4 minutes ago, Old Koreelah said:

I have a vague memory of hearing about that automatic flap on top of his cowl. Is it to improve cooling while parked on the ground?

Yes, I think we discussed that here some time ago.  It's his own design; it opens automatically on the ground to let some of the heat escape from the engine bay. He writes about it in his blog somewhere:

http://speedjojo.blogspot.com/p/accueil.html

15 minutes ago, facthunter said:

PNG is more about the weather. THAT strip is far more challenging than anything I've seen in PNG. Nev

I think it's safer than many I've seen in PNG.  A go-around even at the last second is always available; no mountain wall, just plenty of air and gravity assist.  Turning base and final in and around ridges is very PNG-like. But at least La Salette offers the opportunity to bug out left or right if the sight picture is looking crook on final. 

Yes, Nev, but that kind of flying - those kind of skills - is your ordinary day at the office for pilots flying, say, Level 3 charter in PNG.  They're skills which must be  obtained by new starts before they're let loose on the Owen Stanleys and similarly challenging terrain. But many private pilots too, can and do fly the mountains safely. As Peuzin says, you need to be methodical in your risk management, starting with an "in-depth knowledge of flight mechanics" as Google puts it - and which kind of covers it.

26 minutes ago, facthunter said:

I notice there's not a breath of wind but there wouldn't want to be.  Nev

Yes, no wind in that last vid. from 6 years ago.  But did you see the second film in the original post?

It's called "Cross-wind at La Salette".  But then Peuzin, himself, commented to camera after that circuit

that he didn't think it "prudent" to have another go.

In another of his La Salette films he admits to being a bit obsessed by its challenges.

However, for those of a mind to label his videos "irresponsible" he mounts his own defence in the Description:

[Per Google Translate]

"I do not wish in any way to contradict the academic message of training from official organizations nor to “push to crime” by the supposed bad example given to young pilots. I think everyone is big enough to know their limits.  Finally, although I am a captain in commercial aviation, that does not make me a reference for mountain flying. I just want to shed new and perhaps questionable personal light, based on my experience of mid-mountain flight on wheels (snow on skis is another matter), my in-depth knowledge of flight mechanics and finally the management of the risk that I practice daily as an airline pilot. This first video presents the best example of my "neurosis" by its spectacular aspect, but it also shows the methodical nature of the approach.  My next videos will be less spectacular, they will stay in in an educational register to expose my theory on the main and subsidiary risks by land and how to manage them."

(This has no subtitles but we get the picture.)

13 minutes ago, sfGnome said:

Well, he’s a braver man than I. How do you abort a takeoff on that strip? 😳

Yeah, I guess you don't ... you just settle in for a leisurely glide down to one of the valleys below.   ;- ) 

But Fred Peuzin, the pilot owner of the Jodel (and airline pilot by trade) is well used to this strip.

His uncle even gets into La Salette, without problems in his little Skyranger.

This vid from 6 years ago shows the strip in nicer WX:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db4C3-wZr20

22 hours ago, Neil_S said:

BTW - if you do already have ADSB OUT then don't waste over $1k buying a Skyecho and turning half the functionality off, just buy a PingUSB ADSB IN device from uAvionix for under $400 (under $200 with rebate). All it needs is a small USB powerbank to power it, or connect it to your power accessory slot, and it displays the ADSB IN on your AVPlan/OZRunways. 

Neil, I'd have guessed that the Ping being IN-only would not qualify for the rebate.  If that's the case, then I suppose you may as well go for the SkyEcho2 because you get IN and OUT for a similar price. (with the rebate). You can always switch off the OUT function when needed, plus, the SE2 being portable could come in handy when you switch to another aircraft, for instance.

With english subtitles:
 

From the channel's  'About':

"The light aircraft in question in this blog is a Jodel DR-1050 MV Sicily Record F-PKPL,

powered by a 100 hp Continental O-200 driving a Ratier propeller. Although this plane was designed in 1959,

it still performs very well today, since it can reach a cruising speed of 210 km/h (factory plane).

It is a 2+2 seater, with an empty weight of 460 kg, and a maximum take-off weight of 780 kg.

It was built by Pierre Peuzin between 1985 and 1993.... The rest of this presentation on this link:

http://speedjojo.blogspot.com/p/accueil.html"

On 23/05/2023 at 11:01 AM, facthunter said:

If I had my way it would only be correct ONCE a day. Nev

Here ya go! 

To me, it's interesting that big investment continues to go into new alternative-fuel ICEs just as unleaded petrol is coming online.

I wonder at the business model but it must make sense, somehow.  

According to the article "according to the company" there's significant interest from the military and also from "kit builders".

It'll also have to compete with the new similar sized, similar priced (?) turbines using the same fuel - and maybe not all that much more of it per mile.  

