Printable Version

BD-1 First Flight Checklist

*We have included this First Flight Checklist to use as a REFERENCE, depending on your aircraft weight and engines horsepower you will need to adjust Again use this as a REFERENCE only!

1. General Aircraft Information
1. Airframe
2. Engine
3. Cockpit
2. Pre Flight
1. Airframe
2. Engine
3. Cockpit
3. Cockpit Check Out
1. Panel
2. Throttle, Trim Levers, Flaps
3. Rudders and Brakes
4. Taxi
1. Slow Taxi & Differential Braking
2. Fast Taxi, no nose life, feel rudder and ailerons
3. Fast Taxi, nose lift
5. First Flight
1. First Flight briefing
2. Taxi
3. Take-Off
4. Flight Program Profile
5. Approach
6. Landing
6. Debrief
1. 1 through 5

Pre Flight Inspection:

1. Airframe
1. Reach in cockpit and put flaps in the down position
2. Starting at the nose of the aircraft
1. Inspect the prop for damage
2. Look in the air inlets for debris
3. Check the general condition of the nose wheel
3. Continue to the left wing
1. Check the left main gear, tire and brakes
2. Drain left wing fuel drain, check fuel for water
4. Walk down the left wing leading edge checking condition
1. Open fuel cap and stick fuel, replace fuel cap
5. Check Left Wing tip and trailing edge
1. Move aileron checking hinges and free movement
2. Check flap condition, hinges, and attach coupling
6. Check left side fuselage
1. Check vertical stabilizer
2. Check leading edge of left elevator
3. Check trailing edge of right elevator
4. Check trim tab
5. Move elevator checking hinge point, movement and cotter pins
6. Check rudder movement and cotter pins
7. Repeat left side inspection on the right side of aircraft going from tail to nose
2. Engine
1. Check oil per instructions in Lycoming engine manual
2. Drain fuel filter drain by nose wheel and check for debris
3. Cockpit
1. Check all switches off
2. Retract Flaps
3. Cockpit Checkout
1. Panel
Know your panel, flight instruments, engine instruments, and switches
It is important that you know each switch, it's location and it's function
2. Throttle: location, demonstrate operation
3. Flaps: location & settings, operate the system at all settings
4. Explain speed for extension an setting for TO & Landing
5. Trim Tab: Location, move full nose up & nose down
6. Rudders & Brakes
Location, demonstrate movement of rudder pedals and brakes
4. Taxi
1. Slow Tax
1. Taxi the aircraft at apx 5 to 15 MPH and familiarize yourself with the differential braking for directional control This should take apx 2500 to 4000 RPM and reduce as needed
*You should notice how effective the rudder is above 10 MPH
2. Fast Taxi
1. Line up on the runway, advance the throttle as needed to attain apx 40 to 45 MPH indicated, keep the nose wheel on the ground
2. Reduce RPM as needed to maintain this speed and familiarize yourself with the ailerons, elevator and rudder
*You will notice how light the BD-4 feels and how positive the control surfaces are
*Always monitor engine instruments
*Always monitor airspeed
3. Fast Taxi & Nose Lifts
1. NO FLAPS! Line up on the center line of the runway, advance throttle to full open and note the acceleration
2. Reduce power to maintain apx 50 to 60 MPH indicated, NO FLAPS
3. Once speed is established and stabilized, raise the nose wheel apx 6 inches to a foot and hold for a three count
4. Do this several times till you feel comfortably in control of the aircraft
*Again note how light and positive the controls are
*Always monitor engine and temps
*Monitor airspeed
5. First Flight
1. First Flight Briefing
1. Talk through the complete plan including emergencies Have a ground observer with a radio and a set frequency with a back up frequency *If this is a first flight for the aircraft I recommend staying in the traffic pattern, over flying the runway at altitude, for no more than 30 minutes
2. Land and inspect the aircraft for any loose hoses, wires etc
*If this is a first flight for the aircraft have flight profile and emergency plan that cover where you would land At pattern altitude Plan your flight pattern so you make the runway or a safe place to land
2. Taxi
1. Brief the taxi so you and the pilot are on the same page
3. Take Off
1. After engine run up and completed check list, Canopy, CDI's, fuel selector, trim, flaps 1st notch, instruments and radio, line up on the center line of the runway Advance throttle to full and accelerate to 80 MPH indicated and rotate for lift off As you become familiar with the BD-4 you can rotate at 70 to 75 MPH
*You must rotate the BD-4 for take-off, it will not fly itself off the ground
*At apx 50 MPH the BD-4 will feel light, keep driving it to Take-Off speed
2. After lift off and you have 20-30 feet below you ease the nose over and accelerate to 85 to 95 MPH to start you climb
*I have seen different climb speeds depending on the prop and temperature 85 MPH has been the best climb speed for aircraft
*I have also found that the 1st notch of flaps helps the climb
*I have found 90 MPH to be the best Lift over Drag or glide speed
*Monitor engine temps and instruments
4. Flight Profile
1. Upon reaching patter or desired altitude retract flaps to the full up position
2. Set desired power and enjoy your flight
*If this is a first flight for the aircraft monitor instruments and temps and fly the flight profile briefed
*If this is a first flight for the aircraft I recommend the flight last no more than 30 minutes The aircraft should be inspected after this flight to make sure that flight loads haven't loosened or chaffed any lines or caused any other potential problems
5. Approach to Landing
1. Following standard traffic patterns at your airport, on the down wind leg slow the aircraft to apx 100 to 110 MPH and deploy the first notch of flaps You will notice the drag increase and effectiveness of the flaps allowing you to maintain 100 MPH
*Always keep enough altitude to be able to glide to the runway
2. Upon turning on base leg you can decrease the speed to apx 90 to 95 MPH and deploy the flaps to the second notch, you will further notice the drag and effectiveness of the flaps I would fly your first approach a little higher than normal, apx 200 FT with the second notch of flaps you can descend quickly if desired or needed, without much increase in airspeed
3. Lining up on final I would maintain a min indicated airspeed of 85 MPH for your first landing After you have more time in the aircraft, you can decrease the speed to your comfort level
*With the second notch of flaps and power reduced the aircraft will descend nicely The decent can be stopped with pitch or power
*The BD-4 lands very nice with the second notch of flaps
4. If full flaps are used you will notice an increase in drag
5. Fly the airplane to the runway and start a shallow flair apx 6 to 8 FT above the ground
6. The BD-4 slows nicely and you will notice an increasing rate of sink below 75 MPH which can be arrested with power Touch down on your first landing will be in the range of 60 to 70 MPH indicated
7. I have found the landing roll out to be 800 to 1100 FT with light braking
6. Debrief
1. A debrief should be done between the pilot and the person giving the BD-4 checkout
2. All aspects of the checkout should be covered from preflight to shut down
3. If this is a first flight on a new BD-4 this debrief will be helpful concerning any adjustments that need to be made such as heavy wing, cooling problems, seat adjustment etc.
*On first flight always monitor instruments for airspeed, coordination, oil pressure, oil and cylinder temperatures as these are usually the problems, if any, that occur on first flights