Hey Guys,
        It has been a good couple of days. I for an hour and 15 minutes
yesterday and for an hour and 55 minutes today. The temperature has been
up both days for us 50 yesterday and about 63 today. Both days were spent
in cruise flight for all but the climb and even then I used a cruise
climb of 130 to 140 mph and a rate of climb of 700 to 800 ft/ min. The
rpm range is at full throttle has been about 3200rpm at this rate of
climb. The full throttle rpms are consistent at 3500 plus and I am
getting 168 mph indicated  consistently with it leaned out with the sweet
spot at 1330 exhaust temps. (I do not have a mixture meter). The plane is
flying very well and handles great. The one thing that I am getting used
to is at speeds above maybe 130 mph the ailerons are heavy, or maybe a
better term would be stiff.(at least on my plane) The trim tab that I
added the other day to the left aileron is doing it's job. I can fly
hands off for some time, Although i don't know how long it is long enough
to fool with a map, radio's or anything else that needs to be done. I
know that I have already got in the habit of trying to hold a little of
right input on the stick and by flying hands off I found that it is just
making me tired and not doing anything for the airplane. Just need to
relax a little more ( that's easy to say)
        This afternoon's flight was flown at 80% throttle. that is 3200
to 3250 rpm This gave a indicated airspeed of 148 to 150 mph. I left the
settings the same for about 1 1/2 hours. I explored the outer limits of
my 50 mile radius, going around the outside edge of the circle. At times
the ground speed was over 190 mph. In fact when I crossed past Pocono
raceway I remember looking down and thinking that I was going as fast as
Jeff Gorden could go but I didn't have to go in as small of a circle.  I
did have to keep playing with the mixture for the first hour but after
that every thing stayed good and smooth for the remainder of the flight.
        About 30 miles from home I started a decent of only about 200
ft/min and did not change the throttle. The airspeed increased to 165 and
the plane trimmed nice and I had gotten very comfortable by then. I was
listening to Allentown tower and heard that the winds were 180 at 8kts.
That is dead cross for home. Now the fun went out of the whole flight. I
don't have a lot of confidence in my cross wind landings. At 12 miles out
I called unicom for a wind report and they said it was 210 at 7kts and
bumpy over the numbers. Well that's better now it is only a 60 deg cross.
(and bumpy) I made a little faster circuit and it was rough on finial.
The crab angle verified that it was 50 to 60 deg cross. I kicked it
straight on short finial and was just about 70mph over the numbers. In
ground effect it smoothed out real nice and it did not take near as much
aileron as I thought it would. The rudder was plenty to steer with and I
had to be careful not to over control. And the best part -- The plane is
still useable.
        Post flight -- I am still chasing a couple small oil leaks that I
just can not seem to find or correct. They are not so bad to do any harm
just makes a mess after 3 or 4 hours. 
        I had started with full fuel yesterday and filled up after
today's flight. Total time was 3.2 hours and total fuel burn of 15.5 gal.
The EIS -- I have been tracking instrument temp and trends. The bottom
line is that it has a temp. problem. When the instrument temp reaches 77
deg. it starts to become inaccurate in at least 3 readings. RPM, Oil
pressure, And Outside air temp. I have a fan under the panel but it will
not keep it any cooler than 86 deg. right now. It is doing something
because the temp went above 92 deg without the fan running. More to come.
        Sorry this was so long
Joe Horton, Coopersburg, Pa.
joe.kr2s.buil...@juno.com

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