Pilot Calls The Airplane 'Really Superb'

The Thatcher CX5 ... a two-place version of the CX4 kitplane, flew for the first time Tuesday from Jack Edwards Airport in the Florida panhandle.

Pilot Dr. Glen Bradley described the events of the day in great detail, from breakfast at a fast-food chain and then bolting on the wings to the airplane's touchdown after the flight, in a Yahoo users group devoted to the aircraft.

Some highlights:

"We put the wings on first....didn't take long. The big bolts are easy ....Then hooked up the gas lines, fuel tank drains, ailerons, put the aileron balance weights back on and, of course, the wing gap strips. Then to the tail feathers ... same deal. Four bolts for the stab, elevator pins through the hinges, etc etc. Then the wheel pants and various panels and trim."

"So....crank her up, checked controls free, tuned Unicom, set 1200 in the transponder, taxi and announce that I would be in an Experimental airplane, first flight, and would be taking off down the runway 27 and landing back, NOT departing. It was a long 7000 feet to the end....a few little gusts but no problem. Did the mag checks (4) on the roll and checked all gauges green. As I neared the end of the taxiway the traffic taking off turned crosswind so I WAS GO.

"I didn't even slow down at the end but announced again and rolled some throttle in as I turned onto the runway. Smooth, slow power up to full power-- no significant extra rudder needed (or if it was I am used to it from the CX4). At 45 I take the weight off the nose wheel, acceleration was FAST....soon I was at 55 and levitating rapidly. The plane lifted off in a flatter attitude than the CX4 does and climbs like mad. I soon was 30 feet in the air and accelerating so I eased back on the throttle and eased down to about 2 feet and let the speed bleed off. Chirp, chirp, at about 45 or 50. I wasn't looking at the gauges until after touchdown. Let the nose ease itself down at about 40 or so and taxied off the runway.

"I was soon at the end again and traffic was clear so I announced...."First flight, Experimental aircraft 14GB, departing runway 27 Jack Edwards, will stay in the pattern." Second time same as the first--- ease nose up a smidge at 50 or so and hold it. Soon I was at 65 and off and running."

"As I turned final I was a bit high so I tried a quick slip and it felt just like I was in the CX4. I kept 80 over the numbers, 70 down to 20 feet and then gradually slowed her down as I got to about 2 feet. I then just kept coming back and back to see when she would settle in. About 45-50 she settled and I let her. Stick was not full back but was close enough For the first flight. After all- a LOT was going on. New plane, new airport, new radios, new everything. The landing was quite smooth. I was surprised and very pleased with the landing. Let her slow down and turned off mid-field."

Dr. Bradley said it is easy to tell the CX4 and CX5 are "brothers." He said the canopy in the 5 is more rounded and higher … “that, combined with the fact that the wing is about a foot or so further back in the 5 gives one a view of much more ground below. One sits more OUT in front of the wing. This, combined with higher seating position in the 5 makes one feel like they are flying a fighter. It is REALLY superb."

FMI: Read the full report