After 14 years of flying my second homebuilt, preceded by nine years in my first, I wish I could say that most things that can go wrong already have, but the gods might think me insolent. By now, however, I can at least say with some confidence what has worked and what has not.
Technicalities: What Worked and What Didn’t
Key Takeaways:
- The author's two homebuilt aircraft, Melmoth and Melmoth 2, illustrate a long-term learning process, with each design iterating on successes and failures of features like retractable gear, flaps, and airbrakes.
- Key design changes, particularly a significantly increased wingspan, led to substantial improvements in performance, including speed, climb rate, and range, in the second aircraft.
- The article highlights the practical trade-offs in experimental aviation, where beneficial features (e.g., hydraulic systems) can come with maintenance challenges, and some innovative ideas prove unnecessary or ineffective.
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