by bptonner » Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:39 pm
N82BT is a Compair 6 wide-body, with "fat" wings. Continental IO-520D, brand new, with custom stainless exhaust. My kit was an early one (1997), so I designed a custom push-pull control system, gear leg fairings, cowling, seats, baggage door, etc. etc. Some of these things are now part of the kits being sold.
I upgraded the tailwheel and the main gear wheels (Scott for the tail, and 800x600 tires for the main gear). The larger main wheel tires improved the landing characteristics. The original tires didn't last long (less than 50 hours).
Flying characteristics have met my expectations. It is very stable in flight. Cruise with the fat wings and 75% power is around 158MPH. I do not yet have the fairings on the struts, and I still have some work to do with the fit of the doors.
Take off with the 300HP engine is fun.
The aileron control forces are high, but with push-pull tubes throughout, there is no slop, so it is not tiring to fly. I am probably going to change the linkage arm ratios, since as it is now set up, there is much more aileron deflection than is necessary. I will add lateral trim at the first annual, since with the high fuel load and baggage load range, it is easy to get a "heavy wing" that can be tiring. The longitudinal trim is very sensitive. This is the only control characteristic that requires some caution. The plane can move into a shallow dive, from cruise trim, if you have your head down looking at a map for too long. I haven't tried out gross loading with aft passengers and baggage, so this characteristic may change with different loading.
I had my 9th grade son up for his first flight the other day. It was his first time at the controls of an airplane, and he was able to fly straight and level, and make 360 turns, after 5 minutes of "instruction." So, it's not a hard plane to fly.
Just passed about 50 hours. We'll be going to Oshkosh this summer.
-Brian Tonner