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Robbie,

With the great weather yesterday, I thought you might give it a go. Congratulations again. Welcome to the club of flying Chicago area Sonex's. It's a nice fleet.

As promised, a longer post....

I had recently completed two separate transition training sessions in preparation for my first flight. So after my FSDO inspection last Thursday, I did not want to wait too long for my first flight. I wanted to do it while I still was fresh from the training.

The forecast for Saturday showed light winds in the morning, so I decided I would see what the morning brought and possibly go fly. When I got to the airport at 7:15 a.m. A fog bank was just burning off, and the winds were calm. My wife and son soon arrived, so I spent a couple of moments with them, then climbed in and fired up the Sonex.

The entire time, I kept telling myself I did not have to fly, and if I did I should expect an emergency abort on my first takeoff. But things felt good, the airplane seemed ready, and the engine was running fine.

A brief run up showed no surprises, so, I taxied out and called ground.

I felt calm and collected, determined, and focused. I told the ground controller this was a first flight, remaining over the airport and climbing to 2500. She told me to expect a Runway 27, so I called the tower. With no traffic, I was cleared for takeoff immediately. The engine was warm, so I taxied out to the runway.

I took a deep breath as I pulled on to the runway, lined up on the centerline, and slowly advanced the throttle. It was cool and calm, and my turbo powered AeroVee came up smoothly and I was off the runway in less than 800 feet. I instinctively kicked in left rudder, hearing Mike Farley and Joe Norris in my head....

Keeping the nose down, I made a small bank left and right and verified I had no control issues. So, I continued the climb gently, and the tower gave me a choice of left or right turn. I chose right, as the northwest corner of the airport is mostly empty and gives easy access to three runways (four if you count the unused grass strip).

The Sonex was a dream to fly and after years of thinking about this, it was an incredible feeling to know I was flying what, until now, had been a project. Now she is an airplane, flying. Wow....

I climbed to 2500 feet and stayed right over the northwest corner of the airport. Gentle banks each way, sped up to easy cruise, then slowed down. No changes in flight characteristics.

After about 15 minutes or so, I called tower and asked to come back in. I was given the right downwind to 27, so I circled down slowly to pattern altitude. Once in the pattern, I just slowed the Sonex down as Joe Norris drilled into my head. A notch of flaps abeam my touchdown point, easy power reductions, then a second notch of flaps on base. I stayed close and made a gently curving turn in to be certain I could make the runway if the engine quit.

In short final, I pulled the nose back to slow further, continued to ease the power off as I approached the runway, then put her in the three point altitude as I felt the time was right. It must have been the right place, because I landed with the gentlest of bounces, keeping the stick back in my lap.

On rollout, as I slowed, the engine stopped. That got my attention! It appears my idle needs adjustment and may possibly be too rich. Not sure yet. (The engine never hiccuped once or ran rough in flight)

I coasted off the runway and ended up pushing it to the ramp where my wife and son were waiting. After a lot of hugging and high fives, I climbed back in, fired her up, and taxied back to the hangar. No major surprises were found in a post flight inspection.

All in all a huge success and I am still amazed that I finally flew her.

A few screen shots from one of the GoPro angles.


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

Congratulations.
I hope to be there in two years.

I am so incredibly happy for you! Welcome to the club... and nice landing attitude
-Jim Hicke

Great recap Robbie, enjoyed reading it! Exciting!

Congratulations Robbie,

More motivation for the rest of us coming up behind. Thanks for sharing.

Gordon

Congratulations Robbie!!!
That is awesome!
Thanks for sharing your story with the rest of rest. Your success provides motivation for the rest of us.

Congratulations Robbie!
Its amazing you actually had time to tend to the Sonex Foundation, take the pictures you do, live a life, AND build the plane.
Enjoy the next phase of your journey.
Happy Landings
John
N50NX

John

I confess to being overbooked the past couple of years, and am looking forward to backing off on the pace....a lot.


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved