Takeoffs
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:41 pm
I take off with 24 or 40 degrees flaps depending on the length of the airstrip. My MX7-180 seems to like 40 degrees for the right balance between lift and drag. I'm not a fan of starting the takeoff roll with no flaps and then lowering flaps to jerk the airplane off the surface. I used to do this but your feet and eyes tend to follow your hand as you reach down for the flap handle. That's not a good thing when you need to maintain directional control and obstacle avoidance. 40 degrees of flaps gives me the same takeoff distance as starting with no flaps and then raising the flap handle to lift off. I verified this in the Idaho back country with an instructor in 2016.
During the takeoff roll I push the yoke forward as soon as I see an airspeed indication for better visibility down the airstrip. You never know when a deer will wander out in front of you. My airplane will lift off at about 50 mph. I fly a few feet over the surface in ground effect until airspeed reaches 60 mph. Then I climb out at 60 mph for Vx and 83 mph for Vy. Once I'm above nearby obstacles, I adjust throttle and propeller to 24" and 2400 RPM, retract flaps and trim for 80 - 90 mph for extended climb to improve engine cooling.
During the takeoff roll I push the yoke forward as soon as I see an airspeed indication for better visibility down the airstrip. You never know when a deer will wander out in front of you. My airplane will lift off at about 50 mph. I fly a few feet over the surface in ground effect until airspeed reaches 60 mph. Then I climb out at 60 mph for Vx and 83 mph for Vy. Once I'm above nearby obstacles, I adjust throttle and propeller to 24" and 2400 RPM, retract flaps and trim for 80 - 90 mph for extended climb to improve engine cooling.