O
WNER
’
S
F
LIGHT
M
ANUAL
53
52
XL
Mag Switches - Off
Master Switch - On; check battery condition and warning systems
Master Switch - Off
Mixture - Idle cutoff
Throttle - Idle
Flight Control Locks removed, pitot tube cover, vents clear, tie
downs
Stick - free and unobstructed
Rudder Pedal Area - clear of loose items, ballast not required
removed
Rudder Cable / Quick Disconnect - secure
Pitch Trim - check operation and cable connected
CANARD NOSE SECTION:
Elevator - condition, hinges, balance weights secure
Elevator - free
Static Ports - unobstructed
Pitot Tube - clear undamaged
RIGHT FUSELAGE/WING:
Canopy Hinge - undamaged
Fuel Quantity - visually check
Fuel Cap O-Ring - condition
Fuel Cap - secure check alignment marks
Fuel Tank Vents - clear
Fuel Tank Drain - check free of water/sediment
Fuel - proper color (red 80, blue 100LL, green 100/130)
Wing and Vertical Fin - condition
Rudder - free, cable/hinges secure
Rudder Return Spring - secure, returns to neutral
Nav Light - secure
Aileron - free hinges, secure
AFT FUSELAGE - ENGINE:
Main Gear Strut - secure
Brakes - check for wear
your aircraft accordingly.
After you complete the expansion of the CG envelope on
your aircraft, you may want to change the placarded min. and max.
pilot weights to those in which you are comfortable.
Some words of general caution - wear a parachute for your
flight testing. Never leave a squawk unresolved; find and fix prob-
lems as you encounter them.Airplanes usually give a hint of
impending trouble.The problem is we pilots do not always listen.
If something changes: a slight roughness/vibration, new oil leak,
trim change, new squeak, etc., look until you find it - don’t ratio-
nalize it away. Have bunches of fun.
Flight - Flutter Envelope Expansion
The first time you exceed 130 knot (150 mph) it should be
done wearing a parachute if possible and at a height of at least
7000 ft AGL.You should expand the airspeed envelope in incre-
ments of not more than 5 knots.At each increment, access the
damping of the controls as follows: kick a rudder pedal, and jab
the stick left, right, forward and aft.After each input the controls
should immediately return to trim and any structural motion
should damp within one cycle.This will require at least 3 or 4
dives, climbing back to altitude between dives. Do not expand air-
speed in the dive when below 7000 ft AGL. Use care to not over-
speed the engine RPM. If you have just increased speed and find
lower damping (i.e., the structure or controls shake more after
the jab than at the 5-knot lower speed), do not continue to higher
speeds. Recheck balance and weights of control surfaces. Solve
any suspected cause of low damping before expanding airspeed.
Expand speed to at least the red-line speed you desire to place on
your aircraft, up to, but not exceeding 200 knots. Placard your air-
speed indicator with your red line.
Flight Check Lists
Exterior Preflight Inspection
COCKPIT:
Summary of Contents for XL RG
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