Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 4:09 pm    Post subject: My Kolb's Second Flight     

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Hey, 
A little crosswind 5-10 mph , not a problem.....Drove up to Cambridge Airport (MN) it's in my Flight Test Area 
Met some NICE people....everybody that I met there was nice... 

Set-up my plane and after assembly, while I was doing my preflight, I had a notepad and I made a check list.... 
I tried to use other peoples to make "mine" but I think it was better to walk around it and make notes.... 

First Flight was NONEVENTFUL, second flight "had it's moments" 

First thing wrong , last week I took some advise and turned up my idle to 2000-21000 , Ralph said it was a good idea. 
That was fine "last week" because I was on grass, this week I was on an asphalt runnway....It wanted to taxi TOO fast 
I had to "back taxi" on runway 34 so I couldn't just stop and adjust it till I got to the end where the "run up" area was... 
so I used my brakes alot and checking that they weren't getting hot. 

OK, take off was different then last week.....First flight I was gently on throttle....barely power to fly...checking things 
out...then gently adding power and climbing out..... 

This week , I added power to take off.....(no pussy footin around)....what "I" thought was going to be a GRADUAL increase in power , was in fact was a rocket launch.....She torqued on me a little , I caught it, and it wasn't long after that 
and I was airborn..... I'm not trying to do space shuttle launches.....But she's a "home sick angel" 

This time I planned to fly for 1 hr, and I wore gloves....last time my throttle hand was getting cold..... 
although this time gave me a chance to get cold EVERY WHERE ELSE....( cockpit inclosed on the "ta do list" ) 

I took some pictures , I mested with my GPS , I got a good chance to look around the plane and check things out. 
I noticed that my Lift Struts kinda vibrate and shake a little from the wind... 

I cut the flight short, after 45 min, this ol California boy was cold..... So, I entered the pattern , I made my calls on the 
radio , but I'm still not sure if it's working right....anyway, heres the EXCITING part.....as I'm turning Base for 34 , I turned 
my head to look at the runway and my hat caught some wind and was taking my headset with it.....OH Crap, 
I reached up and stopped everything from getting blown back , I had to put my hat under my leg , and I got my headset 
back on ......Now I don't have the wind protection of my hat ( the windshield sags alittle ) and the wind is swirling 
around my glasses and making my eyes water.....Oh Crap....Well, I'm turning my head and blinking trying to land 
the plane....thinking , I don't need this.... 
My first landing was close to perfect.....this one was good , but I could have flown it a little lower....I wasn't close to bending gear....and it didn't bounce , I guess that first landing will be hard to "top" .....although I'd say I was a Little Distracted this time..... 

Gotta Fly... 
Mike in MN