Cozy III
Pilot’s Operating Handbook Page 23
available). This phenomenon is not fully understood and your
aircraft may react differently. Our flight test on the prototype
COZY has found a slight performance loss and the pitch trim
change could be trimmed hands off with the cockpit trim handle
at air speeds above 90 knots when entering rain. At lower
speeds, only a slight back-pressure on the stick is required to
counteract this effect. Once the aircraft is in visible moisture
conditions it can be re-trimmed and flown normally. Most other
aircraft also experience some trim change in rain. There may be
a disorientation factor during the transition from VMC to IMC that
the pilot should be ready for, especially if your trim change is
found to be significant. If your rain trim change is significant,
install a placard to notify pilots of this characteristic.
DESCENT
You will find that your COZY has such a good climb performance
that you routinely use higher cruising altitudes to avoid
turbulence discomfort more often than with most light aircraft. It
is neither unusual nor inefficient to climb to 12,000 ft. altitude for
a 150 mile trip. Bearing this in mind, you want to plan your
descent into your destination enough in advance so that you
don't find yourself over your destination with 10,000 ft. of altitude.
The COZY is a clean airplane and even with power at idle, it may
take 20 minutes to land: Using the extra altitude for a cruise
descent speed advantage will get you there a lot sooner. Don't
forget to reduce power slowly to avoid rapid cooling of the
engine. Partially richen mixture when descending. Start your
descent about 6 miles from your destination for every 1,000 ft. of
altitude to lose, to arrive at pattern altitude.
LANDING
Make your approach and traffic pattern very cautiously. Most
pilots and controllers are accustomed to looking for more
conventional aircraft of gargantuan proportions (like Cessna
150s) and may ignore you completely. Others may think there is
enough room to sneak in ahead of you. Best pattern speed is 75-
80 knots (85 - 90 mph), slowing to 70 knots (80 mph) on final
approach (a little faster in turbulence or gusty winds). The COZY
is a very clean airplane and you can double the runway length
required if you are 10 or 15 knots fast on your approach.
Deploy the landing brake on downwind or base to obtain a
normal glide path angle comparable to conventional aircraft.
Failure to use the landing brake will result in a flat/wide pattern,
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