> > > flight

testing? How much ground test time is sufficient? 20 hours? 100

hours?

Or

do you just test until something breaks and then you know how long

to

expect that particular part to last? If it were my airplane I

would

have

considered 16 hours of ground test time sufficient to prove the
installation. Its always easier to be the quarterback on Monday

morning.

Ed Anderson wrote:

Hard to say how much ground testing time is enough. It probably depends on a
number of factors.  Like are you sort of copying another successful design
or are you trying some radical excursions?   I mounted my engine, PSRU and
all systems going into the aircraft on a test stand and ran the engine there
for 40 hours.  Thats the same amoung of time the FAA would keep me in the
test area.  I then installed it in the aircraft and ran it another 10 -15
hours. Any time I made a significant change or encountered a problem that
was more ground time running.  So that is why my engine TAC reads 256 hours
but my flight time is 185 hours.  I have had several things malfunction -
but, fortunately always on the ground (or reasonably close to it). Too much
ground testing? - probably so, but seems to have been a good thing in my
case.  That has been my experience.

I also planned my first flight to be 5 trips around the traffic pattern to
give me time to get the feel of the aircraft.  I am glad I planned it that
way as it became clear as I made the first turn for the pattern that the oil
temperature was a significant problem.  At pattern altitude the oil temp was
still way above my red line of 220F  so I decided to land.  Entire first
flight lasted 4 1/2 minutes - very glad I decided to stay in the pattern and
could land before perhaps doing damage to the engine, aircraft and self..
Also fortunate I was flying an RV which did not require any great piloting
skill and lands relatively slowly.

Ed Anderson

 
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