The article recounts the successful maiden flight of *Melmoth* 2, a homebuilt aircraft completed after 21 years, which the pilot describes as a profound relief rather than an immediate thrill.
The flight test period for the amateur-built aircraft involved an FAA licensing process and clearing initial "Phase One" flight restrictions.
During early flights, the pilot identified several issues requiring further work, including misrouted oil cooler plumbing, difficulty with landing gear extension, limited pitch trim authority, and suboptimal engine cooling.
Despite the technical challenges, the first flight evoked a deep emotional resonance and wonder for the builder, comparable to the feeling of seeing his children born.
This is it: the end of a 21-year countdown. The 9,600-foot Mojave runway stretches out in front of me, the chase plane is coming up from behind. It’s clear and calm this November 1st-the day when, as I heard someone explain yesterday on NPR, “the barrier between the living and the dead is thinnest.”
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Peter Garrison taught himself to use a slide rule and tin snips, built an airplane in his backyard, and flew it to Japan. He began contributing to FLYING in 1968, and he continues to share his columns, ""Technicalities"" and ""Aftermath,"" with FLYING readers.
