Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 11:13 AM - Re: Thoughts on flying at the edge of the envelope (Bill Strahan)
2. 01:09 PM - Removable stick option? (flylightning)
3. 02:36 PM - Re: Removable stick option? (Kayberg@AOL.COM)
4. 02:52 PM - Re: Removable stick option? (Bernard Melendez, Jr.)
5. 02:53 PM - Re: Removable stick option? (Harry Weber)
6. 03:11 PM - Re: Removable stick option? (Harry Weber)
7. 04:19 PM - Re: Removable stick option? (selwyn)
8. 05:25 PM - Re: January 2011 Lightning Newsletter (n5pb@AOL.COM)
9. 05:46 PM - Re: Removable stick option? (Bernard Melendez, Jr.)
10. 05:56 PM - Re: Removable stick option? (Steve Sundquist)
11. 07:21 PM - From the sublime to the ridiculous (selwyn)
12. 08:31 PM - Re: From the sublime to the ridiculous (N1BZRich@AOL.COM)
Message 1
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Thoughts on flying at the edge of the envelope |
Reading this story made me think of a few things. First, on my flight home from
SYI, with about 25 hours on the plane, I did something I've done many time in
my Grumman. I twisted around, reached in the back, and grabbed my backpack.
I pulled it up over the seat-back and dropped it into the copilot seat.
Again, it's a motion that felt so familiar. The next few moments were not something
with which I was familiar. Everything suddenly stuck to the top of plane
and the view out the front no longer included a horizon, it was all earth!
And as rapidly as it happened, it unloaded and I was just pitched down sharply.
I realized that I had dropped the backpack in the seat, and it had simply fallen
forward onto the stick. It's a big, heavy backpack that I have my 18" laptop
in, and was undoubtedly several pounds of forward stick pressure.
And just like that I realized I had to change some habits. Even if the laptop
had hit the yoke in the Grumman, the response would have been a tiny pitch down
and I would have pulled the backpack off. In the Lightning it was at least
-1g. It was pretty unsettling.
Which brings me to the next comment, I sure would like to see a removable stick
option for the copilot side. I've considered pulling the stick out and having
a pro welder modify it for me. Just a larger diameter tube to couple the stick,
and a pin to slide in place.
For flights with non-pilots who don't want to actually fly I'd pull the pin and
put the stick in the back. Most of the time I'd leave it in place, but having
the option to remove it might be handy.
Glad all turned out for the pilots mentioned above. In a panic, it's easy to over
control. Good thing the check pilot was there. I'm sure that other pilots
in similar situations have held the stick back all the way to the ground.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=325323#325323
Message 2
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Removable stick option? |
Group,
This is in regards to Bill's mention about a removable stick option. I
thought I would start another post about it.
How many people would like to see this? It is certainly something that
our welding shop could make, it would be easy to retrofit and could be
an option at initial purchase of a kit.
If you are building a kit and had not flown or touched the sticks yet as
far as construction goes, we could take it in exchange for credit
towards the other stick. Not sure of a cost but give me a week and I
will.
Those who are flying would have to buy new, but I can find out how much
to change your sticks, but I think a new one will be cheaper after
shipping it back and forth and cutting it up an such.
This will be initially to the Kit owners only. I will have to do
supplemental testing to the control sticks for the SLSAs, but that
should not take to long.
Please let me know thru the List or my email and if we have got more
than 1 or 2 people who want it will make it happen.
Nick Otterback
Arion Aircraft LLC
Message 3
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Removable stick option? |
I would just remind folks that most Lighting sticks have wires in them.
If you go for the removable stick, you will probably need to route the mi
ke
transmit to the panel or console. If you went nutz for trim and flaps
buttons on both sticks, those will also need re-doing.
Easiest way is to just cut the stick off with a tubing cutter and machine
an aluminim plug to fit inside the two halves. Bolt the lower half solidl
y
to the stub (leave enough room) and make up a pin arrangement for the uppe
r
part. Since the stick forces are so light anyway, it is not likely there
will be a problem. Alternative is to sleeve the outside of the stick an
d
weld the upper half, then pin the lower to the stick stub.
Just a couple thoughts.
Doug Koenigsberg
In a message dated 1/2/2011 4:09:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
info@flylightning.net writes:
Group,
This is in regards to Bill=99s mention about a removable stick opti
on. I
thought I would start another post about it.
How many people would like to see this? It is certainly something that ou
r
welding shop could make, it would be easy to retrofit and could be an
option at initial purchase of a kit.
