Saturday, June 5, 2010
Planes landing on whatever can be used as a runaway
found this on pilotsblog.com, it's worth watching :D.
Friday, June 4, 2010
The future of light aviation industry
Lisa Airplane presents the Akoya, a two seat aircraft capable of landing on water, snow and land !
Fly at 250km/h and only consume 5 liters for every 100km(62 statute miles), this is some serious competition versus cars. Only the most economical cars do consume a bit less or the equivalent !
But there is something even better. Combine ecology, speed, economy(obviously) with a plane. Lisa airplanes are now working on a project called the Hy-Bird.
Hybrid motorization: batteries and a fuel cell.
Maybe this is the future of light aviation, and I hope it is ! Fly cheap and fast (but buy it expensive), from anywhere to somewhere better.
Fly at 250km/h and only consume 5 liters for every 100km(62 statute miles), this is some serious competition versus cars. Only the most economical cars do consume a bit less or the equivalent !
But there is something even better. Combine ecology, speed, economy(obviously) with a plane. Lisa airplanes are now working on a project called the Hy-Bird.
Hybrid motorization: batteries and a fuel cell.
Maybe this is the future of light aviation, and I hope it is ! Fly cheap and fast (but buy it expensive), from anywhere to somewhere better.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
International Flight
External inspection completed, my instructor and I board the aircraft. We're going too Maubeuge in France, for some touch and goes !!!
propeller area...................Clear
Ignition switches................Both
starter..........................Engage
ACFT: << Carleroi Ground, OO-VNI, good after-noon >>
Tower << OO-VNI, Bonjour, go ahead >>
ACFT: << Charelroi Ground, OO-VNI, request taxi instructions for a VFR flight destination Maubeuge via Thuin. >>
the controller cleared us for the run up checks on our present position, and then told us to hold position, so that a B737 from Ryanair could pass... Nice...
Tower: << OO-VNI, you're cleared too taxi to Sierra 1, runway 07 QNH 1020 >>
ACFT: << taxiing to sierra 1, QNH 1020 >>
They cleared us for take-off.
The moment the aircraft first hooked up to the air we could feel it was going to be a bumpy ride. We lifted off.
At 500ft above the ground: fuel pump off, we turned right on crosswind leg and afterwards in downwind, to follow the route we planned towards Maubeuge.
I was fighting against the thermals, and I must say my stomach was too.
We leveled the flight at 2000ft and flew west for about ten minutes. We could barely see the airport, far ahead of us, that we started our descent too 1500ft, and integrated right hand downwind runway 05.
In front of us was a Robin DR400, and above us, several gliders were climbing up a thermal.
At 1500ft, I performed the downwind checks:
Fuel pump............ON
Carb heater..........ON
Fuel selector........Change
RPM.....................2200
Mixture..................Rich
Flaps.....................21°
The runway is 45° behind us, it's time to turn in base leg.
Throttle back to 1500rpm I kept level flight to 70knots and then started the descent.
Trimmed the aircraft and turned right away on final.
On final I turned off the carburetor heater so in case of a go around the engine would deliver all it's power... The runway is coming closer and closer, and my first touch and go too.
Full crosswind was tending too blow us to the right of the runway. We passed the threshold,
While fighting against the wind to get the plane on the centerline and flare for touchdown, my instructor helped me put the plane in the runaway axis, rudder to the right and stick at the opposite. This was really scary...
When the main gear touched down, I was paralyzed for a second , before I could actually put back the plane in take-off configuration...
I have to say, seconds in life doesn't mean much, but in aviation...
So back in the left seat: flaps up, full throttle, full rudder to the right, nevertheless, we nearly went off the runway, and i'm not exaggerating ! 60 knots, lift off...
At 500ft, fuel pump off and there we go again !
back at Charleroi !
thermals almost won against my stomach
I'm telling y'all
this was
the most emotional flight
of my life :D...
My dream just meters away, but years ahead...
I performed 3 touch and goes before setting back course on charleroi. I got sick during the return leg so the instructor took back the plane and I thank him a lot for that !
I now have 3H12 total time in the pa38. I love this aircraft !
Sorry I couldn't film but I haven't received the mouts for the camera. But next time I will for sure.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Showing my flights.
I have decided to buy a suction pad arm from RAM mounts, too record my flights !
It must be recorded with a Canon 550D in full HD. I'm sure I will be able to get some real good quality shooting.
But I am not sure when my next scheduled flight will be as I have exams coming up soon!!
Hope too bring up some stories soon in HD.
Oh! and I would like to thank my parents for buying me the material and making my dream become a reality!
It must be recorded with a Canon 550D in full HD. I'm sure I will be able to get some real good quality shooting.
But I am not sure when my next scheduled flight will be as I have exams coming up soon!!
Hope too bring up some stories soon in HD.
Oh! and I would like to thank my parents for buying me the material and making my dream become a reality!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Below the clouds
I looked out the window, and what I saw wasn't really rejoicing.
Dark gray sky, and at times this sky would give us rainfalls. I was anxious that my flight could be canceled...
An hour later, I checked the latest METAR and I let out a sigh of relief. It looked good enough for a nice local flight.
We arrived at the airport at 6:30pm and to occupy myself I went for a little walk. I was looking for a spot were I could see the planes. A few minutes later my Instructor was here,
after some time we started the briefing, during which time he informed me that we would be flying to the training area via Touhin, in the south-west of the airport which is not too far from France !
We headed for the plane...
OO-VNI - Pa38 tomahawk
I have 2 hours of flight on it.
Actually it has been elected, the nicest Piper pa38 tomahawk in Europe ! What an honor to pilot it.
As the Preflight walk around was complete, we got on the plane, and started to prepare for engine startup.
I'm just happy :)
Ok engine started moments later. I'm communicating with the control tower for the first time !
I hesitated a moment, and then started :
Me: "Charleroi Ground, Oscar Oscar - Victor November India good evening"
Tower: "Oscar - November India, Good evening, go ahead"
Me: "Oscar - November India, request a local flight of one hour, leaving the zone via Thuin"
...
The tower cleared us for taxi to "platform 5" for the run up checks. Afterwards, we were cleared to taxi to Sierra 4 runway 25 and then they cleared for take-off. The winds were at 070° for 6 knots.
This means we had 6 knots of tailwind. But there's nothing to worry about as the runway length at Charleroi is 2500 meters...
later on:
Full throttle...
sevral minutes later :
Me: "Oscar November India, Overhead Thuin, request to leave frequency."
Tower: "Oscar November India, frequency change approved."
Heading west, lights start to glow as the night falls slowly on the kingdom, as we pierce this calm air at 160 km/h, the engine seems to be roaring quietly.
Moments later the silence was broken by the ATC. I could see the Y formed by the intersection of two roads.
Here it is! Our training zone. Without delay we started to work.
I slowly raised the nose of the aircraft above the horizon and started applying gradually more and more throttle to reach 2300ft. Then I slowly pulled back on the throttle and let the airplane descend towards the ground for us. It was as simple as that.
But it wasn't long before it became harder...
We climbed to 2700ft and started some steep turns above the plain, I could feel the G pushing me into my seat as I kept raising the nose above what I could see of the horizon.
We lost 100ft...
Then I did an aborted descent, climbed back to 2700ft for some slow flight. And then a spiral descent back to 1500ft.
Thats enough for today we're heading back home...
Soon entering Charleroi's airspace
Me: "Charleroi Tower, good evening Oscar Oscar - Victor November India overhead Thuin request landing instructions."
Tower: "Oscar November India, copied, QNH 1012, enter left hand downwind runway 25 report on downwind leg."
My instructor: read back what the tower told us.
More and more houses are enlightened it's wonderful.
Me: "Oscar November India, entering downwind runway 25"
Tower: "Oscar November India, you are number one, report final runway 25"
Me: "Oscar November India, we will report final runway 25 (I forgot to say number one)"
...
