Checklist for O-320

[allen]

I am in the process of writing some custom checklists for the new plane. Preflight, cruise, landing, emg... These will be shrunken and laminated for Ez use in the cockpit. I have found that writing information out helps me memorize it, so that is a large chunk of this exercise.

Anybody out there care to share their checklists? I could use some ideas for both content and format. The POH is already covered.

[Jack]

I am in the process of writing some custom checklists for the new plane. Preflight, cruise, landing, emg... These will be shrunken and laminated for Ez use in the cockpit. I have found that writing information out helps me memorize it, so that is a large chunk of this exercise.

.

Great idea and I always fly with them.  Especially with one retractable wheel you can forget at times.  I try to hang takeoff and the landing checklist on the dash somewhere.  My kneeboard carries the full checklists and other data.

Jack

[allen]

Jack,

   When I get mine hammered out I’ll post them on here so others can use/edit them to their particular purposes. When I finish them I will shrink them down to about a 5 inch by 5 inch card, print it in color and laminate it. I keep a Post-it notes pad in the cockpit now that sits on the little ledge in front of the stick. It fits perfectly right there and I use it to jot down frequencies and AWAS information. It has become a really handy item to have. My plan is to have the checklists the same size as that Post-it note deck so they will also fit perfectly in that spot and be really Ez to reach in a pinch.

   One day I plan to upgrade to a glass panel that has the built in check lists. For now I’ll just stick with the good ole Manual Text Format.

[gilbertexp]

Here's mine.  I've done what you're planning.  It's not quite as small as what you're planning, but the rigid lamination allows me to keep it together with one small metal loop in the upper left corner.  I keep it stuffed between my leg and the left side of the cockpit during flight; allowing quick reference.

I welcome any comments.

John
LongEZ O320 E2D, 150hp
Phoenix, AZ

[ramseyk86]

Here's the checklist I made up - it's for a O-235 so you'd have to change some of the numbers - I print it out 4 slides on a page, double sided (flipping on the long edge) to get the proper sequence.

I also set up a laminated card with standard weight & balance info - after laminating it, it's easy to add passenger, fuel, or baggage with a water soluable marker.

[GlennBob]

I think your checklist has the (VX) and (VY) reversed.  I believe best rate is VY and best angle is VX.  Your corresponding speeds are correct, but I think you have the wrong symbols next to them. I tried to look it up but didn't find it right away.

Glennbob

[Drew]

Best angle is Vx.

BTW, when you do a major mod (and the right airworthiness cert), one of the things you will have to document is Vx and Vy.

The graph on this page (http://www.rodmachado.com/Articles/Article%20of%20Month/Articles-of-Month/Vx%20and%20Vy/Vx%20&%20Vy.html) shows a good depiction of both.  Well, at least Vx is shown (tangent line to your ROC curve going through "0,0."  Vy is the peak of the ROC curve.  Flight testing-wise, you get this curve by going to full power, pulling back your airspeed with pitch and then climbing up through a base reference altitude like 3000 ft---and then timing the climb for a couple thousand feet.  Then jump down below 3000 ft and get your next point at a different altitude.  This is known as "saw tooth climbs"----and is used to document Vx and Vy.  Don't use VSI since it is not accurate enough----time the climb.

[ramseyk86]

Thanks GlennBob & Drew - good catch!

[Jack]

 Flight testing-wise, you get this curve by going to full power, pulling back your airspeed with pitch and then climbing up through a base reference altitude like 3000 ft---and then timing the climb for a couple thousand feet.  .

To add some more flavor you want to keep the variables standard as much as possible. Ambient air, wind, fuel load, etc. Once you have a base line profile from your home airport you can test each mod one at a time.

It's been a bit, but I was testing a ram air induction, electronic ignition and using glider tape on gaps.  Each item required a test flight for my standards. Keep the variables as low as possible to have a good test flight. I always started my roll with punching the clock to establish a timeline.  Then my knee board had my test profile with blank data entry lines.  Now I would use at least one if not two digital cameras to ensure all the data was stored for review at the end of the day.

Jack

[Drew]

And Waiter's datalogging software can be real useful too

[cts]

Advisory circilar 90-89 is also a very useful reference to have on hand. You can get a copy at

http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/media/ac90-89a.pdf

cts