| Author | Message | ||
     Carter A. Smith New member Username: Carter_smith Post Number: 25 Registered: 07-2004 |
Today, a bright sunny day in South Florida, N37CA took to the air. What a thrill it was after all the hours of work to finally see it all come together. The flight was great and so was the landing, notwithstanding my slightly high landing flare (my other plane is a B767)!!. The engine by JB Engines in Seebring, FL, is an IO540 with high compression pistons and an electronic ignition turning an Aerocomposites 3 bladed scimitar prop. Horsepower is estimated at 325. Aerotronics in Billings, Montana built the panel. It sports a dual screen Chelton system with a Dynon D10A as a back up. A Garmin GNS 430 nav com, a Garmin SL40 com, a Garmin GTX 330 transponder with traffic, a PS Engineering 8000 intercom panel, and a WSI weather receiver round out the avionics stack. Thank you to all of you who helped me find parts, gave me advice and helped me interpret the instruction manual. Steve Furgesi was a godsend. I couldn't have done it without you all. Now all that's left is a little tweeking, paint and interior. I plan to show off my baby in April at Sun and Fun. For those of you who have had the experience of finishing and flying an Express you already know this, but we have an outstanding airplane. It's exceptionally stable, fast and very comfortable. A real "cruiser". So if you are still building, keep at it - it is so worth it. Thanks again and Best wishes, Carter     | ||
| Hans Georg Schmid New member Username: Hgschmid Post Number: 33 Registered: 02-2001 |
Hello Carter, Looks great, congratulations and enjoy! By the way: when I did my first flight on the Long-Ez I had the same problem with a high flare, as at the time I flew a wide body as well... Looking forward to hear something about your performance figures when you have them. Enjoy your success Hans Georg Schmid Switzerland | ||
| James Butler New member Username: Jim_butler Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2005 |
Carter, Congratulations on a job well done! Jim | ||
| Allyn Roe (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest |
Eager to hear the numbers you are getting with that prop and winglets. Looks like Airbus is short a set of winglets for their 330;) Glad to see you were able to finish it so quick. | ||
| Steve Christensen New member Username: Stevec Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2002 |
Hi Carter, Very nice, congratulations! I hope to share the air ways with you some day. Steve Christensen | ||
| Kevin Frank New member Username: Kevin_frank Post Number: 4 Registered: 02-2004 |
Carter, Congratulations. This is great news. Welcome to the club. Mine flew for the first time in August and it is a great feeling. Nice winglets! Did you design them yourself? Look forward to seeing the final paint. Good luck. Kevin Frank | ||
| ali moghaddas New member Username: Amoghadd Post Number: 21 Registered: 09-2003 |
Congratulations Carter, Events like these inspire the rest of us to work harder to get our projects flying sooner. Let us know about your weight, CG, and performance numbers. Ali | ||
| Charles M. Robinson New member Username: F15epilot Post Number: 51 Registered: 02-2004 |
Carter, Congratulations from Pakistan (where I sit wishing I were home with my baby....and my wife!). Your plane looks great! Look forward to hearing your numbers. I love the winglets--should improve the aspect ratio. Might have to work on a set for mine. Again, Congratulations!!! Chuck BTW--Where in S. Florida? My baby sits in Niceville (VPS). | ||
| Jim Oyler New member Username: Midniteoyl Post Number: 107 Registered: 07-2003 |
Very, very nice, Carter... love the winglets and prop, two things in my 'idea bucket' also. But I just gotta ask: Where's that 144 Gallon Bambi Bucket gonna fit?!? http://www.aviation.fs.fed.us/carding/searchAircraftone.asp?ID=327  | ||
| Reinhard Metz New member Username: Reinhard_metz Post Number: 70 Registered: 03-2003 |
Carter, Fantastic!! Such a great feeling! Nice job! would love to hear opinions on the AeroComposites prop - the one thing I keep thinking of as a possible major upgrade on my bird.. Reinhard Metz, N49EX | ||
| Werner Maag, CH8174 Stadel, Switzerland New member Username: Wmaag Post Number: 18 Registered: 01-2003 |
What a super bird, the winglets shape rather come from the MD11. Congratulations Carter! Werner Maag HB-YJR soon ... | ||
| Jim Ward New member Username: Jehward Post Number: 40 Registered: 02-2000 |
Carter: !!Looks GREAT! Looks like you've done some unique things, from the winglets to the exhaust 'vampire teeth'. Everyone will be anxious to hear your numbers and impressions. Congratulations and good luck with her. Jim |