Mike Gearon

On 24/09/2020 at 9:22 AM, old man emu said:Ground speed will be (35 - 5 =30) kts, so you have to add power to get the airframe moving faster.

but....the airframe still has 35 knots of air moving over it and doesn’t care about the ground speed.  Compounding factor being the aircraft is moving down the runway wanting to slip into the windward side to maintain heading with roll countered by opposite rudder. This means extra power just to maintain airspeed because the pointy bit isn’t pointing the right way. 
 

Is this more related to the added power? 
 

 

I thought the higher speed was more related to extra command of the control surfaces. I guess the dipped wing and crab angle are bleeding speed. Also set up to float longer with the speed when you’d really like the ground and at least one wheel in contact with runway. Are any of us here good enough to run the plane down the runway on a single wheel? I’m not. That’d be a nice skill set for cross wind capability (IMO)

Giving up grain space for runway is relative to total planted. If it’s .001% and the farmer isn’t an x orchardist it’s probably ok.

On 9/22/2020 at 7:05 PM, Old Koreelah said:

Some of our farmer pilots might tell you the cost in (lost revenue) of leaving a strip of paddock uncultivated Is considerable. 

Who can afford a whole paddock?

Guess it depends if you farm grain or cattle. Cattle aren’t a problem for whole paddock landing and productivity. Except I guess keeping the runway short. Cattle also love new grass the best. Must be tastier when new shoots so they’ll intensively graze the mowed area anyway.

I guess what I’m saying is keep your main runway to prevailing wind direction mowed and otherwise just land in between the cattle on the less rough stuff. That’s my plan.

 

Practice

Several iterations (at altitude) in a Mooney 20E yielded average altitude losses in a 180° turn of:

360′ lost at 30° bank,

270′ lost at 45° bank, and

200′ lost at 60° bank.

The only certainty I’d have is that pulling the stick back kills you. That’s not an option. Only level or descending flight scenarios and 30 degree scan looking for the clearspot/ the softest friendliest looking spot (between the softest looking tree trunks).../ the spot that’s not putting other lives at risk. My paragliding instructor is telling me Taiwan trees are softer so I’m big on soft spots at the moment.

These without power obviously or not much point. What was air speed reduction

I’m going to practice these. Good idea. With and without power. Will do with CFI as plan.

It's tailwheel for sure but there's been plenty of these flying and they look basically a good structure, triangulated and good load paths.. Yeah I don't think you need the wheel spats. It makes pumping tyres difficult and mud a no no, as they can fill up with it and the wheel locks if you are unlucky. You'll get a bit of STINK from the exhaust location. till you get a bit of speed up. I'd be happy to fly one, (as long as the wind is not too strong) Nev

Another test pilot. I just know I’m not flying it until somebody else does. Hadn’t thought of mud or pumping air.

I’m keeping the Nynja as latest plan. Been a difficult journey for all of us through the covid crisis. Well, still of course going through it. Haven’t seen my wife in 8 months now and never been away so long. Good part has been how safe Taiwan is. Bad part not getting a dose of Australia. Started watching Rake on Netflix in desperation for some Australian accents. Bloody surprised how good it is. Well written and acted. Bloody stupid of course and that’s part of the fun.

Early in the year the plan involved monthly or even weekly trips to the Phillipines from Taiwan and flying quicksilver aircraft with a fun bunch of expats and locals at Angeles. Nights at the Clarkton hotel with pool, quality food and a sleazy nightlife on tap right out the hotel door. I’m pretty boring so tended to swim then work by the pool and finish up with great food and booze served to the pool side tables....happy wife, happy life!

Every few months back to Australia.

That didn’t happen. Just worked in Taiwan in the 2 companies I’m associated with and improving mandarin with 16 contact hours a week and 5 different Chinese teachers. Sort of saved my sanity and some female contact time.. each teacher is a character in her own way. Rounded out with foot and back massages by the gym lap pool. Happy wife, happy life as mentioned earlier.

