OP
- Thread Starter
- #101
Example Weight and Balance calculation:
http://members.goldengate.net/~tmrent/soar/docs/135/Wb1a.jpg
http://members.goldengate.net/~tmrent/soar/docs/135/Wb1a.jpg
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Soaring
- Thread starter RayDunzl
- Start date
NIce, bet you're looking forward to getting her in the air!
But, looking at your avatar and the new svelte you, you changed your glasses!
But, looking at your avatar and the new svelte you, you changed your glasses!
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OP
- Thread Starter
- #103
Yes, I've been thinking about how to improve things, before even sitting in it with the cushions that are made for it.
Wednesday I'll sit in it.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #104
In a couple of months, maybe.
Not anxious. Step by step.
Just had to take the deal that presented itself.
Wise man. My uncle and brother, both accomplished pilots, had some horror stories about beginners who bought "over their head" and crashed their new planes. Some walked away, some did not...
OP
- Thread Starter
- #106
The club provides a somewhat "casual" training environment, not like a school where you might be or feel pressured. They give flight lessons, you're pretty much on your own for the ground school/book part.
I feel real comfortable with the way it's going. Spend a good amount of time there, talk to everybody and listen to their stories and advice,
In my mind, I budgeted a year to get a license, which might happen in September, which would be about seven months, if I can get my nose into the books a little more to at least pass the written test. The DPE is scheduled to make a visit sometime in September for practical tests.
I didn't expect to have a suitable plane fall into my lap quite yet. Maybe Karma rewarded me for the work I've put into the operation. I always go for the day, get things set up, launch and recover others, whatever comes along that needs doing. Such is life.
Others might show up mid-day, want a lesson, be gone.
---
The seller is a Chiropractor. He has some sort of Covid outbreak happening at his office (he was on the phone for an hour Saturday).
I asked if he is vaccinated, he said "No, I'd rather get it and develop the natural immunity". Mask? No.
Hmm... Maybe I'd best get his signatures on the paperwork soon. Real soon.
---
Actually, my instructor approves of the deal, so I've got that going for me, which is nice.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2016
- Messages
- 20,758
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Natural immunity sometimes results in total immunity to everything including life. Yeah, I'd get those papers pronto.
Nice looking aircraft you are getting there. I'm happy for you.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #108
Life intervened a bit, but I've gotten 4 flights in my plane now, for a total of four hours and 37 minutes...
Landings were successful but a bit shaky, glad to have a lot of runway, which is still in process of being extended.
November weather is sketchy, overcast and windy is common, so not many good days.
I lost some weight so have to sit on 23 pounds of ballast. Bought some exercise strap-on weights and put three under the seat cushion - $30 regular price (Amazon) for a fifteen pound strap-on pair, twice buying "returned and good as new". Looks like the exercise noobs buy them, find them too heavy, and return, so four strap-ons (30 lbs) for $13 a pair.
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My Instructor got T-boned by a semi on the driver's side leaving the the airport about two weeks ago. He might get out of the hospital tomorrow - he's 73.
Good thing he had a newer vehicle with all the airbags.
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The plane is a bumpy ride on the grass - the main wheel is about 12 inches in diameter and there's no suspension.
The cockpit is tight, my head only has an inch of clearance, so have to scrunch down a bit during the bumpy parts.
It flies well, I like it well enough, might have had the long flight of the day last Wednesday at two hours. I was the last one down.
I'm still staying close to the airport, particularly with the sketchy weather, but trying some longer glides.
Wednesdays track:
Towed to 3000 feet, caught some lift to 4000, then no luck (or no skill) staying up and headed back toward a landing. Caught lift at 1500 feet and rode it to 4600, which was the cloud base, higher not possible, so ended up with a nice late afternoon flight as the thermals dissipated toward evening.
Landings were successful but a bit shaky, glad to have a lot of runway, which is still in process of being extended.
November weather is sketchy, overcast and windy is common, so not many good days.
I lost some weight so have to sit on 23 pounds of ballast. Bought some exercise strap-on weights and put three under the seat cushion - $30 regular price (Amazon) for a fifteen pound strap-on pair, twice buying "returned and good as new". Looks like the exercise noobs buy them, find them too heavy, and return, so four strap-ons (30 lbs) for $13 a pair.
