FlightChops

No episode this week as I'm behind on the next Atlantic crossing edit - I'm just back from a very successful trip (captured for an episode as I dial in the IFR workflow in this airplane) to Hartzell for a prop service and dynamic balance (to 0.021 IPS which is a crazy tight tolerance, and will be explained in an upcoming episode).
We also had all access behind the scenes at the factory which I'll be sharing.
Watch for the new Atlantic crossing episode next week, and have a great weekend!

Skip the Carousel

1 2

3 years ago | [YT] | 221

FlightChops

BC has been devastated and the general aviation community has stepped up in a huge way to help!
‪@bradleyfriesen‬ is doing an amazing job telling the story while also hauling supplies in his new helicopter.
Please watch and share Brad’s video, and ideally follow some of his suggestions in the description as to how you can help:
https://youtu.be/k5TUvBM6oxo

3 years ago | [YT] | 44

FlightChops

This Remembrance / Veterans Day I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve got, in many ways thanks to the sacrifices of so many.
One such amazing opportunity was yesterday; I took a friend flying in the T6 HARVARD and the RV-14 for back to back flights. Despite massively different procedures and eye to ground heights for landing, both trips went really well. We didn’t film beyond some quick cell phone snaps and video clips.
There is however, some awesome content in the pipeline, but I’m taking this week off publishing - watch for a new episode next week.

4 years ago | [YT] | 232

FlightChops

Great Debrief of a VERY close call in the pattern.
Lot's to learn from this one.

4 years ago | [YT] | 44

FlightChops

Honoured to have the plane we just built, displayed show center at EAA AirVenture!
This Van's Aircraft represents just how far experimental aviation has come, and I'm proud to be a part of telling that story.
Come see it at the Garmin booth if you're here!
I will be there for several planned events, but also likely living there when able to baby-sit... my baby :)
The rest of the schedule is below - hope to meet you if you're at the show!

FlightChops at #AirVenture

Monday, July 26th, 2021 - 10:30AM
Garmin Aviation booth (meet up and see the plane up close)

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 - 12:00PM to 12:45PM
AOPA Forum - How to Safely Create Content

Thursday, July 29th, 2021 - 10:30AM
Garmin Aviation booth (meet up and see the plane up close)

Thursday, July 29th, 2021 - 11:30AM
Van’s Aircraft Forum with Dave Carrick - bit.ly/2UngtEK

Thursday, July 29th, 2021 - 1:00PM
AOPA meet up with TFP (The Finer Points)

Thursday, July 29th, 2021 - 3:00PM to 5:00PM
Builder meet up Homebuilt Camping Pavilion

Friday, July 30th, 2021 - 2:30PM
ForeFlight Forum at the ForeFlight Pavilion

4 years ago | [YT] | 147

FlightChops

It’s been quite a ride to get here. Huge thanks to the flying community and super supportive sponsors that have grown along with the “Flight Chops Project”.
Organizing footage from this weekend has been surreal.
To see that logo which started off as a joke, embroidered onto the seat back of a dream come true aircraft that I took part in building, and am now flying, is nothing short of amazing.
After days of storms we caught a 24 hour period of awesome weather before another system was forecast to roll in, so Dave and I tag teamed the bulk of 25 flying hours (limited to a 25 mile radius from home base) required to finish out the test flight phase.
Rocking Bose A20 headsets the only mild discomfort we felt was leg and back cramping from sitting so long.
Between us we few a combined ~2000 miles!
The Van’s Aircraft RV-14 performed like a champ. (We’ve got one of the first configured with the Lycoming IO390 EXP119 and 3 blade composite prop from Hartzell)
We were seeing climb rates well over 2200 FPM, and speeds over 182 KTs TAS!
(with engine break in settings ~75% at a DA of ~7000’)
And shout out to ForeFlight (not seen in the photos just out of frame) always onboard helping me with consistency and situational awareness (especially when I learn to fly new avionics like this amazingly equipped Garmin panel).

The next episodes to publish on YouTube will cover the 1st flight and test flight program.

A new era of content is coming as I share the process of planning and executing IFR and VFR missions as well as flying aerobatics in this machine!
The first trip to share will be taking it to AirVenture where it will be parked at the Garmin booth all week - I hope to see you there for a High Five!
Thanks for being a part of the ride and “Keep your Flight Chops Sharp!”

#WhyIFly #Aviation #FlightTraining #IFR #VFR

4 years ago | [YT] | 1,339

FlightChops

The RV-14 was out in the sun for the first time on Saturday!
We had a "mostly successful" first engine start! Stay tuned to the build vlog for that episode soon.
Meantime, the latest episode shares some good "old school IFR" learning moments while we work a problem - how would you have dealt with what we ran into on this one:
https://youtu.be/RPzttZIshHw

4 years ago | [YT] | 426

FlightChops

This is a fun short video Luke, one of my mentors just published.
I can’t say I love Snap Rolls as much as he does.
Describing that maneuver as violent is absolutely accurate. You need to be in top physical shape (which I am not) to do this.
And if you missed them, the latest two videos on the Flight Chops channel feature training with Luke :)

4 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 64

FlightChops

On this Remembrance Day / Veteran’s Day please take a moment to reflect on how much so many sacrifices for our freedom.
Here’s a link to an episode I am very proud of, and dedicate to those brave service men and women:

https://youtu.be/CbT2VZT835I

5 years ago | [YT] | 404

FlightChops

Is this thing on? It's my first "post" on YouTube...
Anyway - DHC-2 Beaver Landing training episode is coming Friday (If I can get the edit done in time).
But this exciting, and also a bit scary mission has come up...

My buddy Blake just bought a PA-32 from a friend.
It's been well loved and is IFR certified...
...but, look at that panel - she needs an update.
Old 6 pack, barely an auto pilot, and no GPS.
Regardless, if all goes according to plan, next week I'll be ferrying it from Calgary to Toronto
(most of the way across Canada basically).
I intend to file IFR the whole way, planning to avoid long periods in hard IMC, and never aiming for approaches near minimums - most likely 500+ above MDA/DH and 3 miles or better.
Blake is not instrument rated, so while he'll be a good safety pilot, I'll be on my own for IFRing this one.
We'll both have ForeFlight running with a Sentry for back up AHARS.
Any thoughts or comments?

5 years ago | [YT] | 491