More from Metz 11/21/98
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A new note from Reinhard Metz is included here with pictures of his Express.
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Hi Jerry,
Quick update on progress-
I'm back in the air with some exhaust system fixes from Larry. Still
need to do some more, but will do them locally with my newly discovered
stainless welding expert - a friend who I never knew had this talent!
The good news is that with just the main pants, no transition fairings
or nose gear fairing, I'm up to about 192 mph cruise at 4500 ft w/ 23"
and 2400 rpm, and 191 mph at 8500 ft and 21" and 2400 rpm. All with two
people and about 1/2 gas. Not too bad. Should be able to make 197 or so
with the finishing touches.That's all for now!
Reinhard
The Metz story: rmetz1@lucent.com
(from Reinhard 10/2/98)
Jerry,
Sure, you can put it on the WEB page. I hope to fly again this
afternoon. New oil cooler is installed and I need to complete my first
oil change, rather oil fill-up! Hope there aren't any nasty surprises in
the filter! Per your suggestion I have been checking the gascolator
screen regularly and it does show a few fiberglass pieces, but not many.
One dissapointment is the noisiness. Do you know of anyone successfully
pursuing any kind of mufflers?
Cheers!
Reinhard reply to: rmetz1@lucent.com(from Reinhard 9/30/98)
Jerry,
I'm still here! Sorry, I really wanted to make it to the fly-in, but am
only up to 12.5 hours, and for the time being am stopped in my tracks.
Plane flies great in general - got some fantastic performance last week
at 9.5K, no wheel pants, 65% power, 8.9G/Hr, 184mph TAS! Thought that
was pretty good without the pants.
But - Saturday I started her up after sealing and tightening my second
leaking oil cooler fitting, and as I looked out the window (idling after
start-up!), there was oil all over the right wing. Quickly shut down,
got out, and what a mess! It had pumped out all the oil, blasted it all
over the plane, tarmac, hanger, etc.! Turns out the cooler developed a
crack and under 80psi start-up pressure ruptured, and dumped every
pumpable ounce out in about 30 seconds. Luckily I didn't get very far
before noticing it!
I have a new cooler, and from the bomb-proof difference in construction
(mine was the original off the 1981 Arrow I got the engine from) of the
new cooler, it's clear Stewart-Warner knows about this potential
problem! Of course, the new cooler requires some slight mounting
modifications, and they are going on today and tomorrow. Then, hope to
be back in the air shortly. Scanned new picture should be available to
you shortly.
Couldn't get on to your page (actually, got an error message for no DNS
entry. Give me the URL again? Maybe my bookmark is old/wrong?), so will
give you feedback on that item later.
(Second email from Reinhard 9/14/98 )Jerry,
FYI, the fresh air system I have installed using ducts in the upper cowl
(picking up air in a approx. 15% partition of the main cowl inlets) works
superbly. There is plenty of flow even when taxiing due to the prop pushing air
into the intakes. I have four eyeball vents, two in back and two in the panel,
and they can be directed to most parts of the front seats. The fire shut-off
valves I have on the fresh air ducts where they pass through the firewall can be
used to control the overall flow volume. This whole topic sounds like a good one
for the CBROS newsletter. I'll try to dig out some photos and send to you.
My heating system is just like yours.
Up to 5 hours. On the second flight, I decided that a data recorder was
necessary for the "safe operation of the flight", so my former Bonanza partner
went along, and lo and behold, the left wing heavy problem was gone.
So far so good. I think I need to glue the wing farings - On final with full
flaps there is an occasional snapping sound from underneath that you can feel
through the floor. I suspect it's the faring interacting with turbulent flow
from the inner end of the flaps. Also, when the plane is slowed down into the
100 to 115 region, there is a distinct but very low level whine kind of noise,
that sounds a little like a turbine craft on landing. Maybe the lack of gear
farings, holes at gear legs resonating?
Cheers!
Reinhard(received from Reinhard Metz, Chicago area) 9/4/98
Jerry,
FYI, the FAA issued my airworthiness certificate yesterday, no problems. I'm
going to go for some last minute training with Ed Bernard, and then it's off I
go!Reinhard (Metz)
