I’m inching closer to first flight. All the paperwork is prepared, Weight & Balance is done, and the formal control system checks have been carried out and signed off by myself and a second authorized person. An avionics LAME is booked for next Monday, Sep 30, to do the necessary pitot-static and transponder tests. In the meantime, today was the day for the first engine run with the cowls on, and taxi testing. After an initial engine run, we started up again and did some careful taxi tests on the apron outside the Hangar.
Once that all looked good, we got a clearance out to the runway at Hobart airport. It was a quiet time and the tower were happy to give us a clearance and get their first look at VH-XVG. Here are two videos, one on the way out to the runway, and then on runway 30 at YMHB, doing the beginning of a mini take-off roll followed by some S-turns.
Inspections after returning to the Hangar revealed nothing untoward. I downloaded the EFIS logs and the maximum CHT reached during this test was a cool 312 degrees F. The underside of the cowl was at ambient temperature to touch, indicating that the Fiberfrax insulation on the inside of the bottom cowl was doing a great job.
It was a bit surreal to see XVG venture out into the world today after a 10 year all-slow-build RV-10 project. I stayed behind while test pilot Kayle did these runs, because I was getting over a cold and didn’t want to share it. But in a way, it was better because I got to carefully view it all from the outside while still keeping in touch with Kayle on the phone.