AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 36

BRIEFING
Contributors /
AOPA SWEEPSTAKES /
ACK Technologies
Aerox
Air Power Inc.
Airforms, Inc.
CiES Corp.
Electroair
FletchAir, Inc.
Garmin
J.A. Air Center
MT-Propeller
Power Flow Systems, Inc.
Render777
Scheme Designers
Sherwin-Williams
SiriusXM Aviation
Tanis Aircraft Products
Whelen Aerospace
Technologies
All systems go
Major milestone reached
BY KOLLIN STAGNITO
I FINALLY RECEIVED the email I had been waiting
for. The subject line read, " Test Flight Time! "
J.A. Air Center had finished installing the
new avionics, engine, and propeller on the
AOPA Sweepstakes Grumman Tiger, tested
their function on the ground, and declared " all
systems go. " Now came my favorite part of the
project: flying it with the new tech installed.
The circa-1978 instrument panel, once state
of the art, has been replaced with a modern glass
panel-which perfectly matches the advanced
capability of this airplane. It's as if they were
always meant to be together.
Turning on the master switch energizes the
Garmin G3X Touch flight displays so that you
can see the engine instruments during startup.
Starting the engine is different than before-
the traditional keyed magneto/starter switch
has been replaced by separate rocker switches
for the magneto and electronic ignition, with a
push button starter in between. After starting,
all remaining avionics are turned on using a single
avionics switch.
Engine runup is normal, except for the
addition of the MT electric constant-speed
propeller control unit. You perform several
36
AOPA PILOT / September 2021
The AOPA Sweepstakes began at 9 a.m. Eastern
time on November 17, 2020, and ends at 11:59
p.m. Eastern time on May 20, 2022. Eligible
AOPA members are automatically entered. Visit
the AOPA Sweepstakes website for official rules.
aopa.org/sweeps.
operational checks to confirm the automatic rpm control is functioning properly,
and that the propeller is in " high rpm " for takeoff.
Applying full throttle, I can feel all 180 horses from the newly overhauled engine
tenaciously pulling the airplane down the runway. The airplane quickly accelerates
to its VY
speed of 90 KIAS and I am climbing in excess of 850 fpm.
The digital engine instrumentation makes it easy to see that the cylinder head
temps rapidly approach their 440-degree-Fahrenheit redline during a full-power
climb with the original engine cowl. Perhaps the most member-recommended
upgrade since we announced the Tiger as the next Sweeps is a low-drag cowl to
help keep the engine cool in the tight engine compartment-and increase the airplane's
top speed. We'll explore this option after fitting new wheel fairings and before
giving the airplane a stunning new paint scheme.
My focus for the first several flights was on proper engine break-in and testing
the many functions of the avionics and instruments. I followed Lycoming's
Service Instruction No. 1427C for engine break-in, and thanks to Air Power Inc.
and Lycoming, the factory-overhauled engine has been flawless.
Garmin's integration of the avionics and engine instrumentation on the two G3X
flight displays is superb. The winner of the AOPA Sweepstakes is going to enjoy the
high degree of customization possible on the displays, enabling you to view flight
and engine data how you prefer between the two touch screens. I haven't yet found
my perfect setup, but it's been fun moving items around the displays and discovering
new views and shortcuts.
With the test flights behind us and all squawks addressed, the AOPA Sweepstakes
Grumman Tiger is off to visit as many pilots as possible to showcase the amazing
capabilities of GA airplanes-and get you dreaming about winning one of the most
modernized Grumman Tigers in the world.
kollin.stagnito@aopa.org
http://www.aopa.org/sweeps
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021

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