Thanks All!
So, to the questions:
- Screws in the skin: These had to be the same spacing has the rivets, since that was really the only thing I could do as the firewall and panel were already fluted. I ended up with about 75 #8/32 screws going into nutplates. I borrowed a pneumatic dimpler from an RV builder (so you'll be OK there Frank!). I didn't specifically ask ZAC. It is a common mod, that others have approval for. This is structural, but WAY stronger than rivets with that many screws. Probably adds some weight. I pondered on this mod but I don't regret it one bit. DO IT! I had to cut the 'ears' off the top skin and make seperate ones, but this was just as well, since I bent them several times getting the hinge to fit right (ugh).
- Laptop: Yep, you guessed it - gathering EIS data. I wired a DB9 to the EIS serial out + ground. I took the laptop on most ground tests, and the test flights. Its *great* to be able to look at the data in the evening, in a chair on the ground with a cool beer to aid digestion :-) I asked GRT for the EISLog utility to run on the laptop - which they send out with a serial port connection instruction sheet too. I may write myself some graphical software to display this real-time in the air.
- Trim: I'm tiny. ~120lbs. I was near forward CG. I couldn't trim hands off, since I (just) ran out of nose up trim. Putting the flaps in made it worse of course. When I landed from the first flight, I felt like popeye. So....before going full fuel, I put "Pierre, the plaster of paris" bag in the front of the baggage shelf behind the right seat. With full fuel I could trim hands off. Nice! Once the flaps started in, back to holding stick nose up. I have a baggage carpet to go in yet, so I'm going to see how that does. I think the larger (wider) trim tab is a must. I'll probably retro-fit it in the next week or so. If only I could get fat, I wouldn't need this. Shame.
- Numbers: For the first flight, I let the airplane fly itself off by holding a tiny bit of back stick after 60kts. Elec Fuel pump was on the whole flight too. I climed at 80kts to 1000AGL, then 90, then 100. Pulled power (to cool CHT's which touched 340 for a second). I circled to 5000ft. Did some slow flight. 70kts fine. At 60kts my right wing started dropping although I had no oil-can or mush. I was trying a very shallow turn to test my controls, so that was obviously it. More testing there to do yet. I think my airspeed maybe a couple of knots high. I got 2800RPM out of the Jabiru. 116 kts on the first flight, 120kts on the second. I've not tried for speed yet (until I fix the trim). Flying the pattern at ~80kts. Final 80 then 70, "2 seconds" worth of flaps (out of 7.5 seconds of travel which is about 24 degrees). Didn't want more in case of a go around. Long slow flare out from 70 to 60 to below - easy to 'feel' the elevator/nose up in the landing. Didn't need any more flaps (why the heck do we need 'em!?). Squeek. Phew!
That was my story and I'm sticking to it!
Its wierd to be out of building mode. *What* a feeling. Builders: keep up the building - it is SOOOO worth it.
Cheers, ..lance