All Things Aviation Related

[oldE]

One thing that blew my mind was the stall characteristics. Low power stall, the aircraft started trembling about 5mph above the speed where it just mushed down. No wing drop, just a design which wants to fly.
The full power stall was something else. As we climbed he pointed out the dropping indicated air speed, then as it approached 0, he pointed to the altimeter. It was still going up! I have seen stunt planes doing that but never expected to experience it myself.
Totally cool. At 6'2", I found things a bit cramped. I was happy to live with it.

Best
Les

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by oldE

One thing that blew my mind was the stall characteristics. Low power stall, the aircraft started trembling about 5mph above the speed where it just mushed down. No wing drop, just a design which wants to fly.
The full power stall was something else. As we climbed he pointed out the dropping indicated air speed, then as it approached 0, he pointed to the altimeter. It was still going up! I have seen stunt planes doing that but never expected to experience it myself.
Totally cool. At 6'2", I found things a bit cramped. I was happy to live with it.

Wow. I have never flown in one but I have heard great things about them.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

The 648 building is brand new

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/safran-announcement-hints-secret-lockheed-aircraft

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by oldE

I know there are a lot of pilots on this board, guys who have flown for years for work or pleasure. About 60 years ago I got the idea I would like to fly, but never scratched the itch. I had been up a couple of times in a Piper Brave (?), but was never in a position to have any instruction.
Last evening I did. I spent an hour and a half in the right seat of a Zenair 701 and got some instruction so I could change and maintain course and altitude . It was exactly as I had imagined it would be. In all truth, the airplane is happy to fly itself. For a completely novice aeronautical geek, it was perfect.
I have no delusions about building or owning my own airplane or getting a pilots' license. I don't trust myself to be detail oriented enough to stay alive, nor dedicated enough to stay with it.
I will however do it again sometime.

Best
Les

I'm at same stage, would love to learn to fly but costs in Belgium are much higher then in say the USA.
Also Belgium is also so small that to learn flying your constantly in between airports and zones you can't fly. It would be like learning to fly over NY State. I'm sure that happens as well but it's a lot harder then somewhere over Arizona. Steeper learning curve.

That combination If you ask Its not a good idea for a slow pay as you go tempo learning, it would be better to do it on a compact shedule, but that also means putting down all the cash in 1 go, and well I rarely have any to spare

I think at 46 i will pick it up slower then if I would have in my 20ies or 30ies. Not the theorie or anything but the muscle memory and routine and feel for the control lag, sense of perspective for altitude and what not. I flew a glider once as pax and that just felt weird, gave me the control and wanted to roll input nothing input nothing then suddenly it was to much.. it similar to driving car first time, but more .

My last issue is meds.. got very bad back and painkillers that would not be flight permitted at the moment. So far no luck getting rid of those.I can detox no sweat but the pain is near impossible to sleep with. And you can't go without sleep either.

So for me to fly I'de Need a good lottery ticket for cash influx and ability to free up lots of time and finally a lumbar disk fusing surgery

[oldE]

Stijn,
Your analogy to learning to drive was spot on. For the first couple of minutes my control inputs were too deliberate. I was trying to relax my grip on the stick, but my body was too tense. Then I shifted so only my fingertips were touching. Big difference. I remarked to the instructor how it felt like driving the Miata used to feel. Just think a direction and it happens.
He advised me there were big differences in controls in various airplanes. He used to fly and instruct in Challenger IIs, a high wing, fabric covered pusher propeller ultralight. He confessed that one time, after flying his Zenair for a couple of weeks, getting back into the Challenger II he landed immediately after take off to check for faults in the controls. He also mentioned the Challenger demanded constant rudder inputs. I suspect possibly due to the pusher configuration the disturbed air from the prop immediately hits the tail. Maybe someone with more experience/knowledge would be kind enough to set me straight.
As for traffic, I am indeed blessed. We were able to fly around for an hour and a half and saw only one other aircraft.
Check with a local flying club. At least get a familiarization flight.
Best
Les

[svandamme]

That was in a glider in France, great fun but while I speak French reasonably fluent i still have to translate inma head. and lack some vocubulary.
So the pilot let me on the controls, but I felt very unconfortable with his instructions as I had some delay on his instructions imma head + delay on the controls so It all felt very laggy.

Pretty sure its not something I can't overcome, but at age one does get a bit slower on the uptake for such things.
And I really want instruction in English (prefer that over Dutch ;I think English for many things, complicated things ; i'll think it english odd for a flemish native i know)

I really think I could get up and flying, but with most hobbies I wanna do it all the way properly.


I do not want to go in on a slow pace spread out over years to PPL because I don't think thats the right way. Timely practice is key for good instruction.
Especially since I typically don't learn by instruction but by doing.

Same with Shooting , you can't get really good if you only shoot 100 rounds a year.
When I was shooting , I was probably putting 4K rounds a year in , shooting every week. and it paid off.

