John Slade

can you bring your COZY to Sn'F?

Not unless I fly 7+ hours/day between now and then.

How big an area do you have for a test area?

40 miles radius of West Palm. Getting it extended involves driving to the FSDO and begging, so I'll just do the time locally. No big deal. It'll be done in a month or so, then I'll be able to go anywhere I want.

 

Baby steps.

 

I did a second flight this AM. Two timesw round the pattern. No problems. Good cooling.

John,

Sounds like a very interesting idea to me. As for the locking mechanism, Greg Richter did something really nice with two trunk type latches behind the seat that grab the canopy and pull it closed. The plans latch system works, but it is very clutsy to use and doesn't allow for easy egress or extraction in emergency. I'd say, keep these issues in mind, as well as the hugh forces trying to lift the canopy in flight, and go for it.

 

Now get some sleep. It's 3 am for gawds sake!

For those who might be interested, there's a write-up of my first flight at http://kgarden.com/cozy/chap28.htm#firstflight

Wow! You got that beautiful baby for $1300!

 

I'd have bid against you if I hadn't spent all my money on spark plugs

 

Congratulations.

Mike, The more ways to get at the data the better. Why not write a new thread called "the best of the best" or something, and put links to the threads / posts you think are worth reading. Maybe even catagorize the links. The main problem I had with the "Dust picks" thing was the bombardment of emails about single word posts. Put all the input in a new thread in the forum tips section and this wont happen. Maybe Jon can make the thread stick at the top or something. Have at it. 

 

John

I'm happy to announce that, after just over 5 years building, Cozy IV plans # 757 danced the skies this morning in a short but sucessful flight.

 

I've read others say that their first flight was "uneventful" and thought this to be a strange choice of words. Now I can appreciate the term because that's exactly what it was - uneventful.

 

Take off run was about 2000 ft on just over 1/2 throttle and wastegate fully open. Coolant temp was at about 185 in the climb, and 175 on the downwind. The engine purred smoothly, if a litle rich. (The fuel injection computer still needs some airborne tuning at various Manifold pressures.) The approach was a little fast but I managed to put her on the numbers at 75kts (thanks, Paul) and the touchdown was smooth. I used only a little braking to pull off at the end of the 3400 ft runway. I flew her once around the pattern - total time about 6 minutes. Ambient temp was 69F.

 

So now, the adventure begins...

 

John Slade

 

Cozy Mk IV Turbo Rotary N96PM

I agree with Jon.

 

I know you only want to help, Mike, but manually reviewing and rating every message is subjective and labor intensive. Eventually you'll get bored with it and it'll fall down.

 

I'd suggest this to new builders...

Do a search for the subject of interest.

If you don't find what you're looking for, ask the question. Either you'll get an answer, or someone will remember where the information resides and point you to it.

I may be wrong, but that (the Toronto one) looks like a 3rd gen. I think Bulent paid $2k + for his. Pity about the $550 shipping.

There are plenty of pictures in my web site, Mike. That's about as much as I can help you. I know it's chrome-molly (am I spelling that right?) but I don't know the wall thickness etc. It was designed and assembled by a local guy who knows this stuff, and I accepted his expertise.

I don't think I'm going to need any help with take-off & climb, but I'd sure like to have one with reverse pitch to help with stopping.

I like to "park" the plane at the runup area, relax and think things through.

Did I say that?

 

I'm beginning to wonder if the parking brake was such a good idea. I'm finding out now that the last thing I'm going to be doing before takeoff is "parking" the plane. Time is temperature, and I need to get the bird off fairly quickly before she overheats. Dan's Cozy doesn't have a parking brake and, guess what, I never missed it.

 

At this stage the parking brake doesnt seem really very valuable.

Just to add another data point to your TG thoughts....

 

I've found an excellent way to post cure a cowling. Simply run the engine on the ground for about 15 minutes, get the water temps up to about 220F and then let it heat soak overnight.

 

Next day you're cowl is perfectly post cured.

 

This interesting scientific test has an added benefit. You can now test the new "melting temperature" of the epoxy by running really rich and letting the orange flame coming out the back curl around and play on the unprotected area of cowl inboard of and behind the exhaust.

 

I'm glad I used MGS. The safetypox would have been a heap on the floor. I wish I'd used MGS 285. Then maybe I wouldnt have to extend my turbo shield to protect the melted bit at the back.

You might want to check the details with Tracy, and call or email Bulent Alieve to see if there were any other issues he had to deal with - crank angle sensors, for example, but don't wait too long or it'll be snapped up.

$1.20 in Home Depot. Neat little device called a "light bulb".

