First flight of 2008 … woo hooo

Date/Time: 4/16/08 6:30 ish.

winds: 110 @ 5-7mph.

After getting motor started the prior 2 days. Over night on the car battery charger, she started without a single problem. Definatly had the cranking amps. I am acutally thinking that the tricle charger, looses amps, but keeps voltage.

Layed the wing out after about 5-10 minutes of untangling the lines, and making sure everything was ready.

I got the motor down, and started right up again. I kneeled down and started the motor. I throttled on for about 30 seconds. To know that it would run without stalling. On and off the throttle.

Feels right.. so I hooked in an took off. While running I looked up several times to make sure everything was good. No errors, line overs, or twisted reisers.

I was off and into the air, heading about 120 degrees

After playing for a few moments I got and going up, i noticed a slight turning to the right. While engine on, and with the engine off. I think that perhaps one of the reisers to the wing may have slightly losened. I even checked the trims while up in the air.

While typing this, and being the first flight of the year, I think I should have done a better preflight. Even if I have been working on it the past few days getting it ready.

I flew around for about 15 minutes then decided to land. I lined up for the landing approach and noticed I was to high. So I pulled the left break, and did a 360… wee that was fun. I was lined up perfectly… then started to drift down a little to fast. I added about 3 seconds of throttle and killed the engine. Drifted in for a flawless landing, and as the wing layed down it started right for me and I took a few steps back to avoid it.

Then the airport owner stopped “First time up?” , “for the year yes”. He wanted to see if I was the one that caused one of the neighbors to complain. I asked him what color the wing was. He didn’t know, but knew the color of the van. Must have some sort of camera/survaliance.

Then ended up talking to him for about an hour about gas prices, faa grants, a neighboring airport, neighbors complaining.

It was an awsome night, but I have to figure out the drift to the right.