Me: "Oscar November India on final runway 25"
Tower: "Oscar November India, cleared too land runway 25 wind 250° 05 knots"
Me: "Cleared too land runway 25, Oscar November India"
... life on the land continues ...
Dark gray sky, and at times this sky would give us rainfalls. I was anxious that my flight could be canceled...
An hour later, I checked the latest METAR and I let out a sigh of relief. It looked good enough for a nice local flight.
We arrived at the airport at 6:30pm and to occupy myself I went for a little walk. I was looking for a spot were I could see the planes. A few minutes later my Instructor was here,
after some time we started the briefing, during which time he informed me that we would be flying to the training area via Touhin, in the south-west of the airport which is not too far from France !
We headed for the plane...
I have 2 hours of flight on it.
Actually it has been elected, the nicest Piper pa38 tomahawk in Europe ! What an honor to pilot it.
As the Preflight walk around was complete, we got on the plane, and started to prepare for engine startup.
Ok engine started moments later. I'm communicating with the control tower for the first time !
I hesitated a moment, and then started :
Me: "Charleroi Ground, Oscar Oscar - Victor November India good evening"
Tower: "Oscar - November India, Good evening, go ahead"
Me: "Oscar - November India, request a local flight of one hour, leaving the zone via Thuin"
...
The tower cleared us for taxi to "platform 5" for the run up checks. Afterwards, we were cleared to taxi to Sierra 4 runway 25 and then they cleared for take-off. The winds were at 070° for 6 knots.
This means we had 6 knots of tailwind. But there's nothing to worry about as the runway length at Charleroi is 2500 meters...
later on:
Full throttle...
sevral minutes later :
Me: "Oscar November India, Overhead Thuin, request to leave frequency."
Tower: "Oscar November India, frequency change approved."
Heading west, lights start to glow as the night falls slowly on the kingdom, as we pierce this calm air at 160 km/h, the engine seems to be roaring quietly.
Moments later the silence was broken by the ATC. I could see the Y formed by the intersection of two roads.
Here it is! Our training zone. Without delay we started to work.
I slowly raised the nose of the aircraft above the horizon and started applying gradually more and more throttle to reach 2300ft. Then I slowly pulled back on the throttle and let the airplane descend towards the ground for us. It was as simple as that.
But it wasn't long before it became harder...
We climbed to 2700ft and started some steep turns above the plain, I could feel the G pushing me into my seat as I kept raising the nose above what I could see of the horizon.
We lost 100ft...
Then I did an aborted descent, climbed back to 2700ft for some slow flight. And then a spiral descent back to 1500ft.
Thats enough for today we're heading back home...
Soon entering Charleroi's airspace
Me: "Charleroi Tower, good evening Oscar Oscar - Victor November India overhead Thuin request landing instructions."
Tower: "Oscar November India, copied, QNH 1012, enter left hand downwind runway 25 report on downwind leg."
My instructor: read back what the tower told us.
More and more houses are enlightened it's wonderful.
Me: "Oscar November India, entering downwind runway 25"
Tower: "Oscar November India, you are number one, report final runway 25"
Me: "Oscar November India, we will report final runway 25 (I forgot to say number one)"
...
Me: "Oscar November India on final runway 25"
Tower: "Oscar November India, cleared too land runway 25 wind 250° 05 knots"
Me: "Cleared too land runway 25, Oscar November India"
... life on the land continues ...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
I did my first flight
After several years of waiting, my patience has paid off. I did my first training flight last week on a pa38 at Charleroi Gosseilies airport ! It was brilliant, I really loved it. We learned how to climb, descend and turn and I even did some steep turns !
So Tuesday 9th April 2010, my first training flight was scheduled as a student private pilot.
I checked the Meteorological Bulletin one last time before leaving. It looked good, there was more than 10kms of visibility(6.5 miles) 7kt of wind at 030° no gusts.
Elevation: 614 ft.