Right now I can't commit enough time or money to do that kind of effort and consistency to learn to fly. Unlike shooting or driving a car, its harder to get your practice.. can't just decide on a whim to go for some flying, at home get in and take off.. it's not even as easy as deciding to go to the range in the afternoon for some shooting.

I don't do the fam flight for the simply reason I'll want more and will be in a jam that way.

Had booked and paid for a P51 flight (Robin Olds old bird) in 2020.. but Covid cancelled First attempt... and then the 2nd date: The weekend before my flight, they had engine problem, metal flakes and turns out supercharger had damaged and engine had to get rebuild
Now 22, they still havent got SCAT back airborn and owner is probably not going to do any further paid rides when it does get back

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by oldE

He used to fly and instruct in Challenger IIs, a high wing, fabric covered pusher propeller ultralight. He confessed that one time, after flying his Zenair for a couple of weeks, getting back into the Challenger II he landed immediately after take off to check for faults in the controls. He also mentioned the Challenger demanded constant rudder inputs. I suspect possibly due to the pusher configuration the disturbed air from the prop immediately hits the tail.

i would think that the Challenger pusher prop puts higher air pressures on the rudder
since it is non hydraulic powered control linkage.. would feel really heavy compared to a regular front prop plane?

And where a regular prop plane would have lighter rudder at slower air speeds.
The Pusher prop would still have heavier rudder at slower airspeeds if high engine power setting is high?

I can imagine thinking the linkage is binding when experiencing it at slow speed high power and aren't used to it.

[oldE]

I don't really know enough about the Challenger II. My neighbour has one he flies from a grass strip about a half km from me. I did not approach him for a flight as (a) he had a heart attack last year, (b) he doesn't have his strip mowed yet this year and (c) I am not comfortable watching him land. He comes in low and slow over the river. If he has an engine failure, he is going to make a hole in the river bank.
There are so many variables outside general configuration: control type, hardware, positioning of cables, pulleys and bell cranks. I suspect some aircraft fly in spite of their design flaws.

Best
Les

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by oldE

I don't really know enough about the Challenger II. My neighbour has one he flies from a grass strip about a half km from me. I did not approach him for a flight as (a) he had a heart attack last year, (b) he doesn't have his strip mowed yet this year and (c) I am not comfortable watching him land. He comes in low and slow over the river. If he has an engine failure, he is going to make a hole in the river bank.

Excellent!

I used to get asked all the time by a few gents if I wanted to go fly with them, share the gas.

Nope.

The one guy I fly with is a former Navy pilot and still carries that discipline into his Cub.

Duck! Sea Story ahead!

When I was the Chief Pilot at the Sikorsky Factory the first thing I heard when I checked aboard was that none of the LT's wanted to fly with the CO, who was, to be frank, an idiot.

I listened but was dubious. I thought it was because he was an O-6 and cramped their style.

About a month later, the CO and a young LT were scheduled for a hop in a UH-60L Blackhawk. At that time, there were generally a minimum of 15 brand new Blackhawks on the flight line.

The CO, the Aircraft Commander, got in the wrong BH and went flying!?!

The Sikorsky Operations guy runs into my office and gives me the news. The first thing I ask is, "is the aircraft in 'Up' status"?

Thank god it was. I get on the horn and tell the CO he has an important something or other he needs to attend to and he needs to get back to the factory.

After that, the only folks who flew with him were the XO a CDR, a USMC Major, and me, a LCDR, for the next year until his Change of Command.

It sucked.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by oldE

He comes in low and slow over the river.

[pavulon]

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by john70t

ai caramba that could have been way worse

[john70t]

Indeed!

[oldE]

Yesterday, Ward Carroll posted a biography of Robin Olds on his channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWMYICWrFuw



The story of the man's life almost reads like fiction. An amazing guy.
The only goof I could see in Ward's telling was he identifies the vessel Olds shipped over to England in 1944 as the Queen Elizabeth II. He even has a pic of that vessel. (The reference to II has since been blanked, but the pics are still of the newer ship) Unfortunately that ship wasn't built for another couple of decades. It was the first Queen Elizabeth, which served as a fast troop transport during the war, along with her sister ship Queen Mary.
Here's a pic from the video:


Here's the ship Olds sailed and thousands of other servicemen and women sailed on.


Have a watch. It's a well told story.
Best
Les

[Sarc]

[edgemar]

Anti-Radiation Missile?

[john70t]

For sale
https://silodrome.com/p-51d-mustang-fighter-plane/

[GH85Carrera]

I guess if ya gotta ask the price, ya can't afford it. ^^^^

[john70t]

Meh, less than a NYC condo.

$9M will get you a full four-engine bomber
(they used to use them for sea scouting and water drops):
https://silodrome.com/boeing-b-17-flying-fortress-project-plane/



Price has gone up from $36K
Boeing B-17 aircraft for sale, airplane photos and information. Welcome to John 2031.com All about aviation and stuff that really matters

[RNajarian]

As a point of reference . . . in 1958 $26,000 would be equivalent to $263,000 in 2022 dollars.

Still a deal . . .