Meanwhile, back at birds, it's a lot of fun when our fellow flyers are friends not foes:

You're young enough to wait for universal ADSB to become a thing.   ;- )

BTW, how's that anti-collision app of yours coming along?

And, just to be sure, the BRS as well.  ;- )

Unfortunately, I've never had cause to think that one through.

Do you have both an AP and BRS, CC? 

What are your current strategies?

Yeah,  I also have a small placard in front of the pax seat with very simple reminders of the 2 step chute procedure. 

Red switches OFF. Red handle PULL.

But I'd also make sure they know how to call for help and certainly how to operate the PLB.

And, yes, I'd expect them to be able to keep the blue side up until they're ready to pull.

2 hours ago, facthunter said:

That should fix the passenger problem . They'd be out the door. 

Yeah, they might be.  But any pax aboard a non-certified with a senior(for)captain does well to be a bit more prepared and capable than otherwise. Even RPTs have extra briefings for Exit Row pax which could frighten the faint hearted.

20 minutes ago, Carbon Canary said:

An open question……

 

What would your passenger do if you as pilot had a ‘medical episode’ and became incapacitated……and do you include anything about that possibility in your pre-takeoff brief?

Yes, given recreational aviation's demographics, that's probably important for many of us.  For me it'd include:  Try to get straight and level, steer away from immediate hazards; As needed use the radio (like this); and when ready, the BRS parachute - first step: these ignition switches OFF,  hold her straight then pull red handle - hard, then operate the PLB (like this). Also, use the Emergency app on your phone to call in your lat long (or What3words) position.  BTW my own phone's access code is XXXX.

46 minutes ago, Old Koreelah said:

The prevailing assumption seems to be that as they notice your plane approach, birds drop to avoid you.

If you can, make sure your screen is polycarb, or some material of similar impact resistance.

Yes, I suppose it's a fight or flight thing.  And many territorial raptors seem ready for the fight even against way bigger intruders.

My guess, going frame by frame in this video (around 01:45) is that it's some kind of hawk on a frontal attack intercept (talons first).

In any case, impact resistant eyewear for pilots might be the go.

It looks like the mode you often see in drone/RC attacks.

or against paragliders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGzzSIZvA40

Yeah, you've gotta hope they don't decide to zig just as you do. Or that the wedgie hasn't got you in its sights - the rival who must be repelled.

It was a miracle that Mike Greenwood (story previous page) survived his encounter. Good on him for not giving up. What an epic struggle!

He didn't know at the time that, in fact, he had no serious structural damage. But his (temporary) loss of all vision must have seemed just as bad at the time.

Everyone (who has the option) has to balance out the airframe parachute pros and cons for themselves. 

And for some it might be the fear of birds that tips the scales.   

35 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

Most drivers asses their skill level to be above average. //

...  just check out the driving standards displayed, by you're fellow motorist's ... it's appalling!

Anyone who agrees with you, Skip, is clearly in that 'most drivers' category.   ;- )

Lake Wobegon effect

WWW.OXFORDREFERENCE.COM

---

A tendency for most people to believe that they are above average in intelligence, sense of humour, diving ability, and similar traits. Although the effect arises from a self-serving bias, the widespread belief that it...

QUICK REFERENCE

When it comes to big bird strikes in the Aussie skies, this story is right up there.

Mike Greenwood survives a bird strike & lands safely

MERITAVIATION.COM.AU

---

Mike relives his amazing bird strike story for us and shares how he managed and survived, and how his dog Bobby kept him calm.

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2016/aair/ao-2016-001

And in this episode of the RV7 trip video series "Australian Adventure" they tell of hearing Mike's Mayday call on Melbourne Centre

while airborne near the SA/VIC border (around 450NM from the action between Mudgee and Bathurst).

5 hours ago, Jerry_Atrick said:

Booo! 😉

 

Cessna's a great aircraft..

Jerry, I don't think Onetrack was suggesting otherwise; only that the daily news can be trusted to get the "Cessna" part of the story right this time. 

I gather it's because as a practical working (or playing) aircraft it's not much use ... built just to break a record (like Campbell's Bluebird), to experiment with the tech and to attract publicity. As the guy in the film says those battery cells have already been superseded.

Built just to break the record, it's now destined for the Science Museum.

(Its batteries are already last gen.)

YT description:

"Recording an eye watering 345 mph, the Accel Plane is officially the fastest electric vehicle on the planet! Before it retires to the Science Museum, Imogen and Robert wanted to meet the team from Rolls Royce, Evolito, Yasa and Electroflight to find out how they've made electric flight take off! From axial flux motors, advanced cooling and packing staggering amounts of torque - this plane is choc-a-bloc with astounding technologies that are paving the way to mainstream electric aviation."