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New FS II flyer has Questions

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RoHam

Joined: 05 Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Location: MA

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 5:36 am Post subject: New FS II flyer has Questions

Hi everyone I'm new to the matronics so a big thank you to the administrator for the nod. 

I'm soon to fly my 270hr FSII  that I've spent the last 11/2 yr going thru replacing fuel lines, fuel tanks, all rubber and misc items you'd expect to need on an plane sitting for 10yrs. I'm now at the point of flying it after getting my flight review in a 46 Champ to get me ready.

My question is ... What's everyone using for airspeeds? What kind of surprises shoulld I expect?

VNE = 90mph 

VA = ???

VY = ???

VX = ???

real life Stall speeds ???

The printed info I had says  it stalls at 33mph ..rotate at 40mph and use 45 for approach.

Thanks for any help...Bob

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John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:41 am Post subject: New FS II flyer has Questions

I made my first flight in my new Kolb Ultrastar 33 years ago this past July.  I was a helicopter pilot, not a fixed wing pilot.  Actually, I was a rusty helicopter pilot, hadn't flown in 8 years.  I read a lot of stick and rudder books to get up to speed on being an airplane pilot.  I paid special attention to Homer Kolb's comments about test flying his new Ultrastar.  "Take it up to 1000 feet above the ground and check the stall speed."  Now you are good to go.  You know when the aircraft is going to quit flying, unless you get yourself into an accelerated stall, which is damn near impossible to do in a Kolb.  Stalls were my biggest worry coming from a rotary wing world where we didn't pay a whole lot of attention to that terminology.



As far as the other "V" speeds, I didn't worry about them much except "maneuver" and VNE.  Maneuver speed was anything slow enough to be comfortable in rough air.  VNE wasn't a big problem either, but I tried to stay below whatever happened to be the "popular" VNE for whatever Kolb model I was flying.



Stall speed is critical.  



High speeds and rough air don't mix.



john h

mkIII

Palm Desert, California





---- RoHam <RoHam903(at)gmail.com> wrote: 

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Hi everyone I'm new to the matronics so a big thank you to the administrator for the nod. 

 I'm soon to fly my 270hr FSII  that I've spent the last 11/2 yr going thru replacing fuel lines, fuel tanks, all rubber and misc items you'd expect to need on an plane sitting for 10yrs. I'm now at the point of flying it after getting my flight review in a 46 Champ to get me ready.

 My question is ... What's everyone using for airspeeds? What kind of surprises shoulld I expect?

 VNE = 90mph 

 VA = ???

 VY = ???

 VX = ???

 real life Stall speeds

 The printed info I had says  it stalls at 33mph ..rotate at 40mph and use 45 for approach.

 Thanks for any help...Bob

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473572#473572

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_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

zeprep251(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:50 am Post subject: New FS II flyer has Questions

only reliable info for lower speed questions is actual experience in your airplane .take it up and at safe altitude,slow it down until you see what  your indicator reads when it stalls

 	  Quote: 	
		   On Oct 15, 2017, at 9:36 AM, RoHam <RoHam903(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 Hi everyone I'm new to the matronics so a big thank you to the administrator for the nod. 

 I'm soon to fly my 270hr FSII  that I've spent the last 11/2 yr going thru replacing fuel lines, fuel tanks, all rubber and misc items you'd expect to need on an plane sitting for 10yrs. I'm now at the point of flying it after getting my flight review in a 46 Champ to get me ready.

 My question is ... What's everyone using for airspeeds? What kind of surprises shoulld I expect?

 VNE = 90mph 

 VA = ???

 VY = ???

 VX = ???

 real life Stall speeds

 The printed info I had says  it stalls at 33mph ..rotate at 40mph and use 45 for approach.

 Thanks for any help...Bob

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473572#473572

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lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:06 am Post subject: New FS II flyer has Questions

congratulations on finishing your FII. The questions that you have asked has had many attempts to be answered. I am afraid that there are too many variables for a hard and fast answer. 



With my Firestar in its current configuration I use 50 for climb. Stall speeds can vary as much as 29- to one I flew that stalled at 60? What I am saying is that there is no hard and fast numbers for your plane other than what you yourself discover.

Your best plan is to be very conservative and let your plane tell you what it likes. On your take off roll keep a bit of back stick and let it lift off by itself. Get at least a 1000 feet and see what your best climb is by pulling back on the stick. Do check and see what your ASI indicates as a stall speed. There are lots of differences in ASI instruments depending on your pitot tube placement, the difference in cabin pressure, all that influences your indicated speed.

While its nice to have an ASI that reads true, the real requirement is that you know what yours reads when the plane quits flying. One of the biggest problems with a kolb is that the design means that when the power is off, it doesn't take all that long before the plane stops forward speed. It takes most people by surprise and is the main cause of bent landing gear. I suggest that you take it to altitude, pull the throttle off, give it some back stick and see how long it takes for the plane to stall.

I also suggest that you maintain some power on your landings when you first start. I do my approaches at 50. My plane however stalls at 30 MPH for me.

Good luck with your plane, but be very cautious until you know what your operating speeds actually are for your plane. It may fly like the Champ but it will not land like the Champ. It is designed for a totally different mission.