Runway: 07(66° ) length: 2550m
Runway: 25(246°) length: 2550m
We met up, my Instructor and I at the airport,and after having a drink we headed for the the tarmac, now in appearance from inside the briefing room it seemed like a peaceful day with nothing to worry about, but when we first stepped on the tarmac the wind was blowing really strong ! It was confirmed later at the holding point, 20kt of wind !
So after a long walk towards the Aircraft the OO-VNI we finally arrived and we immediately started the preflight inspection, my instructor explained to me in detail one of the most important phases before flying. Flaps were deployed so we could check if the hinges were OK, then the ailerons, the wheels, the presence of both shakers on each wing, the oil quantity etc... Later we boarded the Piper and started the "Before start" checklist.
That's pretty much all of what I can remember. lol
After this we turned on the radios and asked a clearance for a VFR local flight. Which has been approved of course! We are cleared to taxi to Platform 5 to perform our engine run up checks. When this was done we rolled to S2 holding point RWY 07 and reported ready for departure! and I misunderstood a communication, I heard <<Victor November India cleared Into position>>. And it was actually <<Victor November India hold position>> ! Anyways my instructor was in charge of the communication.He explained to me that I can only get three types of sentences at the holding point after asking for departure: Hold position, Line up and wait and Cleared for take-off. In this way there is no confusion possible.
I'm getting back to the story lol so we were waiting at holding point S2 for a Cessna 152 to land. Later on, when the runway was vacated we got cleared for take off.
Now this is how it goes: Oscar Oscar Victor November India you are cleared for take off, winds at 040° 20knots have a good flight !
Yikes 20 knots of wind !!! My instructor asked me if I wanted to do the take-off and I said of course ! I haven't waited more than a year an half to miss one of the best parts of the flight ! So There we go !
Full throttle ! After a short moment I had to apply a bit of rudder to the right due to the crosswind, and at 60knots I pulled gently on the yoke and there we got lift off. What a magical moment!! but rapidly my stomach realized that we were in really turbulent atmosphere lol but I'm not going to give up ! One year and half remember ? We climbed to 1500ft QNH and flew to Presles(point of transition) South east of the Charleroi airport.
Here is a chart for you guys:
At Presles we turned left towards east, and continued for a couple of minutes before heading north east to Namur, East from Charleroi. We climbed to 2100ft and then did a vertical terrain of Namur before heading for Gembloux, were we saw a farm of Geese. Then we descended back to 1500ft, and started doing some steep turns over some area north of Gembloux I think, I can't remember cause I was a little disoriented after those turns lol( hey for a first flight 45° to 50° of bank is a lot) :-) But what was surprising is, I maintained my altitude !
But rapidly my stomach started aching again and I decided to stop with the turns. Haha the rules of nature is way beyond the capacity of my motivation to continue flying(I guess you know why lol), we decided to return to Charleroi not because of my little disturbance but because it was time to go home. We headed west and flew direct to Victor(transition point) situated north of the airport. We soon got there and we integrated the left hand pattern for a short but sporty finale on rwy 07 there again I was in command but this time only partially, because of the wind the instructor helped me get this great plane on the ground, and we landed it really smoothly this was the second surprise of the flight lol. Fuel pump off we taxied to our parking spot, turned off the engine and everything else that could be turned off.
And later, we got off the plane. I spent 1 hour and 6 minutes in flight, this was one hour and six minutes of my life I will surely never forget.
I thank my parents for offering me the flight, and I thank the instructor for his precious help, and i can't wait to fly again, certainly in two weeks cause now, I have to bring good grades to be able to fly regularly. This was the point of no return(for the good grades and for aviation lol) I will never leave nor forget aviation it's in my veins. And it's clear I want to become a professional pilot, soon or later :-).
So Tuesday 9th April 2010, my first training flight was scheduled as a student private pilot.
I checked the Meteorological Bulletin one last time before leaving. It looked good, there was more than 10kms of visibility(6.5 miles) 7kt of wind at 030° no gusts.
