Great vids, Brian. I wish my 2 stroke engine sounded as good as your 4 stroke VW.

Please let us know your performance figures when you have them: speeds; ROC; fuel burn etc.  All useful stuff, given how hard it is to get real world figures from manufacturers.

Will you be flying your Max soon?

Good on yer

Bruce

Very heartening to see, Brian.  Thank you for making us all part of your project.

Tom

Quoted from beragoobruce

Great vids, Brian. I wish my 2 stroke engine sounded as good as your 4 stroke VW.

Please let us know your performance figures when you have them: speeds; ROC; fuel burn etc.  All useful stuff, given how hard it is to get real world figures from manufacturers.

Will you be flying your Max soon?

Good on yer

Bruce

Thanks guys! Thanks Bruce. Just got to work out the engine issue. Also going to play with W+B a bit (test pilot thinks she is a bit nose heavy) then my turn. Very very soon it will be my turn. I will also post all my performance numbers as I get them solidified.
Best
B-

Awesome flight Brian I am waiting for the storms to let me fly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ed~

Brian, congratulations on the successful culmination of an interesting part of your Mini-Max journey.
Now the equally fun part of flying and enjoying the fruits of your hard work is ahead.

This next point is not specifically about your build. But those builders who have enlisted many devoted followers on ETLB with their build threads ( especially builders like Brian, whose build threads have gradually evolved into epics in their own right ) need to be bestowed with a hall of fame status on ETLB. In reciprocation, these builders also could show a connection to this forum with a small tiny sticker on their final product with just the words " ETLB- username"  to memorialize a shared journey. Not sure if this makes sense, but just a thought.

Awesome!

Whoo hoo Over the weekend I performed some high speed taxi test on my own. I was able to get her airborn and maintained a 6-10 foot height for about 1000 feet. I did that twice and called it a day when low ceilings  came in. We have have had rain all week. And the forecast is rain for the next week. Sorry no pictures this was unexpected!
B-

Splendid accomplishment after all those long hours of building and dreaming of flight in your very own creation. Hope your wife was there to savor the moment. I have been waiting a while to say this, CONGRATULATIONS and thanks for sharing.

Well done Brian!

But frankly, now you've got that out of the way, I would really recommend just powering her up & doing a good 1/2 hour or so at altitude.  Low level flying just above the runway is much more fraught than getting to know your baby in her element, with a bit of height as a safety net.

I look forward to the vids, & again, good on yer for getting off the ground.  

Bruce

Congrats. What an accomplishment. I hope someday i too can say i flew a plane i built with my own two hands. Great job and thanks for sharing the ride with us.

Just pull the trigger Brian! you're both ready.
Congratulation once again for all your achievements. You're an example to many people in many ways.

Quoted from bigbrixx1

Sorry no pictures this was unexpected!
B-

Congrats on your first of many flights! When you say there are "no pictures this was unexpected" does that mean you were out having high-speed taxi fun and the thing turned into an airplane on you without warning?  

I don't know if you've reported lately on your personal goals of weight loss. How is that going? I know you had made a LOT of progress.

Lynn

Total weight 88 pounds lost. I actually put on a few and lost 15 bring me back to the 88 mark. It’s a constant battle. I wanted 100 and will reach that good goal. But I feel that I am light enough for my V-max. At this weight I have the Perfect Balance  with the aircraft according to flight manual. Thanks for the kind words. Next good weather day I plan on going above the  class D airspace (2600ft) and starting some flight testing. All within sight of the runway. More info to follow soon.
B-

Congrats Brian and very good to see you getting some press exposure for yourself and for Mini-Max:

http://inspire.eaa.org/2018/04.....anRzdEQrdlcifQ%3D%3D

Well done Brian.
Hope you give us a detailed report after your next longer flight.

[url]   http://inspire.eaa.org/2018/04/04/mini-max-motivation/[/url]

Brian, I am just curious what size tube you used for your pitot tube, also, what kind of plastic tubing did you use?

I guess I am famous.. well to the 5 or 6 people who read EAA blog lol........streffpilot I used a knitting needle for my pitot tube. I will get measurements over the next couple days if you like. I kind of used the TLR method (that looks about right) and I think 1/4 I/D tubing that fit snugly over the needle. it was the clear stuff they have in hardware stores. You can buy by the foot. So far it looks like I am getting pretty accurate feedback from the system. IF this crummy New England weather ever gets better I hope to have more flying info coming soon! This has been nearly 6 months of crummy weather here. Spring has to arrive soon
B-

My pitot tube is a carbon fiber arrow shaft. I also use hardware store clear tubing. My airspeed agrees with my car GPS.

hmmmmm.......I may have to take a look at my bow case. I know for sure I have an arrow shaft laying around that is missing some fletching......

I don't have knitting needles so I probably won't use that. Besides. Carbon fiber just sounds cool. I will stock up on the 1/4" tubing from the Home aircraft Depot or Menards aircraft supply

THANK YOU both very much for the response.

Back in the day when I was building they recommended Tygon tubing. It was the stuff they used in aquariums. It needs to have a stiff wall. And that is the truth (in my warped mind). Why do you remember such trivia from 25 years ago but I can not remember what I had for breakfast.lol   

Quoted from bigbrixx1

I guess I am famous..
B-

You deserve to be Brian. Without a doubt, your story is an inspiration to others out there dreaming of building and flying their own aircraft.
Thanks too, to the many members of this forum that helped inspire you along the way.
GREAT JOB!

Alan

Thanks Alan!

    Whoo Hooo On an update folks I have had her up and around the pattern a couple times Since last time we chatted.....Stalls are gentle as expected. Around 42 mph. Cruise about 80 mph. But I still have not determined accuracy of airspeed indicator. I think one more jet size up should have engine running perfect! More to follow! What a ride so far. Thank you all for going on this journey with me! I am having trouble loading pics right now. Will try later this week.....
B- 😀👍

Thank you very much for the update! I hope you plan to stick around here and tell us flying stories now that she is going strong!

Quoted from bigbrixx1

Thanks Alan!

    Whoo Hooo On an update folks I have had her up and around the pattern a couple times Since last time we chatted.....Stalls are gentle as expected. Around 42 mph. Cruise about 80 mph. But I still have not determined accuracy of airspeed indicator. I think one more jet size up should have engine running perfect! More to follow! What a ride so far. Thank you all for going on this journey with me! I am having trouble loading pics right now. Will try later this week.....
B- 😀👍

That is quite an amazing accomplishment my friend, you built an airplane with your own hands and learned the actual science it takes to lose weight. You are a doer!

Great news Brian!  Well done on the whole project. It's a unique feeling, flying a plane you've built from scratch, isn't it? Now you've really gone & done it  

bruce

Congratulations Brian, it has been quit a journey that you have made.

Mission accomplished! Congratulations, all your efforts are a success .
Thanks for sharing your journey Brian.

Thanks to all for your support! It’s been great fun! Got a few more hours on 417BJ. Looks like a cruise of 77-78 stall at about 42mph. Rate of climb with me is about 5-600 FPM. I haven’t been able to verify if my airspeed indicator is accurate yet. Still not able to load pics. I got a couple will try agian later!
B-👍

That is awesome performance, Brian!! Great job!

Just curious on your fuel burn with the 4 banger?