If you are building a kit and had not flown or touched the sticks yet as
far as construction goes, we could take it in exchange for credit towards
the other stick. Not sure of a cost but give me a week and I will.
Those who are flying would have to buy new, but I can find out how much
to
change your sticks, but I think a new one will be cheaper after shipping
it back and forth and cutting it up an such.
This will be initially to the Kit owners only. I will have to do
supplemental testing to the control sticks for the SLSAs, but that should
not take
to long.
Please let me know thru the List or my email and if we have got more than
1 or 2 people who want it will make it happen.
Nick Otterback
Arion Aircraft LLC
Message 4
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Removable stick option? |
Nick,
I didn't even think about mentioning it, but it is something I planned to d
o to BOTH control sticks on my Lightning, just as I did to my MB.1 FirStar.
Makes it a lot easier to crawl under the panel after the plane is flying.
It's quite easy to do, so it's no big deal.
Bernardo Melendez
--- On Sun, 1/2/11, flylightning <info@flylightning.net> wrote:
From: flylightning <info@flylightning.net>
Subject: Lightning-List: Removable stick option?
=0A=0A=0A =0A=0A=0A =0A =0A =0A =0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0AGroup, =0A=0A =C2
- =0A=0AThis is in regards to Bill=99s mention about a removable=0A
stick option. I thought I would start another post about it. =0A=0AHow many
people would like to see this? It is certainly=0Asomething that our weldin
g shop could make, it would be easy to retrofit and=0Acould be an option at
initial purchase of a kit. =0A=0A =C2- =0A=0AIf you are building a kit a
nd had not flown or touched the=0Asticks yet as far as construction goes, w
e could take it in exchange for credit=0Atowards the other stick. Not sure
of a cost but give me a week and I will. =0A=0AThose who are flying would h
ave to buy new, but I can find=0Aout how much to change your sticks, but I
think a new one will be cheaper after=0Ashipping it back and forth and cutt
ing it up an such. =0A=0A =C2- =0A=0AThis will be initially to the Kit ow
ners only. I will have=0Ato do supplemental testing to the control sticks f
or the SLSAs, but that should=0Anot take to long. =0A=0A =C2- =0A=0APleas
e let me know thru the List or my email and if we have=0Agot more than 1 or
2 people who want it will make it happen. =0A=0A =C2- =0A=0ANick Otterba
ck =0A=0AArion Aircraft LLC =0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A
Message 5
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Removable stick option? |
Nick: The glasair had one bolt thru the stick and base to attach it. Another hole
that wires could pass thru with a plug connector and everything is removable.
Just a thought. Harry
----- Original Message -----
From: Kayberg@AOL.COM
Sent: Sunday, January 2, 2011 5:33:50 PM
Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Removable stick option?
I would just remind folks that most Lighting sticks have wires in them. If you
go for the removable stick, you will probably need to route the mike transmit
to the panel or console. If you went nutz for trim and flaps buttons on both sticks,
those will also need re-doing.
Easiest way is to just cut the stick off with a tubing cutter and machine an aluminim
plug to fit inside the two halves. Bolt the lower half solidly to the stub
(leave enough room) and make up a pin arrangement for the upper part. Since
the stick forces are so light anyway, it is not likely there will be a problem.
Alternative is to sleeve the outside of the stick and weld the upper half,
then pin the lower to the stick stub.
Just a couple thoughts.
Doug Koenigsberg
In a message dated 1/2/2011 4:09:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, info@flylightning.net
writes:
Group,
This is in regards to Bills mention about a removable stick option. I thought I
would start another post about it.
How many people would like to see this? It is certainly something that our welding
shop could make, it would be easy to retrofit and could be an option at initial
purchase of a kit.
If you are building a kit and had not flown or touched the sticks yet as far as
construction goes, we could take it in exchange for credit towards the other
stick. Not sure of a cost but give me a week and I will.
Those who are flying would have to buy new, but I can find out how much to change
your sticks, but I think a new one will be cheaper after shipping it back and
forth and cutting it up an such.
This will be initially to the Kit owners only. I will have to do supplemental testing
to the control sticks for the SLSAs, but that should not take to long.
Please let me know thru the List or my email and if we have got more than 1 or
2 people who want it will make it happen.
Nick Otterback
Arion Aircraft LLC
Message 6
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Removable stick option? |
Nick: I would be interested. Harry
----- Original Message -----
From: "flylightning" <info@flylightning.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 2, 2011 4:06:43 PM
Subject: Lightning-List: Removable stick option?
Group,
This is in regards to Bills mention about a removable stick option. I thought I
would start another post about it.
How many people would like to see this? It is certainly something that our welding
shop could make, it would be easy to retrofit and could be an option at initial
purchase of a kit.
If you are building a kit and had not flown or touched the sticks yet as far as
construction goes, we could take it in exchange for credit towards the other
stick. Not sure of a cost but give me a week and I will.
Those who are flying would have to buy new, but I can find out how much to change
your sticks, but I think a new one will be cheaper after shipping it back and
forth and cutting it up an such.
This will be initially to the Kit owners only. I will have to do supplemental testing
to the control sticks for the SLSAs, but that should not take to long.
Please let me know thru the List or my email and if we have got more than 1 or
2 people who want it will make it happen.
Nick Otterback
Message 7
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Removable stick option? |
Hi Nick,
I made my right hand stick removable so I guess I would have been interested in
it as an option :).
To do it, I cut the stick an inch or so above the trunnion bearing, inserted a
plug and spigot in the lower section, cut a piece out of the top section and replaced
it with a machined socket with keyway. This is a hand push fit on the
spigot and a small cross bolt or pin is used to ensure it does not work off,
the socket and keyway provide all the mechanical strength. Probably too elaborate,
but it works. I've fitted a multipin plug and socket to the wiring so
that the whole thing can be removed neatly.
--------
Cheers, Selwyn
Kit 66
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=325358#325358
Message 8
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: January 2011 Lightning Newsletter |
Hi Buz,
Just got back from the north GA Mountains...9 inches of snow...so i got my
white stuff fix fro the year. Back home again in sunny Clearwater temp tod
ay in the low 70's.
Thank you so much for all the superb newsletters you've produced and all th
e support you've given this community.
The ARIS and the Lightning seem to be a very exciting marriage...will be lo
oking forward to your updtes.
Have a great new year and looking forwrd to seeing you at one of the upcomi
ng events...
Bear
-----Original Message-----
From: N1BZRich <N1BZRich@AOL.COM>
Sent: Mon, Dec 27, 2010 10:27 pm
Subject: Lightning-List: January 2011 Lightning Newsletter
All,
The January 2011 issue of the Lightning Newsletter, and the last that I
will be responsible for writing, was sent to the websites that carry our n
ewsletters on Tuesday, 28 December. This issue should soon be posted on the
sites that carry the newsletters .
Here are the sites where you can read the latest "Hangar Talk" newsletter.
http://www.flylightning.net/
http://www.greenlandings.com/
http://moonshineaviation.com/
See a synopsis of the January issue's contents below:
Featured in this issue is the results of the voting for Lightning of the Ye
ar for 2010.
Next is a "Great News for the Lightning" article that I think you will enjo
y reading. It will also give you an idea of what will be keeping me busy i
n the near and distant future.
There is also an update article on the first Lightning being built in Germa
ny. Gerd Nowack sent us a great report and some excellent photos on how hi
s build is going.
The News From the Factory Section had an update on Lightnings and kits sold
from Mark Stauffer. Arion had a very good year in 2010 and 2011 is lookin
g even better.
There are also some good inputs in the other various sections - News from B
uilders and Flyers, Technical Tips, etc. Thanks to all of you that sent th
ings for the newsletter.
In the Safety section this month I cover a review of AOA, stalls, and parti
cularly, accelerated stalls. You will understand why I felt the need to co
ver this after you read the article.
Remember, unless someone steps up to "take the stick", this will be the las
t issue; certainly the last issue that I will write. I have written the n
ewsletter for 3 years now and I feel it is time for someone else to take ov
er to provide new leadership and new energy. I will still be occasionally
writing for the newsletter, but will leave the leadership of the newsletter
up to the new editor. Who will that be?
Please let me know your thoughts on this, and all other past issues of the
newsletter. Do you think it has been helpful and informative? I'll pass y
our comments to the next newsletter leader. And remember to continue to se
nd articles to the newsletter. Without your inputs, it would not be as use
ful or informative. Thanks for your support in the past.
Blue Skies and happy flying,
Buz Rich
-
-= -- Please Support Your Lists This Month --
-= (And Get Some AWESOME FREE Gifts!)
-
-= November is the Annual List Fund Raiser. Click on
-= the Contribution link below to find out more about
-= this year's Terrific Free Incentive Gifts provided
-= by:
-
-= * AeroElectric www.aeroelectric.com
-= * The Builder's Bookstore www.buildersbooks.com
-= * HomebuiltHELP www.homebuilthelp.com
-
-= List Contribution Web Site:
-
-= --> http://www.matronics.com/contribution
-
-= Thank you for your generous support!
-
-= -Matt Dralle, List Admin.
-
-========================
-= - The Lightning-List Email Forum -
-= Use the Matronics List Features Navigator to browse
-= the many List utilities such as List Un/Subscription,
-= Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ,
-= Photoshare, and much much more:
-
-= --> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Lightning-List
-
-========================
-= - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -
-= Same great content also available via the Web Forums!
-
-= --> http://forums.matronics.com
-
-========================
Message 9
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Removable stick option? |
Similar to my setup, except that the tubes were cleanly cut, then a smaller
tube with the O.D. same as the stick's I.D. was welded (rosebud welds) ins
ide the bottom section. It just slipped into place and a 3/16" hole was dri
lled through the top section and smaller tube.=C2- An AN-3 bolt secured t
he stick in place. Piece of cake. My own brother could do it no better.
Bernardo
--- On Sun, 1/2/11, Kayberg@AOL.COM <Kayberg@AOL.COM> wrote:
From: Kayberg@AOL.COM <Kayberg@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Removable stick option?
=0A=0A =0A=0A=0AI would just remind folks that most Lighting sticks have wi
res in =0Athem.=C2-=C2- If you go for the removable stick, you will pro
bably need to =0Aroute the mike transmit to the panel or console.=C2-=C2
- If you went nutz =0Afor trim and flaps buttons on both sticks, those wi
ll also need re-doing.=0A=C2-=0AEasiest way is to just cut the stick off
with a tubing cutter and machine =0Aan aluminim plug to fit inside the two
halves.=C2- Bolt the lower half solidly =0Ato the stub (leave enough room
) and make up a pin arrangement for the upper =0Apart.=C2- Since the stic
k forces are so light anyway, it is not likely there =0Awill be a problem.
=C2-=C2- Alternative is to sleeve the outside of the stick =0Aand weld
the upper half,=C2- then pin the lower to the stick stub.=0A=C2-=0AJust
a couple thoughts.=0A=C2-=0ADoug Koenigsberg=0A=C2-=0A=C2-=0AIn a me
ssage dated 1/2/2011 4:09:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, =0Ainfo@flylightni
ng.net writes:=0A=0A =0A Group, =0A =C2- =0A This is in regards to B
ill=99s =0A mention about a removable stick option. I thought I woul
d start another post =0A about it. =0A How many people would like to see
=0A this? It is certainly something that our welding shop could make, it w
ould be =0A easy to retrofit and could be an option at initial purchase of
a =0A kit. =0A =C2- =0A If you are building a kit and had =0A not f
lown or touched the sticks yet as far as construction goes, we could take
=0A it in exchange for credit towards the other stick. Not sure of a cost
but give =0A me a week and I will. =0A Those who are flying would have to
=0A buy new, but I can find out how much to change your sticks, but I thi
nk a new =0A one will be cheaper after shipping it back and forth and cutt
ing it up an =0A such. =0A =C2- =0A This will be initially to the Kit
=0A owners only. I will have to do supplemental testing to the control st
icks for =0A the SLSAs, but that should not take to long. =0A =C2- =0A
Please let me know thru the List =0A or my email and if we have got more
than 1 or 2 people who want it will make =0A it happen. =0A =C2- =0A
Nick =0A Otterback =0A Arion Aircraft =0A LLC
=0A=0A=C2-=0A=0A
Message 10
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: Removable stick option? |
Nick,
It sounds like a good option to me. I have a removable stick in my RV-7
and it is almost never in the control position and almost always in the
map pocket. I would make the exchange for the modified stick if were
available.
Steve Sundquist
Kit #48 (trying to get it painted)
On 1/2/2011 1:06 PM, flylightning wrote:
>
> Group,
>
> This is in regards to Bill's mention about a removable stick option. I
> thought I would start another post about it.
>
> How many people would like to see this? It is certainly something that
> our welding shop could make, it would be easy to retrofit and could be
> an option at initial purchase of a kit.
>
> If you are building a kit and had not flown or touched the sticks yet
> as far as construction goes, we could take it in exchange for credit
> towards the other stick. Not sure of a cost but give me a week and I will.
>
> Those who are flying would have to buy new, but I can find out how
> much to change your sticks, but I think a new one will be cheaper
> after shipping it back and forth and cutting it up an such.
>
> This will be initially to the Kit owners only. I will have to do
> supplemental testing to the control sticks for the SLSAs, but that
> should not take to long.
>
> Please let me know thru the List or my email and if we have got more
> than 1 or 2 people who want it will make it happen.
>
> Nick Otterback
>
> Arion Aircraft LLC
>
> *
>
>
> *
Message 11
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | From the sublime to the ridiculous |
Happy New Year to all. To kick the year off I thought I'd share my New Year's
Day flying experience which involved a cross country, a spell of glider towing
and the return flight.
First the sublime. New Year's Eve was a nasty day with 30kt north westerlies,
42 C temperatures and a number of grass fires in the area but I was relieved to
wake up to much cooler conditions on New Year. I rolled my Lightning out of
its Horsham hanger at 0830 local, fuelled it up and took off into a much more
pleasant 20kt or so of South Westerly. As you would expect with that wind, the
initial climb out was bumpy and visibility was poor with smoke haze until I
climbed out over the inversion at about 2600 ft. Then the magic began! The inversion
stretched dead level from horizon to horizon with the smoke haze trapped
under it giving the illusion of a smooth level surface with dark blue hills
rising above it in perfectly clear air. I climbed up to 5500, let the Lightning
ease into an economical 120kt cruise and relaxed back to drift along above
scattered islands in a magical misty lake.
Cruising along in a beautiful aeroplane over a magic landscape, the thought that
"I built this" playing around the edges of my mind, 160kt groundspeed on the
Voyager panel, bliss! To make it better, judging by the absence of radio traffic,
I was the only one up there.
All too soon the control area steps around Melbourne were looming up and it was
time to descend through the scattered Cu sitting on the inversion into the bumps
to land at Bacchus Marsh roll up to the gliding club hanger and switch off
the trusty Jabiru. That was 125nm, 50 minutes chock to chock, 22l avgas, views
only I saw. Beats driving any day.
Then to the riduculous. Well, perhaps ridiculous is a bit harsh, but towing in
a Pawnee is certainly a different take on aviation. For those who don't know
it the PA25 Pawnee is a tube and fabric taildragger with an O-540 Lycoming which
started life as a crop duster. It is almost totally without frills but it
excels at the task of dragging sailplanes to two or three thousand feet and getting
back to the ground in minimum time. Six minutes or so to two thousand
and back. Flying it is a total contrast to the Lightning. Ease the tow rope
tight then apply full power, the clattering and bellowing from the huge chunk
of iron up front batters at the headphones, concentrate on keeping it straight
and ease into the air, the guy on behind is not keeping station so often some
coarse control inputs are required to maintain the nose where I want it, a quick
check of airspeed, keep the eyes out of the cockpit, fly attitude, look around,
some days there are twenty or thirty sailplanes and another couple of tugs
up here. About this point I become concious of discomfort in my right leg,
there is no rudder trim and 250 HP, fine pitch prop in full power climb requires
a significant amount of effort to keep the ball in the middle, Pawnee leg
is an occupational hazard. About the time discomfort slides into ache the sailplane
releases the tow, power back, descending left turn to gain space, cowl
flaps closed, speed to 105, revs to 2300, look after the engine, eyes outside,
plan descent and circuit, aim to arrive somewhere near base turn without breaking
descent then power back, checks, slow to 65, glide approach, gentle three
pointer, roll in front of the next sailplane and repeat. To do all that twenty
times in a session is a significant task, to do it well each time is a real
challenge.
There are clear differences in the mechanics of flying the two aircraft, if you
tried to apply those control inputs to a Lightning you would have done a couple
of loops and several flick rolls. On the other hand the skills are the same,
look out, fly attitude, plan climb descent and circuit paths, look out, airspeed
control, land at minimum speed on your chosen spot.
One of the tows I did was for a father taking his son on the lad's first flight.
The lad came back with that special excited grin on his face and took the trouble
to come over and thank the tuggy and have his picture taken in front of
the Pawnee, a special moment.
The flight back home was more usual, staying low in the bumps to minimize the headwind,
but we still managed a respectable 110kt over the ground and decent arrival
back at Horsham.
What a great start to 2011. I hope you have a great one as well.
--------
Cheers, Selwyn
Kit 66
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=325385#325385
Attachments:
http://forums.matronics.com//files/rough_and_smooth_184.jpg
Message 12
| INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
| PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | Re: From the sublime to the ridiculous |
Great words and perspective on two types of flying machines, Selwyn. This
kind of thing is what I was getting at when I wrote the "Why I Fly" article
for the Final Thoughts section of the January 2011 Lightning Newsletter.
I suspect that you, like I, have never flown an airplane you didn't enjoy.
My New Year's Day flight was limited to the local area because of "delta
sierra" weather, but I did get to play among the clouds for about 30
minutes.
Blue Skies,
Buz
In a message dated 1/2/2011 10:22:12 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
selwyn@ellisworks.com.au writes:
--> Lightning-List message posted by: "selwyn" <selwyn@ellisworks.com.au>
Happy New Year to all. To kick the year off I thought I'd share my New
Year's Day flying experience which involved a cross country, a spell of
glider towing and the return flight.
First the sublime. New Year's Eve was a nasty day with 30kt north
westerlies, 42 C temperatures and a number of grass fires in the area but I was
relieved to wake up to much cooler conditions on New Year. I rolled my
Lightning out of its Horsham hanger at 0830 local, fuelled it up and took off
into a much more pleasant 20kt or so of South Westerly. As you would expect
with that wind, the initial climb out was bumpy and visibility was poor
with smoke haze until I climbed out over the inversion at about 2600 ft. Then
the magic began! The inversion stretched dead level from horizon to
horizon with the smoke haze trapped under it giving the illusion of a smooth
level surface with dark blue hills rising above it in perfectly clear air. I
climbed up to 5500, let the Lightning ease into an economical 120kt cruise
and relaxed back to drift along above scattered islands in a magical misty
lake.
Cruising along in a beautiful aeroplane over a magic landscape, the
thought that "I built this" playing around the edges of my mind, 160kt
groundspeed on the Voyager panel, bliss! To make it better, judging by the absence
of radio traffic, I was the only one up there.
All too soon the control area steps around Melbourne were looming up and
it was time to descend through the scattered Cu sitting on the inversion
into the bumps to land at Bacchus Marsh roll up to the gliding club hanger and
switch off the trusty Jabiru. That was 125nm, 50 minutes chock to chock,
22l avgas, views only I saw. Beats driving any day.
Then to the riduculous. Well, perhaps ridiculous is a bit harsh, but
towing in a Pawnee is certainly a different take on aviation. For those who
don't know it the PA25 Pawnee is a tube and fabric taildragger with an O-540
Lycoming which started life as a crop duster. It is almost totally without
frills but it excels at the task of dragging sailplanes to two or three
thousand feet and getting back to the ground in minimum time. Six minutes or
so to two thousand and back. Flying it is a total contrast to the
Lightning. Ease the tow rope tight then apply full power, the clattering and
bellowing from the huge chunk of iron up front batters at the headphones,
concentrate on keeping it straight and ease into the air, the guy on behind is
not keeping station so often some coarse control inputs are required to
maintain the nose where I want it, a quick check of airspeed, keep the eyes out
of the cockpit, fly attitude, look around, some days there are twenty or
thirty sailplane!
s and another couple of tugs up here. About this point I become concious
of discomfort in my right leg, there is no rudder trim and 250 HP, fine
pitch prop in full power climb requires a significant amount of effort to keep
the ball in the middle, Pawnee leg is an occupational hazard. About the
time discomfort slides into ache the sailplane releases the tow, power back,
descending left turn to gain space, cowl flaps closed, speed to 105, revs
to 2300, look after the engine, eyes outside, plan descent and circuit, aim
to arrive somewhere near base turn without breaking descent then power
back, checks, slow to 65, glide approach, gentle three pointer, roll in front
of the next sailplane and repeat. To do all that twenty times in a session
is a significant task, to do it well each time is a real challenge.
There are clear differences in the mechanics of flying the two aircraft,
if you tried to apply those control inputs to a Lightning you would have
done a couple of loops and several flick rolls. On the other hand the skills
are the same, look out, fly attitude, plan climb descent and circuit paths,
look out, airspeed control, land at minimum speed on your chosen spot.
One of the tows I did was for a father taking his son on the lad's first
flight. The lad came back with that special excited grin on his face and
took the trouble to come over and thank the tuggy and have his picture taken
in front of the Pawnee, a special moment.
The flight back home was more usual, staying low in the bumps to minimize
the headwind, but we still managed a respectable 110kt over the ground and
decent arrival back at Horsham.
What a great start to 2011. I hope you have a great one as well.
--------
Cheers, Selwyn
Kit 66
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=325385#325385
Attachments:
http://forums.matronics.com//files/rough_and_smooth_184.jpg
Other Matronics Email List Services
These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.
-- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --
|