Runway: 07(66° ) length: 2550m
Runway: 25(246°) length: 2550m
We met up, my Instructor and I at the airport,and after having a drink we headed for the the tarmac, now in appearance from inside the briefing room it seemed like a peaceful day with nothing to worry about, but when we first stepped on the tarmac the wind was blowing really strong ! It was confirmed later at the holding point, 20kt of wind !
So after a long walk towards the Aircraft the OO-VNI we finally arrived and we immediately started the preflight inspection, my instructor explained to me in detail one of the most important phases before flying. Flaps were deployed so we could check if the hinges were OK, then the ailerons, the wheels, the presence of both shakers on each wing, the oil quantity etc... Later we boarded the Piper and started the "Before start" checklist.
- Preflight inspect...........................................Done
- Parking Brakes...........................................Set
- Fuel selector tank........................................Less
- Master switch.............................................On
- Avionics and Radio.................................... OFF
- Mixture.......................................................Rich
- throttle........................................................Open 1cm
- Fuel pump...................................................On
- Magnetos....................................................Both
- Propeller.....................................................Clear
- Magnetos....................................................Start
That's pretty much all of what I can remember. lol
After this we turned on the radios and asked a clearance for a VFR local flight. Which has been approved of course! We are cleared to taxi to Platform 5 to perform our engine run up checks. When this was done we rolled to S2 holding point RWY 07 and reported ready for departure! and I misunderstood a communication, I heard <<Victor November India cleared Into position>>. And it was actually <<Victor November India hold position>> ! Anyways my instructor was in charge of the communication.He explained to me that I can only get three types of sentences at the holding point after asking for departure: Hold position, Line up and wait and Cleared for take-off. In this way there is no confusion possible.
I'm getting back to the story lol so we were waiting at holding point S2 for a Cessna 152 to land. Later on, when the runway was vacated we got cleared for take off.
Now this is how it goes: Oscar Oscar Victor November India you are cleared for take off, winds at 040° 20knots have a good flight !
Yikes 20 knots of wind !!! My instructor asked me if I wanted to do the take-off and I said of course ! I haven't waited more than a year an half to miss one of the best parts of the flight ! So There we go !
Full throttle ! After a short moment I had to apply a bit of rudder to the right due to the crosswind, and at 60knots I pulled gently on the yoke and there we got lift off. What a magical moment!! but rapidly my stomach realized that we were in really turbulent atmosphere lol but I'm not going to give up ! One year and half remember ? We climbed to 1500ft QNH and flew to Presles(point of transition) South east of the Charleroi airport.
Here is a chart for you guys:
At Presles we turned left towards east, and continued for a couple of minutes before heading north east to Namur, East from Charleroi. We climbed to 2100ft and then did a vertical terrain of Namur before heading for Gembloux, were we saw a farm of Geese. Then we descended back to 1500ft, and started doing some steep turns over some area north of Gembloux I think, I can't remember cause I was a little disoriented after those turns lol( hey for a first flight 45° to 50° of bank is a lot) :-) But what was surprising is, I maintained my altitude !
But rapidly my stomach started aching again and I decided to stop with the turns. Haha the rules of nature is way beyond the capacity of my motivation to continue flying(I guess you know why lol), we decided to return to Charleroi not because of my little disturbance but because it was time to go home. We headed west and flew direct to Victor(transition point) situated north of the airport. We soon got there and we integrated the left hand pattern for a short but sporty finale on rwy 07 there again I was in command but this time only partially, because of the wind the instructor helped me get this great plane on the ground, and we landed it really smoothly this was the second surprise of the flight lol. Fuel pump off we taxied to our parking spot, turned off the engine and everything else that could be turned off.
And later, we got off the plane. I spent 1 hour and 6 minutes in flight, this was one hour and six minutes of my life I will surely never forget.
I thank my parents for offering me the flight, and I thank the instructor for his precious help, and i can't wait to fly again, certainly in two weeks cause now, I have to bring good grades to be able to fly regularly. This was the point of no return(for the good grades and for aviation lol) I will never leave nor forget aviation it's in my veins. And it's clear I want to become a professional pilot, soon or later :-).
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