I'm a test pilot!!!

35 years ago in high school, I saw an article in Popular Mechanics . The cover said "Build this airplane for $750". I have been dreaming of that day ever since. To build that plane now, would cost at least $15,000 now, and it is made of plywood and fiberglass and has a VW engine.
I wanted an all metal airplane with an aircraft engine in it. I started on the project almost 8 years ago and put it on hold for 3 years while I got my masters degree, and quit working on it a couple of times because I was disgusted with myself for not making it perfect. It's pretty perfect though. I also needed to save money to buy more stuff. My Sonex is plans built and I should have saved my money and bought a kit. I would have been done years ago.

Saturday October 18th, I was ready!! The wind wasn't.
So at the crack of dawn Sunday I cranked up my plane and headed out to the runway…. I was not as nervous as I thought I'd be.

With the engine warm, I taxied into position on the runway and lowered the flaps to 10 degrees. I pushed the throttle forward and the plane wanted to turn left (It is supposed to, but I was not prepared for how much) I pushed right rudder, and more right rudder and then I was in the air.

It climbs like a rocket! Now I was a bit nervous. There are a lot of things that could go wrong the first time. Even though I have been over every nut, bolt, rivet, washer and cotter pin many times, I thought “What if I forgot something?”
I didn't.

When I got to the point of being able to turn around and land if the engine quit, I relaxed a bit. I turned out from the airport and climbed to 3000' and slowed the plane down. I needed to get the feel of it in slow flight to prepare for landing. I did some turns, accelerated, decelerated and did a stall (you slow the airplane to the point it won't fly anymore) it buffeted and ducked down just a bit. That was it! I could not ask for a better flying airplane.
I only stayed up about 20 minutes and the oil pressure and oil temperature were too high, so I throttled back and headed back down.
I gave it just a touch of throttle before touching down, and greased it on. Probably the best landing I ever made.
All the sweat, tears, cussing and blood are now worth it!
I have flown it nearly 4 hours now with few problems. I put an automotive oil pressure ga and oil temp ga in and taped them to the floor to check the engine monitor values. With my engine monitor, they were reading high, but the other gauges show the temp and pressure is what it should be. I'll get those bugs worked out, but I'm having a blast

Waiting for good weather and time

The FAA representative came and went last Saturday. I would have flown last weekend, but the wind was horrible....not anything you would want to do a first flight in anyway.

So I took the wings off the plane and trailered it to a nearby airport with a 5500 ft paved runway. This will be a much better location for a first flight.

I had a friend help me put the wings on last night, and when I finish hooking up the controls and wires, I'll put in a few more gallons of gas so I can go early Saturday morning providing the weather is good. It has been perfect weather all week so far.