Getting ready to make that first flight?

Making sure you are ready.   Here are a few things which may be helpful.  This page is definitely a work in progress and more will be added as time goes on.

I'm looking for related information from guys that have built and are now flying their Q-craft.  If you have comments you would like to pass on, please e-mail me.

Are you getting ready to fly?  Maybe you're in the the taxi stage?  Use all the resources available to you to make your first flight(s) safe and successful.  I don't suppose I have to tell you that YOU are going to become a test pilot.
 

• Use other builders/flyers as a resource.  Probably a hundred Quickie variations have flown by now and chances are there's a builder/flyer somewhere near you.  Find out who those people are, through the Quickie Builders Association, and invite them out to look at your project.  ( It wouldn't hurt to buy them lunch and some gas).  A person who has built and flown their own Quickie plane should be able to help guide you as to what is good and what might need to be changed in your aircraft.  It would also be good to have this person taxi your aircraft, looking for any unusual characteristics.
• Look at other aircraft, both experimental and certified.  As we all know, the Quickie Aircraft Company plans left much to be desired.  It would be worth your while to see a Cessna C-150 engine installation.  It will give you a better look at the proper way to hook up the throttle, mixture, fuel lines, and cooling baffles.
• Use checklists.  I have developed a comprehensive inspection checklist which may be used to ensure that you haven't overlooked anything.  Develop you own flight checklist too and use it.
• Don't be in a hurry.

Is everything in place to make your first flight a safe one? What are the performance numbers for your particular aircraft?  Do you know what your minimum level flight speed is?  How about your best glide speed?  Best speed for minimum decent rate?  Best climb?  The FAA has an excellent, plain language guide to making that all important first flight and subsequent testing of your aircraft. Advisory Circular AC90-89a is a 100 page PDF file, so give it time to load.

Another excellent article to determine these numbers is the Bootstrap Approach to Performance
 

Take a look here how NASA develops their performance numbers.

Want your plane to taxi and nice land straight? Here is the David Gall essay on wheel alignment".

Better yet, want your plane to stop??!!?? Check out the Larue Brake Mod., complete with drawings.

Are you going to use a Continental O-200? Here is a nice web site about the engine and some key areas to watch out for. O-200 goodies.

Here is a Q-200 Flight Test Evaluation report by Brian Martinez.  Shows you how an Air Force test pilot would prepare for his flights.  Scott Horowitz published his flight testing work in 1994. It's also filled with "expect the unexpected" tales.

While you're at it, EAA chapter 1000 at Edwards Air Force Base has a bunch of flight test reports.  Very interesting reading.
 

Speaking of test flying, read my friend's account of how he broke the sound barrier in a Luscombe.