Good luck

Larry

On Sun, Oct 15, 2017 at 7:36 AM, RoHam <RoHam903(at)gmail.com (RoHam903(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kolb-List message posted by: "RoHam" <RoHam903(at)gmail.com (RoHam903(at)gmail.com)>

 

 Hi everyone I'm new to the matronics so a big thank you to the administrator for the nod.

 I'm soon to fly my 270hr FSII  that I've spent the last 11/2 yr going thru replacing fuel lines, fuel tanks, all rubber and misc items you'd expect to need on an plane sitting for 10yrs. I'm now at the point of flying it after getting my flight review in a 46 Champ to get me ready.

 My question is ... What's everyone using for airspeeds? What kind of surprises shoulld I expect?

 VNE = 90mph

 VA = ???

 VY = ???

 VX = ???

 real life Stall speeds

 The printed info I had says  it stalls at 33mph ..rotate at 40mph and use 45 for approach.

 Thanks for any help...Bob

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473572#473572

 

 

 

 

 

 

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woody

Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Gulf Coast

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 11:15 am Post subject: Re: New FS II flyer has Questions

There's not much to add to John and Larry's comments. Make sure that you know what the stall speed is and keep it 5-10 mph above that when you bring it in. I also flopped around in a Champ before flying my Firestar II. These light aircraft run out of inertia rapidly and will go from flying to falling in 3 seconds or less. Be vigilant. Bring it in with power, 4000 rpm should give you an edge in keeping it under control. FLY IT TO THE GROUND. Do not chop the throttle and expect it to land like that "flying pig", the champ.   

PS: If you have the aluminum gear legs on your plane, start thinking about building some steel ones. They are a lot more forgiving.

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russk50(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 12:01 pm Post subject: New FS II flyer has Questions

If anyone wants a set of steel gear legs for the Xtra, I have a pair Id like to  sell’



Russ K

 	  Quote: 	
		   On Oct 15, 2017, at 3:15 PM, woody <n3022.176(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 There's not much to add to John and Larry's comments. Make sure that you know what the stall speed is and keep it 5-10 mph above that when you bring it in. I also flopped around in a Champ before flying my Firestar II. These light aircraft run out of inertia rapidly and will go from flying to falling in 3 seconds or less. Be vigilant. Bring it in with power, 4000 rpm should give you an edge in keeping it under control. FLY IT TO THE GROUND. Do not chop the throttle and expect it to land like that "flying pig", the champ.   

 PS: If you have the aluminum gear legs on your plane, start thinking about building some steel ones. They are a lot more forgiving.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473584#473584

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russk50(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:50 pm Post subject: New FS II flyer has Questions

Bob

IMHO NO one should fly ANYthing until/unless he knows at least what VNE, VX, VY, and Maneuvering speed are.

Go back to ground school before you crash! Who gave you a review without making sure you knew those???



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Oct 15, 2017, at 9:36 AM, RoHam <RoHam903(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 Hi everyone I'm new to the matronics so a big thank you to the administrator for the nod. 

 I'm soon to fly my 270hr FSII  that I've spent the last 11/2 yr going thru replacing fuel lines, fuel tanks, all rubber and misc items you'd expect to need on an plane sitting for 10yrs. I'm now at the point of flying it after getting my flight review in a 46 Champ to get me ready.

 My question is ... What's everyone using for airspeeds? What kind of surprises shoulld I expect?

 VNE = 90mph 

 VA = ???

 VY = ???

 VX = ???

 real life Stall speeds

 The printed info I had says  it stalls at 33mph ..rotate at 40mph and use 45 for approach.

 Thanks for any help...Bob

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473572#473572

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RoHam

Joined: 05 Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Location: MA

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: New FS II flyer has Questions

Thanks to everyone for the info. I pretty much figured it would be a trial of flying it and figuring out. I guess I was looking for some average speeds everyone was using. I understand the vx,vy &va. The question marks were looking to fill in the average speeds. Sorry for the confusion.  I'll let you know how I make out. Is everyone converting to steel gear? Will the original aluminum hold up to average landings? Whats the source of these gear? I found a good source for fuel tanks if anyone needs it. Thanks again... Bob

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woody

Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Gulf Coast

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 7:11 am Post subject: Re: New FS II flyer has Questions

Your aluminum gear legs will hold up just fine until you drop it in. You should do your first flights in the mornings or evenings when the winds are less bumpy than during the day. I have a Firestar II with added Stolspeed VG's, they have made quite a difference in the way it handles when close to stall. Mine stalls at 28 indicated, down from 35 and it just mushes now. I also fly another Firestar II that has just gotten it's air worthiness cert. It flies the same but the landing are quite different. It stalls at 36 indicated, and it stalls abruptly. At altitude it sounds like the prop is starting to lose its grip and bang, the nose drops quickly. This is where you practice, practice, practice. !000' up is the only place to learn how the plane acts when it stalls. Down on the runway, stalls get expensive real fast. This second Firestar has gone thru the latter. But with a new wing and aileron, landing gear and some really good workmanship, she is back in the air.

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