After 21 years of construction, the author successfully completed the first flight of "Melmoth 2," describing the experience as a profound relief rather than excitement, akin to witnessing the birth of a child.
"Melmoth 2," an all-composite four-seat successor to a previous aircraft, underwent FAA licensing and entered Phase One flight testing on November 1, 2002.
Initial flight testing revealed several technical issues, including an incorrectly plumbed oil cooler, difficulty with landing gear extension, and suboptimal engine cooling, which the author plans to systematically address and refine.
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.