I changed wattage in summer & winter. Simple, cheap and effective.

Is the temporary firewall in chapt. 4 actually temporary?

Yep. You throw it out later and use some nice norwiegan pine or something for the real thing. HD is fine. Just be sure it's flat.

Clifford,

Bulent is using tracy's redrive and the conversion concepts mount on his 2 rotor cosmo. The mount fits fine. The main issue he had to deal with was something to do with the starter. I believe he used the stock bell housing for an automatic and Tracy did some modification to let him install the redrive inside. I forget the details, but I know its doable - even looks better and is probably safer with the flywheel enclosed in the bell housing. Tracy will know the details.

 

If you can get a cosmo at a reasonable price, grab it with both arms. Try to get the automatic bellhousing too.

I've just finished a write-up of my post inspection progress and Cozy flight experience at http://kgarden.com/cozy/chap28.htm

 

I'll add pictures later.

 

Enjoy....

Dave sent me a PM, but there seem to be problems with the PM system right now, so I'm replying here. I hope you don't mind, Dave. The question's pretty generic anyway.....

 

 

clifford wrote on 04-01-2004 12:26 PM:

John,

Can you tell me or do you know if the rotary your using is the "Cosmo" engine. I know yours is a third generation, but are all third generations cosmo's? I,m looking for mine now. Thanks

Dave Clifford

 

No, Dave. Mine's a 13B REW model out of a '93 RX7 which is the typical "3rd gen". The Cosmo is a different animal. Similar, but different in some areas like the housing bolts for fitting the redrive and engine mounts. Might add some complications, but probably worth it for the extra power. There are 2 and 3 rotor cosmos. A 3 rotor cosmo is a serious beast.

 

Bulent Alieve has a 2 rotor cosmo and the ports are MUCH bigger than mine. Mine are MUCH bigger than a 2nd gen. Definately a good engine to go for.

 

Then, of course, there's the RX8. Question becomes - how much power can you use? Mine will take off at half power and zero boost. I'm not sure what I'll do with the rest of the power.... cruise 100kts over vne???

Thanks for the thoughts. I've been "out of the loop" for 2 days flying and doing approaches in a Cozy IV in preparation for flying my own.

 

The issues with my own bird continue, but cooling isn't really identified as a problem [yet]. Discussions on the fly-rotary list have established that I'm doing just fine with cooling. Given that its a pusher with minimal airflow I'm seeing about what one would expect.

And thank you for yours.

 

I think most users are aware that Jon is doing all this at his own expense, just for the love of the canard. Jon, you deserve a vote of thanks, and at least one beer from every canard zone member you meet at sun & fun. I hope you dont meet all 500 on the same night

Jack,

Plans call for a small NACA on the either side of the fuselage just in front of the panel. These lead to eyeball vents for ventilation.

Why is it now that we are not allowed to ask, "Was he freaking nuts?"*

Well, one reason might be that we'd be talking TO rather than ABOUT him. Another would be that we saw pictures (i.e. facts) of the electrical tape on the drill-noselift. Yet another might be that he didn't die, and he doesn't have a distraught family possibly being exposed to unfounded critisism of their recently lost loved one.

 

My rant, Jon, was just that - a rant. Aimed at the many examples I've seen of what I consider to be bad behavior. It wasn't aimed at you, and it wasn't aimed specifically at what was being said about this poor slob with his broken drill. It was just a rant. OK?

 

As for the STFU - I've become familiar with the term because I have a button so labelled on my panel for the voice annunciator. Perhaps I used it too liberally. Didnt mean to cause offense.

>Did you ask for special dispensation for SnF

er... no. I have a 40 mile radius. I'm not even sure I'd want to fly in there after the time's flown off. At this stage its much easier and safer to drive. Maybe next year when I'm really comfortable in her. I'll be at Rough River come hell or high water.

want to know whether Wicks supplies a gold-plated seatbelt in their Chapter 8 kit

No, but it IS chrome plated. I have the Wicks ones in front and the Spruce ones in back. The Spruce ones have plastic covered buckles. The Wicks ones are definately nicer, but at almost twice the price, probably not worth the difference.

 

As someone said, there's really no need to buy the belts till MUCH MUCH later. Save the cash flow for epoxy.

Extends arms out, palms up as if carrying a case of beer

Hmmm. Thanks, but I don't think that'll work. "break a leg" wouldnt be good either.

 

I don't know if there's a "tradition" for first flights. Like ripping off and signing the teeshirt for first solo, for example. Maybe we should start one. Any suggestions for first flight traditions?

 

As for luck - I'm very intent to ensure that luck isnt a factor.

 

But, thanks again for the good wishes.