Did some fun training today in the MU2. Full stalls beyond the shaker in multiple configurations and a heap of single engine work.

The planes performance is very impressive IMO. The video starts out with slow flight around between 90 - 100 knots then some 30 degree banks and pulling to get it to stall. The spoilers give you extremely positive control throughout the entire stall.

At the very end we shut one down (skip to the last minute). As you can see, it doesn't fall out of the sky and is a complete non-event. If all one does is center the ball with your feet, the plane flies just fine. Trimming both rudder and spoiler make it a hands off affair, very enjoyable and surprisingly quick while on one.

I am right at 1 year right now and I did the initial training, recurrent at 6 month and am doing another one right now. I have flown about 250 hours. Every hour in the plane I like it more.

No question that it is a true finger tip airplane and if you are fighting it, you are flying it wrong, however, trimmed properly it is one of the easiest flying planes I have flown. Single engine work is very benign.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/Fnh7q-fQByc[/youtube]

It seems contrary to what one would predict from looking at the plane, the high power engines, the small wing, the short tail, etc. But, it is true.

The OEI process is very much like a jet outside of feathering the prop. You leave flaps down, you trim for ball center, you fly straight ahead, get altitude/speed, retract flaps on schedule, fly away.

Mike C.

I've never flown an MU2 but I do have an interest in them. Do you actually trim the spoilers as you write, or does the roll trimming occour via those little mini-ailerons on the outboard trailing edge?

The mini ailerons on the trailing edge of the flaps are electrically trimmed.

The spoilers are not trimmed. That would mean drag having one slightly out.

Mike C.

No beta follow up on the power lever. 40 lashes with a wet noodle for you.

Instructor doesn't catch it or comment on it, and even says you are done. 40 lashes with a dry noodle for him.

There are only two memory items on the engine shutdown checklist: feather and beta follow up.

Mike C.

You have the right idea. There are trim tabs along the trailing edge of the flaps as I recall. (David or Mike will refresh my memory; it's been 30 years since I last flew one) You set those via a knob on the pedestal to trim the wing so that there is no roll spoiler deployment. Works great.

As has been said earlier, the MU2 is not difficult to fly, just different
More like a jet than other turboprops. When you lose an engine right after liftoff (about 100 KIAS) it's alooong way to Vyse of 155 and waiting for an appropriate speed to retract the flaps. But getting the spoilers down, gear up and patience will get the job done.

George

The mini ailerons on the trailing edge of the flaps are electrically trimmed.

The spoilers are not trimmed. That would mean drag having one slightly out.

Mike C.

Its not super critical to take out the roll trim. It helps a little with drag so it slightly improves single engine climb.

If you can't operate the roll trim, you can safely fly, it will just take some roll input to hold wings level. You can see this in the video since the pilot doesn't trim it out and you can see the yoke deflection.

The main drag reducer with an engine out is to feather, the next is to fly with the ball centered as any side slip creates a lot of drag. The spoiler trim out is very minor by comparison.

Mike C.

Anthony, who was the instructor? Where is he located? I don't recognize him.

No beta follow up on the power lever. 40 lashes with a wet noodle for you.

Instructor doesn't catch it or comment on it, and even says you are done. 40 lashes with a dry noodle for him.

There are only two memory items on the engine shutdown checklist: feather and beta follow up.

Mike C.

Power lever should go full forward after an engine failure.

Moving the power lever fully forward drives the prop blade to the lowest angle of attack in the event the feather valve or NTS system has not functioned properly

Yes this is also taught for the Merlin (I assume all Garretts). Still not sure what "beta follow up" is.

Different words that mean the same thing.

"Beta follow up" means move the power lever full forward.

No 40 lashes required mike as the instructor brought up the beta follow up about 1 sec after the video ended when we debriefed what I did wrong. Not sure why the video ended when it did, still figuring out the GoPro.

The instructor is named James Drexler and he is based out of Fargo. He used to do training for one of the check companies. He just got all the approvals per whatever the sfar is called now that it is not the sfar. Great knowledge of the plane and lots of real world tips and tricks.

i thought they cockpit would be larger than that, interesting