September 2023

Down on the farm 56 last month 8/23

Klemm L25C G-ACXE

This month has been in the test phase. The number one problem was the low static 2500 rpm (and in the climb), so we asked Jim Creswell if we could borrow his spare prop, the answer was yes. I was due to go to a funeral in the Salisbury area on the Friday so afterwards I drove down to the New Forest and picked it up. With it installed we ran it and immediately got about another 200 to 250rpm. With the paperwork done for the prop change we flew the plane and found a transformation. We then tested it at gross with no problems but the revs are still low compared with the power output of the engine i.e. only absorbing less than half power. We then considered our alternatives and there was only really one and after a few conversations with Rupert at Hercules propellers we specified a new custom prop with a static rpm of 3100rpm and top speed of 100mph at 3600rpm (88bhp for 1 min) max rated power is 80bhp at 3300rpm. He gave us a 3 week lead time and I think he exceeded that. It has been delivered lacquered and unpainted at this stage so that it can be modified if required with too much expense. It is about 1” shorter but has a much shorter pitch. I am due in hospital on the 29.8.23 so testing will have to wait. [Tony had his operation on the 29th and was out of the ITU on the 30th. We wish him a rapid recovery. Ed.]

The new Hercules prop next to the prop that came with the project.

Other adjustments we have been doing has been the trim pressure and range, I would say it is just about as good as we can get at present as it can be trimmed out with a single pilot and a front seat passenger. We have also had some oiling of the spark plugs, so we have experimented with Iridium spark plugs which have much less resistance than a standard plug which gives us a bigger spark which tends not to foul so easily (ideal for 2 strokes). We are still experimenting but one flight it gave us much more power (an iridium plug in 4 cylinders only), we have ordered some more and are going to try fitting them throughout. We had problems with the ASI that came with the plane, we took it to a guy in Bexhill to be repaired as it was grossly inaccurate at the lower speeds just where we are landing. I borrowed a new unit from Farry to use temporarily. We rang the guy after at least 3 weeks and to be told he cannot get it apart. We have sourced a new second-hand ASI from a guy in Rye which has a scale that fits the speed range of the Klemm. We need to fly accurately at 25 to 40 mph, the man has printed a new face with mph and colour marked speed scales and vne with British Klemm marked. Since we have flown the plane with a front seat passenger it has been decided to fit an ASI and Altimeter in the front cockpit. Tony King in Rye also supplied a Mk14 altimeter, we have decide to fit the existing period height gauge and inaccurate ASI in the front cockpit and the new Altimeter(which have an adjustable pressure setting) and ASI in the back where the plane is flown from when single pilot.

Eastbourne Airshow

As I was due at Popham Airfield very early on the Friday morning, the only day I could get to the Eastbourne Air show was the Thursday before. I rode into town on my trusty Triumph T110 and parked up on the seafront but there were cancellations by the bucket load> No Tornado, red arrows but there were mainly the old stuff ie Spitfires, the Heritage flight, Fury, P51, and then some less interesting stuff ie T67, Rv8 display, and it finished over an hour earlier than advertised.

LAA rally at Popham

I arrived at Popham after driving through horrendous weather, parked the car and walked across to the stand where Farry was sitting in the van in torrential rain. I got rather wet. No visitors appeared for the first few hours, not even the plane spotters and they are normally the first and are very hardy as a breed. No plane flew in until about lunch time and then very flew. Once the rain had stopped we could walk around in the mud and talk with the people that we needed to see, the LAA tent was huge with no one in it.

Saturday dawned and proceeded to be the best day out of the 3, the weather was pretty good although I seemed to remember a few spits of rain which did not come to anything. The airplane park behind the show filled up quite quickly and then they had to park them up by the runway. There were a plenty of visitors to talk to about the Bristell NG5 and a fair number of interested potential buyers. Sunday was a lot quieter. Bill and Alan turned up having flown in an NG5 from Aberdeen to the Rotax weekend in Austria and returned via Popham. They flew back to Aberdeen he next morning.

Strut members at the LAA rally

Varhees Delta D”, French registered but from Belgium at LAA Rally

We have 2 strut trophies which I have on the window ledge waiting for a suitable candidate; please nominate a club member for something outstanding.

Tony Palmer

LAA Grass Roots Rally at Popham – Pictures

I managed to get to Popham by car on the Saturday. Evidence of the torrential rain the previous day was still obvious, but the ground had dried and there were plenty of visitors. Here are some random pictures: