Post by Thomas E.Post by Alan BakerPost by Alan BakerPost by Thomas E.Post by Alan BakerPost by Thomas E.Post by Alan BakerPost by Alan BakerPost by Walter MyerYou simply have no idea how much fun it is to hop in an airplane>
Post by Thomas E.Post by Alan BakerPost by Thomas E.and>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>> go> >> wheeling
about in the> >>>>>>>>>>>> sky. I also have> >>>>>>>>>> about 3>
Post by Thomas E.million>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> commercial air> >> miles.
Those> >>>>>>>>>> were OK, but> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> nowhere near
the> >>>>>> pleasure> >>>> of DYI> >>>>>>>>>> aviation.
We have taken some very long trips. Pompano Beach, Houston, New>
Gulf Coast, Myrtle> >>>>>>>>>>>> Beach,> >>>>>>>>>> Atlanta,> >>>>>>>>
Memphis,> >>>>>> central>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> Nebraska> >>>>>>>>>>
(hunting), more. Any trip> >>>>>>>> in a small> >>>>>>>>>>>> plane>
Post by Thomas E.is worth> >>>>>>>>>> taking.
Look at it this way, if it was not enjoyable why have I been at it>>>
looking> >>>>>>>>>>>> forward to every> >>>>>>>>>> trip to> >>>>>>>>
the airport?
IT'S "done flying".
Who has: HH?
<https://www.google.com/search?q=cessna+152&espv=2&biw=1491&bih=870&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=LCBvVZNS0MuiBOeqgcAK&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ>>>>>>>>>
<https://www.google.com/search?q=cessna+152&espv=2&biw=1491&bih=870&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=LCBvVZNS0MuiBOeqgcAK&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=piper+cub+plane>>>>>>>>>
Post by Walter Myerhttp://www.bing.com/images/search?q=balsa+gliders+that+fly&view=detailv2&&&id=6C9F87BF3D1C16549A2B80E5C7A4BBD029991BD8&selectedIndex=2&ccid=iAuyB4Z3&simid=607987036916092082&thid=JN.2w%2fcmNLIOGFqCxPkXk5nwQ&ajaxhist=0>>>>>>
Flown both of those. Did my private checkride in N2871S, a 1968 150.>>>
tailwheelers.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=cessna%20150%20aerobat&qs=IM&form=QBIR&pq=cessna%20150%20&sc=8-11&sp=4&sk=IM3>>>>>
https://www.google.com/search?&biw=1680&bih=869&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=citabria+7gcbc&oq=citabria&gs_l=img.3.2.0l10.204899.209837.0.213667.12.8.2.2.2.0.221.649.6j0j1.7.0....0...1c.1.64.img..2.10.595.Fvw3_JG8jCU&bav=on.2,or.&bvm=bv.94911696,d.b2w&dpr=1&ech=1&psi=1m5vVfDOFYfvsAX3-YCIAw.1433366230271.3&ei=rW9vVZ-LA4jYtQWS5YO4BA&emsg=NCSR&noj=1>>>>>
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=gypsy+moth+airplane&FORM=HDRSC2
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=stearman&qpvt=stearman&qpvt=stearman&FORM=IGRE>>>>>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steen_Skybolt
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=c206+on+floats&qpvt=c206+on+floats&qpvt=c206+on+floats&FORM=IGRE>>>>>
wasn't a big> >>>>>>>>> deal.
And finally, this one that I got to ride in jump seat and right
seat>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>> >> >>> from here to LHR and back while
I was working for> >>>>>>>>> a> >>>>>>> company that> >>>>> owned>> >>>
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=gulfstream%20g4&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=gulfstream%20g4&sc=8-13&sp=-1&sk>>>>>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panavia_Tornado>
If I can get over to England again soon, I'd like to see if being>>
still gets> >>>>>>>> you> >>>>>> any> >>> >>>> consideration.> My GF
already got a ride in a> >>>>>>>> CF-18, so> >>>>>> I've got to> >>>
:-)
You know, flying is not for everybody. Some people just don't get
it.>>> >>>>>>> >>>>> >>> I> > get to take 12-18 year old kids on demo
flights all the> >>>>>>> time> >>>>> (6> >>> coming> > up Saturday).
Some are enthralled, some> >>>>>>> are scared to> >>>>> death,> >>> and
some> > just yawn.
Guess you would fall into the yawn category. I was enthralled, 48>
and to me> >>>>>>> about as>> >>>>> >>> much fun> > as the first one.
It just never gets> >>>>>>> old. I had a> >>>>> friend,> >>> recently>
Post by Alan Bakerdeceased, who campaigned a> >>>>>>> Vette on the SCCA> >>>>> circuit
for 35> >>> years. He> > was also a> >>>>>>> high time pilot, so it is>
Oh, I know.
Competition.
A need to concentrate CONTINUOUSLY.
So what. That's your thing, not mine. Except when I'm skiing.
But you're the one who tried to make your thing comparable, Thomas.
Your thing is EASY 99% of the time. Even simple aerobatics aren't> >>>>
hard>> >> provided you're not trying to execute them near the ground.>
attraction> >>>> that loops>> >> after you've mastered the mechanics?
The whole POINT of road racing is to push the limits whereas the> >>>>
ever> >>>> heard>> >> it?). You seem to understand this about skiing,
but you just> >>>> don't get>> >> it about road racing.
I get it because I've raced go karts on twisty road courses and cars>
watching> >> >>> the world slide by under my wings. It's not stressful.
That whole> >> >>> point, dickhead.
Hey great...
But you presented it as BETTER than motor racing, Tommy-boy.
"Go play with your little ground-pounding toys while I fly over you> >>
and> thumb my nose."
Perhaps you recall that?
It's a fine pastime, Tommy. Just don't try and tell us how very> >>
intense> it is. If it's intense: you've screwed up.
Furthermore, you grossly misunderstand the challenges that pilots see.>
Post by Alan BakerHere's one, and it's real life. It happened to me on 20 September,
1995.
You are 20 miles out from Memphis, in the clouds, daytime IFR, only
one> > in the airplane, and the alternator failure light comes on. A
quick> > glance at the ammeter confirms that it is not working. You
cycle the> > circuit breaker and the alternator side of the master
switch. The> > ammeter does not twitch, the alternator has REALLY
failed.
You have about 15 minutes of battery life with all the radios and
other> > equipment on you need for an instrument approach. It's about
15 minutes> > before Memphis Approach can get you to the runway on that
instrument> > approach. If the battery goes all the radios you need to
do the> > approach and talk to controllers will die. There no closer
airports> > with instrument approaches where you could divert.
You life depends on what you do in the next 5 minutes. What is your decision?
That would depend on other things you've left unmentioned. Such as, is>
it possible for you to get OUT of daytime IFR conditions. But one
thing> I'd do is shut down absolutely everything non-essential, and
even shut> down the radios between communications.
And then, I don't buy that you have only 15 minutes of battery life>
when your alternator goes if you turn off the non-essentials and limit>
yourself to a single radio.
Here is another from 21 November 1984. You are one a night flight at> >
8500 feet with the family in the airplane and a magneto fails. You are>
Post by Alan Baker125 miles from the destination and 200 miles from home. You still
have> > one good magneto, and the engine is running fine. What do you
do?
Make for the nearest available runway.
Here is another, 17 June 1994. You are going into a Chicago area> >
airport, deep inside the Class B airspace, and you lose radio contact>
Post by Alan Bakerwith Chicago Approach 5 miles from the destination. What do you do?
Just like racing, it's a mental game, and you had always better have a>
No. It is NOTHING like racing.
You're picking moments when things went bad, but they are the>
exception. In racing, you need that concentration ALL THE TIME; when>
things are going right.
Single pilot IFR in IFR weather demands a similar level of engagement
to racing. In fact, it's rated as one of the most challenging tasks
there is.
Bullshit.
Post by Thomas E.You MUST continuously pay attention to radio calls, one might be for
you, and they pop up randomly.
So you must listen.
Post by Thomas E.You MUST continuously assess weather, fuel, aircraft instruments,
altitude, heading, and plan at least 5 minutes ahead.
Wow. 5 whole minutes. What is the separation you're supposed to maintain?
Post by Thomas E.VFR is more relaxing, but there are no traffic cops or road signs up
there. You are on constant lookout for other aircraft.
Flying, done right, is as fully engaging as race car driving, with
similar consequences for errors. To do otherwise has killed quite a few
people.
