32%.
Also slow flight was tested 55-65
mph then to a full stall
(52-53mph). Was given a noticeable
buffet prior to sharp nosing over.
Non event, pulled power, full left
rudder and eased back to level.
Lost 1000’. GW was 1106 lbs today
and full fuel. 32.7 is set as the
aft CG of the PC.
Side note – greased the landing
too!
Scott VanderVeen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
8/25/2007 - New instrument panel
installed - more knee room for the
current 6' 2" test pilot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
8/3/2007 - Stability testing went
well today. Tested aft cg is now
31.1". Next is 32.0. Great
visibility today and clear skies.
85.6 tt.
8/2/2007 - Another Flight today to
8,500 feet. Climb at GW of 1140 lbs
had between 700 and 1000 fpm climb
at 90 -100mph. Time for a new prop
as the current prop does not provide
the performance that this engine can
supply. Set a lazy Cruise at 125
mph TAS and 3.4 gph. Another 1.4
hours, makes 84.8 hours total on the
Cruiser. Stability testing next.
7/30/2007
Morgan and I finished up AirVenture
2007 and flew loose formation back
to Waukegan on Sunday.
.JPG)
The Personal Cruiser will be located
at Waukegan, IL KUGN for a few weeks
as Morgan relocates the composite
shop from Daytona Beach to Vero
Beach.
Today was my (Scott's) turn to fly
the Personal Cruiser. After the
first high-speed taxi we decided to
add small aluminum pads on the heal
brakes. The modification gave much
better feel and braking pressure.
The next two taxi runs allowed me to
get comfortable with the left
turning torque of the Corvair engine
and by the second run I was able to
keep it centered and begin to get
the feel of it. I decided to take
her up and after cleared for
take-off the Cruiser soon had
another pilot. Just after rotation
it took a second to get the feel of
the stick pressure for stable
flight, as there is not a trim
system - yet. Visual reference and
hand eye coordination soon came
together and a stable positive rate
of climb began.
I climbed out at 100 mph and kept
the speed up most of the flight.
This flight had significantly more
weight than other flights at 1,112
lbs gross weight. The ambient air
temp was 93 degrees and the Cruiser
climbed well, 600-700 fpm. I
leveled off at 3,300 feet, and did
some lazy S-turns. The roll rate is
very quick. The plane flies true
though needs near continuous left
rudder due to the left turning prop
and the proto-type engine has no
off-set. Then set it up for cruise
and pulled the mixer and throttle
back and 110 mph, 3.4 gph. Approach
was at 100 mph and began to bleed
off the speed over the numbers.
There was a good float but not
excessive and the mains touched
smoothly, though I had slight heel
pressure on the brake, (Need to
remember to get my heels off them)
and the nose came down harder than
expected. Rolled to the taxi way
and joined Morgan back at
Stick-n-Rudder Flying Club.
This is an event I WILL NEVER
FORGET! - Scott
2.JPG)
7/23/2007
The Cruiser made the trip from
Daytona Beach to Oshkosh for
AirVenture 2007. Morgan and Scott
joined up just near Gary, IN (KGYY)
and flew together to Waukegan, IL
(KUGN). Then from there to Osh.
Here's a photo take from Scott's
Cherokee while passing through
Chicago.
The Personal Cruiser's location at
Airventure is in front of the
AirVenture Arch on the Homebuilt
line-up. It's hard to miss. We
hope to see you there!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6/9/2007
New Movie!!
We have our VG's installed and have
lowered the stall with the Corvair
powered Personal Cruiser to 53 mph.
We are currently verifying the
actual stall speed and the LSA gross
weight will be determined soon.
Picture below test flight at 7000'.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4/23/2007 - Wow - what a week at
Sun N Fun. Special thanks to all
the people who stopped by and
checked out the Personal Cruiser.
We were extremely pleased with the
interest and feedback about the
design.
We had a mix of pilots - from
retiring airline pilots looking for
something fun and affordable to
build and fly to aging pilots
looking for the same but able to
convert to an LSA for medical
reasons. Then there were many
interested younger pilots who wanted
a good looking plane for building
time cheaply while having fun doing
it. A 1000 hours in the Cruiser
would cost substantially less than
building that time in a rented
C-152.
One of the highlights was flying
daily in showcase at Sun N Fun. The
showcase is just before the air show
and is reserved for new designs.
Our friend from Contact! Magazine
Nick Wood did an excellent job
announcing the Personal Cruiser and
interviewing Scott about different
aspects of the plane.
Also Morgan flew each morning in the
circuit around the airport. On
Sunday Morgan flew chase behind Bill
Clapp's KR2 and from the ground
looked like they were having a blast
- good thing the Cruiser wasn't
sporting guns!
The sound of the Personal Cruiser,
if you have never heard it fly by -
it is reminiscent of a WWII fighter
- with the open exhaust stacks it is
simply music to the ears - we had
numerous comments of "that plane
sounds good!"
On the return flight to Daytona
Beach Monday, Morgan flew next to
Gus's Corvair Powered Wag-a-bond -
while matching the speed of 110 mph
the Cruiser had 3.0 gph vs. 5.5 gph
on the Wag-a-Bond- not surprising
but does show what a clean airframe
can do for efficiency.
-------------------------------------------------
3/26/2007 - We have flown off our
40 hours and now are fine tuning.
The stall testing has confirmed a
very predictable mush, observable
with wing tufting - Morgan has
easily taken it in and out of
stall. Max gross testing is coming
soon along with our final
specifications. We have not met the
LSA stall criteria as of yet - but
we are still working on it. As best
we can tell the stall is at 58 mph.
We will be at Sun-n-Fun! - Yes
finally after 2 years, we'll be
there. Morgan and the Personal
Cruiser will be in the Automotive
Line-up. Since we are being
co-sponsored by Contact!
Magazine - Scott VanderVeen
will be manning booth C-63, please
stop by and see us!
We are delivering kits now - what
are you waiting for? Get an order
in before the SNF rush!
-------------------------------------------------
2/6/2007 - A few good numbers! 1800
fpm average to 6000 feet. 420'
Takeoff roll, Economy cruise at 110
mph on 3 gph. No wheel pants or
tweaked prop pitch. Details
Here
11/25/2006 - Test flight Report and
progress. Details
Here
11/17/2006 - Test flight Report and
progress. Details
Here
11/9/2006 - Test flight today.
Details
HERE
|
