Not long ago Brian Floate, who is building a FRED in Australia, wrote to me asking if I knew a FRED owner who could provide “a running commentary from start up to shut down...of flying FRED, just to whet the appetite.”  Knowing that Evan Belworthy flies FRED ZK-FRD regularly in New Zealand, I asked him for help, and he graciously obliged.  Here is Evan’s step-by-step description of flying FRED.
Starting FRED...four pumps on the fuel primer and then pull the prop through eight blades, chocks in place and stick held back with the harness, throttle set (just cracked), master switch and distributor switch on, fire up was on second swing this morning, back around to the cockpit to check oil pressure rise, FRED left outside the hangar warming up whilst putting on helmet and jacket.
Entering the cockpit...from the right-hand side due to the throttle being on the left-hand side, left leg in first and then take your body through and out the left side and then right leg slides in easily, lower whole body down onto the seat, the cockpit is roomy and deep once you are in, harness done up and ready to taxi, the big rudder means good ground control so even with a fixed skid the directional control is good, and as with all taildraggers you need to weave to see out the front.
At the end of the strip...pre-flight checks done, line up and the throttle goes forward with the stick to get the tail up, again good directional control and the forward view is down the left side of the fuse, tail up at about 20 knots and lift off indicates about 30 knots, accelerate up to 45 knots for the best rate of climb, FRED climbs away.
Level off...ASI indicates about 65 knots, for turns you lead with rudder, turns either way are well balanced, tight turns you hold back pressure and the aeroplane will just sit there going around, in level flight you can see over the nose but  you need to be aware of the lack of visibility above with the wing blanketing you, so in a busy circuit often it is best to raise the left-hand wing to have a good look before commencing a left turn, etc.
Slow flight...at cruise power setting, apply back pressure steadily and FRED will sit there nose-high and indicate around 20 knots, release the back pressure and fly away, stalls are the same approach, the aeroplane just nods, nil wing drop so lower the nose and fly away, if you hold the back pressure the nose will raise again and the process repeats.
VNE...is set at 87 knots and a shallow dive achieves this, all the pressures are firm and the aeroplane is very stable.
Approach...reduce power to about 2000 rpm, carb heat on, slow the aeroplane to 45 knots and the aeroplane will descend all the way in, at approximately three feet off the ground reduce the throttle and stick going rearward, FRED will settle on in three-point attitude, roll out is straight. Â For a wheeler use the same approach and then level off above the ground and reduce the power will settle on the mains, to hold the tail up you require forward stick pressure.
Clearing turn...and taxi back to the hangar, short cool down period and switches off, the satisfaction of another flight, to dismount, the same as getting in, raise the body and head and shoulders out the left-hand side and then right leg out and follow through.
Cheers,
Evan
