Handling advice for first flights in Sonerai 2l

[andyluckycunningham]

Hi All, and thanks for letting me join your forum.
My friend Steve is doing all the real work restoring G-BKNO to flying condition, after all, he is an aircraft engineer and my realm, as a dentist, on a somewhat smaller scale! The engine is nearly ready to go back on so test-flying should be within a few weeks now.
I have tail-dragger experience in Cubs of several sizes, and quite a lot of hours in a Fournier RF4, but I would very much appreciate advice on handling the Sonerai, particularly speeds, take-off distances on grass (we have it at a grass strip) landing technique and any warnings or vices I should know about. I expect there is a flight manual available somewhere...can anyone point me at it?
Thanks...and happy landings.

Andy

 

[phzabriskie]

Welcome Andy! You will get lots of responses. I am not flying N127ZZ yet but if your Sonerai is the green one pictured in your avatar she is a beauty. As you can see I have gone to green paint scheme this year. Cheers, ;D
Pete

 

[eschrom]

Hi Andy,

Having flown mine for the first time this past autumn, maybe I can help.

In cruise flight it is delightful (that’s purely objective, mind you. I was in no way influenced by first flight enthusiasm) but more sensitive than a Cub, particularly in the rudder. Keep a light touch on the stick and in your feet. Pre-stall buffeting occurred at 60 mph, but this will be influenced by the individual plane’s rigging. I don’t think mine has as much aileron droop as the plans recommend, something I’ll look into and likely change before the next flight.

Takeoff is straightforward as long as you remember to press the correct rudder pedal. I didn’t notice the length of the roll or the liftoff speed (not that I was nervous), I simply drove it down the runway tail low until it flew. Climbout at 90 mph worked pretty well.

Landing also went well, in spite of my errors. Visibility over the nose is not good so, knowing that I had a long runway, I kept the nose down and was hot on final. Therefore my roll-out was much longer than it could have been. At touchdown speed the rudder is no longer hypersensitive, just appropriately sensitive. Three-point landings are recommended.

I hope this helps, even though I can't quote any distances to you. Good luck with your first flight. Make several high speed taxi runs until you are comfortable with it.

Ed
2LS

 

[lqbanotxano]

Andy

Do a search for this subject on this site. There has been quite a bit written regarding first flight & flight techniques.

 

[splischke]

I expect there is a flight manual available somewhere...can anyone point me at it?

The flight manual is proprietary so it's not likely to be found online. Contact Great Plains to see if they will sell you a copy. The manual will have suggested airspeeds, etc.

-Scott

 

[Gaston]

Hi Andy
so much has been written on this site...
take a few hours of your time and you sure will find what you're looking for...

keep in mind that a VW runs counterclockwise, otherwise you may be surprised
by the required rudder input...
let me know what is the engine, and aircraft weight,so I can advise of flying speeds I would use...

be familiar with the ground handling of the plane before your first attempt to fly ...it will pay
do not apply full power instantly,it will minimize the yaw...
for the first flight I would suggest you keep the attitude as is(tail low)
do not force the tail on the ground ,but keep it from rising.
it will fly by itself as the speed builds up,
this is the best time to memorise what you see ,or don't see, ahead and on both sides,as this is what you will want to see at landing...

try to be precise with your control inputs,and no big input at all...
the biggest challenge will be not to overcontrol this highly reactive little bird...
the sonerai is a delight to fly,and no vicious at all,except if you have to fight a bad wheel alignment,but this will show during your ground runs...

be prepared to fly the plane at every single second of the flight,
know what you will be doing,and how ,and how long,
and keep ahead of the plane as you will find all happens pretty fast at first...

Keep cool

Gaston

 

[andyluckycunningham]

Thanks a lot for your responses, Guys...Pete, thanks for the welcome, and yes, it is staying green! Ed and Gaston each for helpful advice...I'll post more details of the spec of ours once we have it back together and weighed etc..
Thanks too to Iqbanotxano for suggesting a site search...not much luck there yet...any suggestions as to how I phrase the search?

Cheers

Andy

 

[daddo2]

Hello All,
I'm new to this group. I purchased 610BS in Kansas and trailered it to Central California were my A&P and I have spent the past six weeks preparing it and it's pilot (myself) for our first flight. I have read every article I can find on the internet and have followed all the threads on flight characteristics, take offs and landings, operation of the Aerovee 2180, and proper maintenence. I've been in e-mail contact with a couple Sonerai members from this site who have been very helpfull, and joined my local chapter of the EAA (170). I just wanted to say thank you to all those who contribute to this site. The information I have recieived has been invaluble and helped in my decision to purchase the Sonerai as opposed to other homebuilts.I am looking forward to my first flight soon and would welcome advice or comments from those familiar with my plane. Thanks in advance for all the help and I look forward to meeting other Sonerai owners and pilots..................Fred Lowerre, Los Osos,Ca.

