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A Flight Advisor helps the pilot conduct a self evaluation as well
as evaluate the flying characteristics of the aircraft. The pilot then uses that evaluation to decide whether he or she is
capable of flying that airplane. If not capable, the Flight Advisor explains where and how he or she can get the proper instruction,
or alternatively find someone to make the initial flights.
When time for first flight comes around, I stop my role as a Flight
Advisor and become a flight instructor, chase pilot and safety observer. This is something I do on my own, not as a part of
any EAA program, but it does allow me to help ensure that the first flight is both safe and enjoyable for the owner or builder.
I try to take the prospective pilot up for a flight demonstrating how to handle emergencies
in the plane, differences between a canard aircraft and others the pilot may have flown, as well as giving them a feel for
what it will be like to pilot their own canard.
Flying chase also gives me the chance to experience one of the happiest
moments in the builder's life: the safe conclusion of the first flight. The smiles these folks have are incredible!
First flights that I have flown chase for include:
- Matt Baxter - Long-EZ N530EZ
- 21 March 1992 - Arlington, WA
- Joe Person - VariEZE N29NS -
26 December 1993 - Arlington, WA
Joe had earlier helped a friend build a Long-EZ, so this was in essence
his second plane. Unfortunately, it was lost due to an engine failure during the NW EAA Fly-In in 1998.
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| Joe setting up for his first landing |
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| Joe assumes a swaggering pose after the flight (yes, it was really cold!) |
Joe showed true dedication when after the lost of his first variEZE,
he went back and spent 6 years building a second, even better than the first. He performed the first flight in September of
2003 while I was off teaching a TPS class.
- Mike Sabourin - Long-EZ
N747MS - N747MS - Arlington, WA
This airplane is one of the most beautiful
composite planes I have ever seen. It was recognized at the NW EAA Fly-In before it had even undergone its first flight,
and it later won a Lindbergh Award at Oshkosh for its workmanship. Mike spent 11 hard years building it and the dedication
sure shows off.
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| Morning Star orbiting the field |
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| Mike is elated |
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| Mike, Maureen, Annie and Amy celebrate a family effort |
- John Kosa - Long-EZ
N70JK - 22 March 2002 - Arlington, WA
John has a very interesting background. When
asking him questions about his experience prior to first flight, I asked if he had much tailwheel time, to which he said "very
little". Later on in the conversation, he suddenly asked "Does a B-17 Fortress count as tailwheel time?". When I said yes,
then he asked to change his earlier answer to "3,500 hours of tailwheel time". he had forgotten the years he had spent instructing
in Fortresses during WWII.
Despite being 82 years old at the time of
his first flight, he exhibited superb airmanship and great eyesight, better than many of the other younger pilots I fly with.
John decided to sell his plane after just a few flights because he had too many other demands on his time and wallet. Selling
it was a real loss to the NW Canard community.
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| John Kosa, age 82, lining up for his first landing in his Long-EZ |
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| John and I pose for the cameras after a successful first flight |
- Mike
Drew - VariEZE N840EZ - 2 August 2003 - Paine Field,
WA
One of the reasons to have a chase pilot during
a first flight is so that you have someone to help out if things go wrong. What I never planned on was that the chase plane
might be the one with the problems.
During a low approach at the end of the flight,
I lost most of my engine power and had to declare an emergency, landing downwind on the long runway at Paine Field. Things
happened so quickly that the only radio call I had time to make to Mike was "You're on your own - I've lost my engine." Not
exactly what I had hoped to accomplish as a chase pilot that day.
- Wayne Blackler - Long-EZ
N360WZ - 9 June 2004 - Arlington, WA
Wayne started his Long-EZ in a very unusual
way: at the age of 15 while living in Melbourne, Australia. He spent 16 on-again, off-again years building the plane, with
the final result being an utterly fantastic plane painted in a unique silver finish.
Wayne moved to the States over two years ago
and has dedicated his every minute to finishing the plane.
His first flight went off without a hitch,
and the look of joy when it was over was fantastic. Even better, though, was the joy he shared with his mum when telling her
of his achievement.
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| Wayne orbiting the field during the first flight |
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| The look says it all |
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| There's one happy Aussie! |
- Joe
Hull - Cozy Mk IV N31CZ - 17 April 2006 - Arlington, WA
Joe's Cozy presented a unique combination
of both a new plane and a new engine approach: a Mazda rotary engine driving the venerable 4-seat canard design. The first
flight, though, went off without a hitch as the engine ran smoothly, temperatures stayed in the green, and all systems worked
as expected.
After almost 40 minutes in the air, Joe brought the plane in for a smooth
landing on runway 16 at Arlington.
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| Joe's Cozy against the sprig clouds |
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| Another happy camper after the flight |
For more information on the EAA Flight Advisor Program, please click here to be connected to their website.
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