Not even close.
Post by Thomas E.Here is my response to the Memphis issue. At the moment I left off the
alternator failure had just happened, and I did not know all the
choices.
You are in Class B airspace and cannot turn off all radios or the
transponder. Second, the battery might last 15 minutes, it might not.
If it fails your goose is cooked. The basic risk is that battery life
is unknown. We need to eliminate the consequences as soon as possible.
Actually, you're wrong. You can turn off everything if it is an emergency.
Secondly, by regulation, the battery must last a minimum of half an
hour while running all "loads that are essential to continued safe
flight and landing".
FAR Part 23 Sec. 23.1353
That's assuming you're in an aircraft that isn't certified (I refuse to
use the non-word "certificated") for a maximum altitude above 25,000
feet.
Funny that a pilot wouldn't know that.
Post by Thomas E.The best alternative might be to make a 180, head away from Memphis,
descend, and hope you break out and can find and airport. Not a bad
alternative, but not the best either. What are the bases in your area?
Are there radio towers out there? Are there other aircraft below the
clouds?
First, I called Memphis Approach and declared and emergency. Next
turned off the alternator side of the master switch. That removes the
possibility that something in that failed alternator circuit might
start a fire. That's why aircraft have split master switches.
Bully for you. Too bad you didn't know you were allowed to turn off the
transponder and the radios if necessary. And you DID know that leaving
one radio on only uses about 0.5 amps when simply receiving, right?
Post by Thomas E.Then I asked approach for reports on cloud tops and bases. As it turned
out, the bases were about 500 agl, and tops about 2000 feet above me.
Given the bases, I started climb to VFR on top. Next, I asked for the
nearest available airport with weather good enough for a VFR decent. I
asked for a turn to get out of the Class B ASAP, and headed for that
airport. Now, if all radios fail I can get to VFR weather, descend, and
and find a place for a safe landing.
Exiting Class B I turned off the master switch. That kills all draw
from the battery. I happened to have a battery powered backup navcomm,
so I used that to navigate to the airport. I could have found an
airport without it, but I carry one for my Plan B.
I also did not mention that this was a Cessna RG. It uses a battery
powered pump to lower the gear. That pump pulls about 30 amps. Very bad
for the remaining battery life. Arriving at the new destination I
lowered the gear manually, turned off all but one radio, turned the
battery side of the master on, and announced my arrival. Once down
safely I taxied to the local FBO and had the mechanic look at the
problem.
Bravo for you!
Post by Thomas E.The alternator bracket was broken at the engine block attach point. The
belt was shredded. It was an aluminum bracket, but the FBO had the
right welding gear. He got it put back together later that day.
Meanwhile I rented a car and drove to my Memphis meeting, arriving
about an hour late.
The point is to pay attention at all times, continuously assess the
risks, and be prepared to change the plan to eliminate risks from
in-flight systems failure. Do the right thing, if if it means you are
not going to be on time.
You didn't "pay attention" very well when the flight started, did you?
Post by Thomas E.http://flash.aopa.org/asf/single_pilot_ifr/site/html/index/SPIFR.htm
http://flash.aopa.org/asf/decisionmaking/
I think you can take the courses even if you are not an AOPA member.
I suggest that before you talk about flying that you actually take the
time to learn something beyond a few VFR joyride experiences with
trained pilot doing most of the thinking for you.
You were talking about just such flying while telling us how much
better flying was than road racing.
Post by Thomas E.I'm guessing that you will come back with a reply that the effect that
you already know all you need to know, and don't need to learn anything
else, case closed.
PS - I have enough racing experience to be able to appreciate the
concentration it takes. It is intense, and on a level comparable to IFR
flying. And, it's more physical. Flying takes less brute strength, it's
more of a mind game.
It is far more concentration than IFR flying takes.
Again, the idea in flying is to AVOID the situations that require
maximum focus at all times. In racing, you seek out those situations.
Post by Thomas E.If you don't believe me yet, ask a pilot to take you up in the clouds
on an IFR flight plan. Ask him to let you try to fly in real world IFR
without any help, including radio calls or autopilot. I think you will
find "routine" IFR to be FULLY engaging. I am guessing that you will
not be able to do it.
:)
LOL