 

[JuergenA]

Welcome to our newbis ;D
for your motivation, I have searched (and found) my post about my first flight with the S1, long time ago :
Hi all,
here comes a short story about my first fly with my Sonerai 1:
On Friday afternoon I have made some high speed taxi tests and on Saturday I have do it also... at a time I have more and more speed on taxi test, the little bird will fly, about 2-3 feet above the runway.. , so I reduce the throttle and land, because I have less fuel in the tank and think: If you want to fly, we will do it, but first we need more fuel...
So I take about 6 gallons fuel in the tank, and roll to the runway, give full throttle and start...
With a small decent of climb, about 200-300ft/min ("all you need is speed"), I climb from 800ft (runway) to 4500ft, to make the first tests.
The temps of the CHGs and EGTs, oil-temperatere, oil-pressure are all in the green range.
On this altitude, I first made the stall test and take it down to 60mph and no stall is coming... so it was enough to me for the moment... next I take some curves,eights and other horizontal figures and at a little time more, I think I have the feeling for the little bird, I made some vertical turns (hammerheads)... GREAT!!!
After about 1.5 hours I want to land, so I fly downwind with 120mph, crosswind reduce to 100mph and final reduce to 80mph, flare out and take a (near) perfect landing, first hit the tailwheel and then the main wheels, and after about 1200ft I turn to the first taxi way and be happy....

with best regards
Juergen

 

[n3480h1]

Thanks Juergen for posting that again. It is a great account of a wonderful thing that just has to make us feel good. It brought back the memories and feelings I had with the first flight in my Wasp - one of the best days in my life. I hope I can feel that again when my Sonerai makes its maiden flight.

Tom

 

[phzabriskie]

Andy this is another handlling discription I always liked. -Pete

Here is a post from the Sonerai Yahoo group that I got a while ago. It is written by Chuck Stotellemeyer, from Idiana. There was discussion about the flight characteristics of the plane, and I thought this was a great description. I enjoy reading it!!

here is the post.

Ok, here ya go, Jeff..
In addition to the good info about flight characteristics already
posted, let me add this. Remember, every airplane is different, to some
degree. We used to use Mouser for a Pitts S1 trainer. Anyone that can
fly Mouser confidently will have no problem with the Pitts.
On takeoff:
Think smooth.
Look straight forward. Pick up the runway edges with your peripheral
vision. Stick in your lap for the initial takeoff roll for directional
control. Gently open the throttle. (3 seconds) Don't be in a hurry to
push the tail up. The rudder is small, and with some crosswind things
can get dicey with the tail in the air until speed builds up. Just
neutralize the controls, and let the tail come up when it wants. It's
not hard to maintain directional control doing this. *very* small rudder
corrections. Once she is up on the mains, just let her accelerate. It
will come off around 70 or so. Mouser is an 1835, and needs speed to
climb. Fly in ground effect until 90 indicated, and maintain 90 on climb.
Stability is neutral, except in yaw, where a standard Sonerai is
unstable. Take your feet off the rudder pedals, and she will yaw. Gotta
put your feet somewhere...
After your heart slows down.. marvel at the powerful controls and how
much fun you're having. Anyone can fly it in the air, a very natural,
honest airplane. As mentioned in the article, stalls are preceeded by a
4-5 mph aerodynamic buffet. You won't miss it. Excellent stall warning.
Move the stick too fast at any speed, and you'll feel it again. Use very
light pressure on the controls.
Now for the fun part, landing:
She slows down slowly. Plan ahead. 90 is the magic number. *Maintain* 90
for your first landing. Not 95. Not 85. Smooth smooth. Turn final and
the airport, not just the runway disappears. Eeeks! Hmmm. Maybe we need
to do a go around and rethink this.
OK. Until you get used to the airplane, use one or the other of these
methods. (1) A carrier approach, meaning a constant turn from base to
final, or (2) Come in a little high, and slip to keep the airport in
sight, leveling out right above the runway. I personally prefer number 2.
Now you're right above the runway at no less than 80 for your first
landing. *Look straight ahead, pick up the runway edges just like on
takeoff.* Don't even think of looking out the side. Trust me on this.
Gently flair into ground effect..it is marked.. and hold the 3 point
attitude until she touches. You'll still be rolling pretty fast, so now
isn't the time to quit flying. *Look straight forward* as speed
bleeds off, and "make small errors, small corrections."
S turn back to the admiring throngs thinking, "yeah.. I can do this!"
Cheers!
Chuck in Indiana