fiebichpvAugust 30, 2018, 5:29pm
Ah, I needed that
Like many of you, I too fly for pure personal enjoyment most of the time. Last evening was one of those times when the stars and moon aligned producing good flying conditions. The wind was 8 mph and temperature came down to 85 degrees.
Given our recent slate of bad weather consisting of high winds, gusts, rain, and a muddy hangar road, I have not done any flying since returning from AirVenture plus another week of vacation.
All that changed last evening; it was time for a pure pleasure flight staying under 1000 feet AGL. The combination of 3000' density altitude and my personal body weight continuing to climb made for a little longer take off run than usual from the sod runway. And the climb out was a little slow too. But, soon I was at 1000' and enjoying the nearby scenery. Unfortunately, long distance viewing was hampered by the haze of humidity and most likely smoke from the fires in the western U.S. that blow our way.
All I did was just fly for an hour... making passes over four other local grass runways and circling a friend's farm. Although the wind was higher at that altitude, it was constant with no bumps. Some hands-off flying could be done, directional control was initiated by sticking one arm out sideways to turn, leaning out of the cockpit increased the bank angle. Leaning forward or backward controlled pitch. Nothing quite like being "one" with the airplane!
A couple of photos taken while climbing for altitude and some taken at ground level around the hangar are worth sharing. The contoured fields display windrows of drying hay waiting for baling. Another plane has joined the hangar, a Luscombe purchased from a pilot in Michigan now joins me and the Piper Comanche 250. The Luscombe flies more than I so it has priority closest to the door.
After wiping the bugs off my AirBike (and those on the back of my helmet), refueling, and pushing it into its parking place, I walked to my truck and a drive home. Before driving away I took the photo of the setting sun lowering itself behind a row of Osage Orange trees bordering a soybean field. It was a beautiful brilliant yellow contrasted against the blue sky, and green foliage.
It was such a satisfying flight and evening shared with other pilots that I wanted to share it with members of the Buzzards Board.
BTW, my article describing this years's experiences at AirVenture has been sent to Powered Sport Flying magazine. Hopefully it will be published before the year is out.
Paul D. Fiebich
Like many of you, I too fly for pure personal enjoyment most of the time. Last evening was one of those times when the stars and moon aligned producing good flying conditions. The wind was 8 mph and temperature came down to 85 degrees.
Given our recent slate of bad weather consisting of high winds, gusts, rain, and a muddy hangar road, I have not done any flying since returning from AirVenture plus another week of vacation.
All that changed last evening; it was time for a pure pleasure flight staying under 1000 feet AGL. The combination of 3000' density altitude and my personal body weight continuing to climb made for a little longer take off run than usual from the sod runway. And the climb out was a little slow too. But, soon I was at 1000' and enjoying the nearby scenery. Unfortunately, long distance viewing was hampered by the haze of humidity and most likely smoke from the fires in the western U.S. that blow our way.
All I did was just fly for an hour... making passes over four other local grass runways and circling a friend's farm. Although the wind was higher at that altitude, it was constant with no bumps. Some hands-off flying could be done, directional control was initiated by sticking one arm out sideways to turn, leaning out of the cockpit increased the bank angle. Leaning forward or backward controlled pitch. Nothing quite like being "one" with the airplane!
A couple of photos taken while climbing for altitude and some taken at ground level around the hangar are worth sharing. The contoured fields display windrows of drying hay waiting for baling. Another plane has joined the hangar, a Luscombe purchased from a pilot in Michigan now joins me and the Piper Comanche 250. The Luscombe flies more than I so it has priority closest to the door.
After wiping the bugs off my AirBike (and those on the back of my helmet), refueling, and pushing it into its parking place, I walked to my truck and a drive home. Before driving away I took the photo of the setting sun lowering itself behind a row of Osage Orange trees bordering a soybean field. It was a beautiful brilliant yellow contrasted against the blue sky, and green foliage.
It was such a satisfying flight and evening shared with other pilots that I wanted to share it with members of the Buzzards Board.
BTW, my article describing this years's experiences at AirVenture has been sent to Powered Sport Flying magazine. Hopefully it will be published before the year is out.
Paul D. Fiebich