---
My Instructor got T-boned by a semi on the driver's side leaving the the airport about two weeks ago. He might get out of the hospital tomorrow - he's 73.
Good thing he had a newer vehicle with all the airbags.
---
The plane is a bumpy ride on the grass - the main wheel is about 12 inches in diameter and there's no suspension.
The cockpit is tight, my head only has an inch of clearance, so have to scrunch down a bit during the bumpy parts.
It flies well, I like it well enough, might have had the long flight of the day last Wednesday at two hours. I was the last one down.
I'm still staying close to the airport, particularly with the sketchy weather, but trying some longer glides.
Wednesdays track:
Towed to 3000 feet, caught some lift to 4000, then no luck (or no skill) staying up and headed back toward a landing. Caught lift at 1500 feet and rode it to 4600, which was the cloud base, higher not possible, so ended up with a nice late afternoon flight as the thermals dissipated toward evening.
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OP
- Thread Starter
- #110
I don't have a picture of me in it, but here's the Test Flight after its refurbishment and fresh annual, back on August 11.
The pilot is the mechanic that inspected and signed off on the work.
He's about my height, so you can see it is a snug fit.
That's without sitting on the ballast and the thicker firmer seat cushion now installed.
It flies.
The tow rope is 200 feet long, so the perspective is a bit squashed here.
The pilot is the mechanic that inspected and signed off on the work.
He's about my height, so you can see it is a snug fit.
That's without sitting on the ballast and the thicker firmer seat cushion now installed.
It flies.
The tow rope is 200 feet long, so the perspective is a bit squashed here.
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MRC01
Major Contributor
Nice. With all those circles, you're getting good coordination practice keeping your feet busy.
I did some flying today too.
First, get out of Seattle out to Forks for lunch, with some great mountain and ocean scenery along the way.
Then, fly along the coast and stop for fuel (something your glider doesn't need)
That little jog out in the ocean was to fly by a little island with a lighthouse & research station. Probably a bunch of PhDs living out there studying whales or whatever.
Then a flight more or less direct back home.
I did some flying today too.
First, get out of Seattle out to Forks for lunch, with some great mountain and ocean scenery along the way.
Then, fly along the coast and stop for fuel (something your glider doesn't need
)That little jog out in the ocean was to fly by a little island with a lighthouse & research station. Probably a bunch of PhDs living out there studying whales or whatever.
Then a flight more or less direct back home.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #112
It's not too hard to stay up.
The puffy cloud days with just a little breeze are the easiest.
I think Springtime was good here. Too much humidity (Summer) makes the clouds lower.
One fellow did over five hours on a completely cloudless (no clues in the sky where the lift is) day.
The day I posted above was a bit windy - you can see that in how most of the circles drift from east to west.
Is that sand ballast? What about lead sheet. It must be available somewhere. 1/4" thick and line the seat with it and maybe you gain another 1" or more in head clearance.
I know that area a little. I used to go from Canada to near there with the wife for a ocean drive and stop for clam chowder/lunch/dinner at a quant little owner operated restaurant over looking a gorge. That area makes for a great outing and it's a great drive. The view from a aircraft must be wonderful there along the coast @ Olympic National Park.
I count ~105 circles!
That must be a hOOT. I've never flown in anything smaller than a twin engine float plane out over the Straight of Juan De Fuca and that was a gas if not too foggy so we where down low. I rode motorcycles and pilots told me that's as close to flying as a person will get while on land and that is a gas so flying must be a really huge gas.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #115
I figure little bags of steel shot that fit into pockets, so you can adjust your training weights.
3/8" by 12" square is 24 pounds for $67 plus shipping...
I'll think about it, though I'm gaining some of what was lost back again...
Cool. Get it while you can, lead might be prohibited one day...lol
Where you sick for awhile?
GeorgeWalk
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2019
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- 792
MRC01
Major Contributor
Back when I flew R/C gliders I would follow the big birds: vultures, eagles, etc. They are experts at finding thermals and other kinds of lift. Flying prop airplanes we avoid birds, but perhaps it is not unsafe in a glider as there's no prop and you're not moving much faster than the big birds.
Any place under or behind the seat for ballast?
Hope your instructor is OK, that sounds scary.
Hope your instructor is OK, that sounds scary.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #120