The good part is my main business activities of exercise equipment and vinyl records are booked out into next year and both businesses right now getting capacity expansion by 50%. Mandarin is a bugger of a language. Always had get around Chinese but not fluent. Still not fluent, barely fluent in English. Written and spoken is haltingly improving. So, can’t complain too much or st all really compared to so much

However, looking forward to end October back to French island for 3 months.

Back the the Nynja. Was always convinced this was the right plane. Just unsure about everything else...Might upgrade to an A32 fuel injected Foxbat at some stage. We will see how the 3 planes settle on French Island. Will purchase the greenhouse mentioned elsewhere and minimal runway infrastructure to test all this.

Vince is happy I’m keeping his plane. Looking forward to catching up and meeting others from the forum.

The Quicksilver has been around a long time. The original was weightshift controlled and I flew one that was imported in to NZ in 1978 or thereabouts. It was nice to fly but a bit noisy. I think it had a single cylinder 2 stroke engine & at that time I was a purist flying hang gliders. The airbike just looks like fun. I like the idea of riding it like a bike with your legs on footpegs outside the fuselage.

So, we have a test pilot. Excellent.

I admire you, but you can fly that by yourself.

I’m not sure. I think it’s just the legs out instead of in as the point of concern. I have same concern. The quicksilver just seems safe because I’ve flown them. Like an armchair that slowly makes its way across the sky. This does look precarious. No copilot either. Solo is really solo from the get go.

I once had to free the body of a bloke off the gearstick of a Fergie which had rotated around its rear wheels as he was trying to pull and old car out of scrub.

 

Long, long ago there was a farm safety poster whose message was "Hitch high and die".

 

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I managed this once at 15 years old. Remember jumping on the clutch at a fair angle. 3 point linkage was in the up position. I could even take you to the spot it happened. Clyde north Victoria. It’ll have houses on it one day soon so I’ll have to show the house it happened at.

I'm a simplicity with functionality adherent too, Mike. I worked on degrees of automation in various high maintenance industrial settings, and we maintained a belief in the strong correlation between simplicity and reliability.

Maintenance staff at one of our plants even invented a name for it: "Tractor Logic", alluding to the old Fordson or Massey Ferguson tractors that you just turned on at start of day, and they kept going and going and going......)

You’re my guy then :) I’m daily in our record plant tinkering with automated plant.

Grew up on a farm with the little grey fergie. Can’t remember how many times nearly killed by it. Favourite method was the tie something to rear 3 point linkage and be surprised when tractor started to turn over. Makes sense of course. If the wheel can’t turn the tractor does!

Fair comment but then why have a spinner and spats of the main wheels. Neither are necessary & are there for looks and streamlining.

I’ll ask Pat :) Pat has 2 lake houses “as you do” and flew the quicksilver with floats between them. Cool guy. Same height as me and 60lb heavier so,the aircraft will work with my lanky frame.

I think,the answer is that they wanted to push the limits a bit. Still, this aircraft gets along at a fairly leisurely 55 knots. The quicksilver has almost 90hp. I was flying the, in Phillipines with 50hp. That’s going to be interesting. Still, I think around 50 knots. It’s all about open air and no rush.

I have always wondered why Airbikes don't have a bottom cowl half? I think it would look better with one. Is it to do with cooling airflow or is it just the rugged look?

I’ve reviewed YouTube videos on these aircraft. The designer was all about minimalism. KISS principle. I design product and I was watching video with one of the original guys talking about how hard it is to do simple. It’s way harder to design for simplicity. I’ve made a living trying always to blend simplicity with functionality. Most engineers I’ve worked with just keep adding bits. So, yeah, I think it’s the simplicity deal.

I was also talking with the owner today. He said that for the USA they have to keep ultralights under 65 knots. So, that’s also saying a bit less streamlining is a good thing.

