ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

Hi Guys,

Just wondering how far any of you guys have went cross country in 2012? or even 2011?

just interested in seeing how far our maxes are migrating.


Dayflyer

wow not many miles being traveled huh.  WELL  if the weather works out, then I May fly a 410 nm round trip labor day weekend.   I have some planning to do.

Dave

I've done x country's several times but not in 2011 or 2012..  I may do another in the near future..

This has been a miserable year for me. I have only flown 17 hours since September 2011.  My longest flight during that time was 100 mile round trip for breakfast.

A combination of my breaking a bent landing gear last fall, miserable winter flying, a magneto problem in March then a broken piston in April have resulted in me still being on the ground.  Latest scenario was having the engine seize during the break-in procedure Saturday morning!  The engine is now back on the bench with at least a scored piston.  Rings may need to be replaced as well as honing the cylinder.  I won't be able to do a tear-down until Monday.

What a bummer year!  Typically I fly 70 hours a year and have at least one 500 mile trip.  My plan to do a Wichita to Liberal Kansas trip this September is now in question. The Huns are running havock around here!

I envy you guys who can fly at all!

Paul Fiebich

Paul,

Earlier this year I was having some engine issues but my engine is now running as good as a 447 can run, I say that graciously and carefully.

I am doing a little more work to tweak the aerodynamics, I believe it is causing some of the issues I don't like that are occurring.  I posted a couple of things,  that are not far off but not perfect either, I want them better.

Good luck on your repairs,  hate it that you seized up on the break in, oil just not rich enough or what?

Dave

It seems there's an engine virus. Mine started to show extreme high EGT temps again. My first suspicion is fuel quality. I should buy fuel from other gas stations, but  I also want to increase the  prop pitch. I'm getting 6800 rpm at take off which is supposed to be normal but I will like to reduce that to 6500.
The mechanic mentioned about some  Rotax factory engine set for colder weather regions, they come why higher advance timing, those engines in normal weather (75º F) develop high temps he says. Anyone heard about this before?
Meanwhile I need to stay away from these numbers when reducing top rpm to the low 5000 rpm's.....

yea I am getting 6100 rpms at best, my egts run about 1000 tops even on a high temp day, my chts run about 350-400 on a high temp day.

Hey Paul,
Got to wondering about you air bike pilots today and have a question: in your picture you are in shorts, what is your SOP when you are a few thousand feet up and some flying critter goes up those pant legs ?? lol

Being the prolific writer that you are that subject might provide the guys & girls (do we have any on here) with some really need to know information, if you care to share. Good subject for the Flying Stories section.

Gary

Hope that cross country will be to middle tennessee Harless. Want to see that plane in action in person.

Dwight (Skyblazer)

Hi Gary, I  hope this is the response you were anticipating.

Flying an open cockpit aircraft, such as the AirBike, where not only are one's arms exposed but their legs as well, can have its consequences. This is particularly true when wearing shorts as I usually do.

Spectators often ask "do you get bugs up your shorts".  The  answer is yes, but only the bigger and faster bugs make it through the spinning prop (if they time it right). Most critters that enter the prop disk on the fly, exit as mush or something similar to a coarsely chopped and well-cooked yellow cherry tomato. Unfortunately, much of that material gets splattered on my legs while some of it does enter my shorts where it gets blown all the way up to the intersection. As one can imagine, having a wriggling mass of dying insect in that area conjures up images of all sorts of bad things happening there.

Bugs that do make it through the prop intact, often impact my bare skin with the force of a thrown rock. It is not uncommon to have my shins showing numerous red dots resulting from these impacts. Those that hit right on a bone with only a skin covering are most painful.

Upon landing to re-fuel on long cross-country  flights, I  often have to wipe off my shins then do a jiggling dance to get the bugs out of my shorts, hence the origin of the term "shake a leg". It should  be noted that most bug encounters are between 10 and 100' AGL. Above 100', one encounters bigger critters; birds. Once a small bird did get disemboweled while passing through my prop disk.  Various foul remnants were smeared on my windshield and arms.  It looked as though someone threw a can of spaghetti at me! Disgusting!

Contrary to the above noted disadvantages, there is one significant advantage to flying  an AirBike with multiple exposed pilot appendages.

Raising an elbow allows cool ram air to thoroughly aerate an armpit, unfortunately this also results in tangles.

Additionally, we all have heard of flutter affecting a control surface such as an aileron or elevator.  Well, from experience I can tell you that wind whistling up a short's pant leg causes a type of anatomical flutter which can be quite pleasant if not downright exciting. It is referred to as having  an "airgasism". The sensation is limited  to male pilots and is one of the leading causes for them experiencing fuel exhaustion.  Pilots experiencing this type of flutter tend to continue the "pleasure flight"  beyond their fuel reserve resulting in off-airport landings. This is similar to an aircraft takingoff, there is a point at which commitment is made, after that, there is no return.  Once on the ground, the issue is resolved one way or another.

So there you have it, the pro's and con's of summer flying while wearing shorts in an AirBike.  Unfortunately, those of you who fly in closed cockpits don't know what you are missing. I hope this explains it well. However, once you have flown an AirBike while wearing shorts in the summer, you won't  go back to whatever else you flew.

Paul D. Fiebich
a.ka. AirBike Ace

Paul,
Loved the story. You came through again, as I expected you would.  Really did lol. Hope the guys & girls enjoyed the story and the sales pitch for the Airbikes.

Gary

Well guys, I think it counts but I have exactly 100nm flight planned for Friday Morning, I know its not terribly long but its a good practice run for the one coming up.

Dave

I am plannig to fly to Oseola Iowa over labor day to a flyin there which will be about 600 miles round trip but of course I will be flying the Tcraft.  I regularly traveled 200 to 300 miles in a day with the minimax... course it was enclosed.  Paul I have noticed your plane with big puddles under it... since I know it hasn't rained I couldn't figure out what they were.... now I know they are tears of an airbike that hasn't been flown.

Honestly it has taken a while before I would trust the rotax to go that far.

OMG.... Paul your such a character and an absolute great story teller....!!

even though some of it is slightly based on facts...........LOL

good luck with the repairs

regards Arthur