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Need ideas for last flight / maintenance test flight

Ed_Wischmeyer

Ed_Wischmeyer

Well Known Member
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So there's a deposit on the RV-9A and about all that's left on my end is to perform the post-condition inspection / pre-purchase test flight, and then deposit the check. Since I have no medical, I'll have my trusty CFI along to babysit.

Other things being equal, this will be my last flight in the RV-9A and the planned last flight of my flying career. So what to do to meet both objectives? I can think of some things, but I bet VAF has ideas that would make this flight a lot more fun.

The most recent flight was eight landings, I'm instrument current, TSA current, CFI current, UAS current -- so I'm sort of thinking just go putt around and not do much. But I don't have favorite routes for sightseeing, like I had in Arizona and Iowa.

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Ed

PS. Yes, I *could* always go rent a Cherokee with a newbie CFI and do daring steep turns at 31° of bank...
 
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This makes me sad. But it doesn't have to be your last time on the controls...maybe as PIC, but you don't have to stop flying forever. Surely you have lots of friends that would be happy to take you up in their rides.

What's that ONE thing you always wanted to do but didn't? Sunset flight? $100 hamburger at someplace special? Maybe set up a GoPro in the cockpit to capture your last flight for all time?
 
Quite honestly, if the wx cooperated, I’d make my last landing an actual IMC approach to as close to minimums as I could find. IMHO there’s nothing like an approach with visibility right at 1/2 mile (fog), at decision height seeing only the approach lights. Maybe I’m a bit strange, but you asked.
 
Short soft field takeoff over a simulated 50' obstacle. Climb best rate of climb to a safe altitude to do a departure stall after clearing turns. Now fly around at MCA (minimum controllable airspeed) doing left and right turns. Now accelerate to cruise speed, doing a left and right 360 standard rate turn. Next is turn about a point to the left and the right. After that comes a lazy eight. Maybe a couple of lazy eights are needed. We also want to do a left and a right 60 degree bank 360 turns hoping to go through your wake. Now fly around looking down at the local area. When you get back to the airport, do a soft field precision landing at a spot you pick on the runway.
 
This is going to be like the primer wars.

An approach to minimums? Nah, I get enough of that at work...

Checkride maneuvers? Don't think so...

The best post so far was the one saying that it DOESN'T have to be your last flight. There are undoubtably many folks that would be happy to fly with you...take them up on it!
 
scsmith said:
How about see how well the RV-9A does barrel rolls? (mostly kidding)
Click to expand...
I heard that they do great barrel rolls. For a last flight in your plane just take it up and poke around at a comfortable speed and just marvel at the awesomeness of flight and how fortunate you have been and seeing what you have seen and done, what others have said go flying with others.
 
My last flight in a particular plane was also a Post Maintenance Check Flight. At the time, I was not sure it was my last flight, but I did not waste the moment and had the fun I needed in the plane I had, no planning required.

In this situation, I think it's the perfect opportunity to fly to a favorite dining establishment and toast your last flight in your bird, and then fly said bird home.
 
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