A Long Way Round the World

a journey of a different kind

The only thing missing for a lap of the world is the plane

Well I have a bit of a mission but maybe I’ll talk about that later. Lets get to the action part. Yes, I’m going around the world by aeroplane. There is just one catch. I might build the plane myself. I mean, how hard can it be? I had a small front room and a bunch of tools and the last four years or so  I’ve been in a real hangar. Easy! In fact the build is called easy, a Long-EZ  ….with just a few minor alterations from the original 1980 plans. Oh, alright, a lot of minor alterations…

I have secured a hanger 1hr 45mts from home at a country airfield for flight testing although it has a ‘short’ runway. I’m still flying my old Long-EZ every 2 weeks or so to keep the engine happy. I really want to get going in the new build where I expect to be flying almost every day, weather permitting, for some time.

Engine Update 27th August 2023 with Test Cell numbers

The AC-Aero Gladiator, AC-LIO-390 #AC156 has arrived at Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne 25th of August 2023 where I have begun the installation processes.

The engine weighed 259lbs with both alternators, starter, flywheel, EFII fuel system and wiring, the ‘dry weight’. The Lycoming 0-235L2C, which the Long-EZ was designed for, is 249lbs dry. However I still have to add the cooling system. It might be as much as another 30lbs.

The delays have been incredibly difficult for my project, and myself to be honest. The hard working guys at the build center also want to get it done AND get it right. So hats off to them with enduring my impatience and maintaining uncompromising quality.

The engine was ordered early 2018. Delivery has taken over 5 and a half years, but so much has happened since then. This includes the shift to liquid cooling and a different build center. The world has changed too. That Covid thing, more extreme weather events, my plans for flying through Russia have gone and of course all those supply chain issues, price increases and just ‘stuff’. Its a good thing we all live in the present.

We did make 255HP at 2900 in the test cell. Of course you have to turn the prop fast enough. Red line is 2850RPM. The design spec of the engine is to 3050RPM. We didn’t test to that and might have made 270HP. It is reasonable to call this a 255 HP engine. What matters to me is the torque at cruise RPM.

2300RPM,  506 Tq, 222HP, 0.396BSFC
2400RPM,  503Tq, 230HP, 0.398BSFC
2500RPM,  495Tq, 236HP, 0.4BSFC
2600RPM,  486Tq, 241HP, 0.403BSFC
2700RPM,  481Tq,  247HP,  0.406BSFC
2800RPM,  473Tq, 252HP,  0.41BSFC
2900RPM,  462Tq, 255HP,  0.413BSFC

Maximum continuous is dependent on engine temperatures. 2700 will be set initially and if the temperatures are stable it can be increased.

Moving Forward

ALL the next jobs require the engine to be here. We have the avionics to finish off with all the sensors and extra fans and so on. I have radiators to size and then get made, I have a whole cooling system with ducts to fabricate and the induction and air cleaner install. I may need cowl flaps, but that will be confirmed after I do some runs on the ground. I hope not. It may cool perfectly well on my first iteration.  (yeah, right…)

The upholstery is done. The registration marks are done. Artwork done and all the pre engine install jobs I can think of. I expect 4-6 months after the engine delivery before it is signed off and ready for test flying. That is just throwing a number out there. Its looking like the first few months of next year at the moment. I’ll just get to each task and problem as I find it until the plane is ready for first flight.

I have a plane that has named itself  “The Beast” and it is hungry to get in the air.

 

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” — Michelangelo

“You do the best you can and disconnect from the outcome”. — John Roncz

“Slow = less mistakes, less mistakes = fast, fast = flying sooner”
— Wade Parton (Airdog77)

“Your focus determines your reality” — George Lucas

“Adventure is framed by the vehicle” — Dave Berenholtz

LATEST UPDATES:

Mounting the Water to Oil Heat Exchanger 3

Date:  03-22-2024 Number of Hours:  8 Manual Reference:  23 With the central bracket made this heat exchanger is still unsecured. It would move in flight and eventually the holding bracket would fail. However if it is held, immobile, with a fore and aft supports all should be well. I spent a lot of yesterday making these two pieces…
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Mounting the Water to Oil Heat Exchanger2

Date:  03-21-2024 Number of Hours:  50 Manual Reference:  23 After more work and endless fitting of the cowl I realised that this heat exchanger does not fit as I had hoped. So I refitted the RHS radiator to move it about an inch or so up towards the wing. This was to give more space for the water…
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