I purchased this. My new buddy Pat is already putting the quicksilver in container. Can’t think of anything else that’ll fit in with a plane nicely other than another plane.

Anyone own one of these? I did a search and noticed somebody managed to crash one...

This is I’m told the best if the airbikes in USA. It didn’t sell at auction and Pat and I reached agreement at 10k. Not something I planned on. We will see. Will need tail dragged endorsement as well as finish LSA conversion when I eventually get back to Australia. End October booked and hope I can return and quarantine on French island.

Bold method also good.

The property you’re referring to used to have an airstrip. Quite a few properties did. I’d not be putting a plane down there unless no choice. Yes, I’ll post here when runway available and I’ll have to check legal implications. I’ll look around rec flier for info on this. Miss the old days when you just did it. Whatever it was.

I was in the 40’s if I Reiner

On my 2nd PPL navigation flight (~35hrs) to the never been before aerodrome (YOLA with narrow runway compared to YMMB) with the instructor, my landing was so bad (hard) that I offered my RPL licence back.

 

However instructor just tapped me on shoulders, smiled and said, don't worry you'll be fine:)

I like your candour. Another pilot I’ll get along great with. I had a similar experience on return from cross country solo. Was super tired coming in late evening for 3rd and final landing and ran the plane half off the runway. Got it back in the middle with a bit of persuasion. Didn’t flare enough and my big feet had been busy riding up the pedals over the long distance flights to be almost on the brakes. Double problem compounded by super tired.

Really upset and I told the chief flight instructor I’d managed the worst landing at his airfield in 3 months. He just said “I very much doubt that”It’s not that bad of you haven’t taken out a runway light and I’ve taken a few out. This was South Dakota so no Ozzie flight instructor implicated here...

Now I see why you can take the poles away. Will phone these guys tomorrow. Looks like a great option.

I was being flippant/silly-with options for controlling the throttle with your feet, freeing up your hands. ignore me.

 

Yeah I think you covered this before," essential actions not yet imprinted in his memory"

 

I wonder how many hours he was before solo ?

I was 18.5 hours of dual , I knew the aircraft pretty well by the time I soloed (last week) . went like clockwork, I think my heartrate was same as resting.

I’ll go with anything and try to make it work. :)

Maybe he spends a lot of time on a tractor. The throttle works the opposite way. Other wise I have NO idea... Nev

That’s a bit funny.

I talked to my instructor last week about this. This tractor throttle issue is not uncommon in teaching circles.

 

I like differential brakes. How about differential throttles for a twin? IE pull back on the pedal hoops with your toes.

I expect the thinking behind this is you’re braking or accelerating and can’t do both. I.e. pull back to accelerate. They each hold the acceleration set unlike a car accelerator. They are cancelled by braking. They aren’t touched by rudder control.

I think it’s easier to have the visual of hand throttles. Can feel or glance at them.

Back to frozen guy. Yeah, almost feel sorry for him. I do. Think one of those dogs that can ride a skateboard could have taken over as copilot and done a bit better through.

Thanks Oneshot. There are a few links to different ones I missed and notice now on review....Skim reading!

Shajen, yes and yes. All good. I’ve noticed in past endeavours. The best ones are shared. I’m hoping group trips, fly ins etc will be part of my future. This site probsbly or definitely good to organise. The quicksilver will be fantastic for slow open air flying around the islands as well.

We are in process of finishing up bnb on French island. Fly in will be part of its future.

Shajen.... I’ve been searching for greenhouses and little success on your style. The facts you have of 5 years and supports itself with the middle poles removed is really good. Would you mind sharing the supplier info..

Note...if all goes to plan I’ll have a runway on French island by December. Fly visit..

I move the runway all over farm. Here’s the latest. I plan on mowing and then adding soil to a strip say 10m wide. by adding soil I’m meaning just fill the odd low spots and not try to put in an all weather runway. Just a good weather flat (ish) surface with no surprises to either side.

It’ll just be a bit rougher either side and planes will have to bounce their way back to the middle is my thinking. There is a shed that’s quite large there. Height and span for aircraft would be a pain. I think the greenhouse is ideal. Can also then move runway to some other part of farm if it isn’t the right spot and move the greenhouse easily.

Yes, the poles in the front are only a guide for the door, and to provide support for the door in windy conditions. It is not supporting the hangar at all. Very simply undo 3 ties which attach to upright poles on each far side of outside edge of hangar (these ties are to stop wind flap), then lift out 4 guide poles and push the plane out. We live at the base of my Buller so you can imagine it gets all kinds of weather here and quite hot in summer, never leaked, split, torn, very happy with the whole product. I believe the fabric is called canvacon ? I do get a bit of condensation on the wing tops at times when it’s foggy.

OME windbreak turbulence doesn’t seem to be much of an issue, although I do tend to fly when there’s not much xwind. By the way, thanks for the advice re the fuel. Drums nearly finished so are considering not refilling it and just keep a jerrycan on hand. Whats a suitable way of cleaning out a drum so it can be used in a horse paddock?

Excellent. I’ll have both aircraft 1km from ocean when on the island..Info on condensation also good. This reinforces my rough plan to have an aircraft condom of something really light. Maybe just clear plastic and run a dehumidifier in each. Hose to dump water outside...Solar/ wind system so no cost/ energy renewables used.

Drums.... had a friend lost half his nose. Know we all know... still... worth reminding. Be super careful with empty drums. They are more explosive than full ones.

I also think it’s a bit uptight to get too carried away about a little fuel on the ground. However.... a degreaser squirted in or just soapy water might do the job. Wouldn’t be as much oil/ petrol on ground as a pressure wash of tractor.

True but the real problem is "creep". The problem is that "safe" is not an absolute,. It is a boundary-less term. When combined with "continuous improvement programs" there is real potential for the definition of "safe" to be moved to the ridiculous, which in turn leads to administrative overload and box ticking.

An example of this this is the "working with children/disabled" accreditation requirements. The presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of our justice system, was thrown out the window. Despite this, perpetrators are still working in these areas and hundreds of thousands are paying millions for an endorsement of their innocence. It is reduced to box ticking by bureaucrats and I have been unable to establish how many people have their accreditation refused out of the hundreds of thousands of applications.

Have a look at this video

I have an example of the opposite here. Living in Taiwan 15 years ago. Aircon install on 3rd floor. The guy tied a rope around his waist and tied it to the bedroom door knob. He felt safe I guess. Taiwan has become a little more strict. No longer allowed to touch the secretaries bottom for instance.

Maybe I’m a sample here.... haven’t been near the site in months. A bit excited now because I hope to come home late October. I hope to pick up the Nynja I purchased from Vince headling for a year ago. Even purchased the Bose headphones I’d been avoiding. Arrived in Taiwan last week. Purchased an ultralight. Ready for post covid adventure...

We push it out, turn 90degrees away from hangar before starting it. After flying stop again 90degrees to hangar opening, turn it around and push back in. Guess you could nose or tail in, we’ve always done it this way.

The hangar is augered into the ground So, in theory, isn’t a permanent structure. This is in case the councils ever start getting involved. The front is the door which rolls with a winder. There are guide poles that can be seen in photo that are removable.

they are from David Gill hothouses in Bagshot, Vic. Not expensive, and can be different sizes. Mines 6m deep and 10m wide.

good luck,

Jenny

I’m having trouble understand how you get it out. There’s no room it seems between the 2 uprights. Does the structure remain stable in that case during egress/ ingress when you pull the 2 or 1 of the 2 columns. Please note I’m prepared to feel stupid here... might be something obvious. I’m keen to know because I’m working right now on farm runways and temporary storage before pulling the trigger on a major hanger build...or not.