"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
04/20/2019 at 19:04 • Filed to: None
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"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
04/20/2019 at 19:04 • Filed to: None | 3
| 7 |
Friday was a bust. Winds were at 20kts, gusting to 28. I decided it wasn’t with the time in the air.
So far, Saturday is going great! I flew from Houston (KDWH) to Tyler, TX (KTYR).
I have enough time to grab lunch, and maybe look at some cool planes, then I have to head back. Winds heading back should be more favorable, so I can’t wait to get back in the air!
[ Update]
I finally got a timelapse video to work!
WilliamsSW
> TheRealBicycleBuck
04/20/2019 at 13:07 |
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Today looks gorgeous!
20G28 can be perfectly safe, but it’s not much fun at low altitudes in a single. You feel like a leaf in the wind the entire flight.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> WilliamsSW
04/20/2019 at 16:47 |
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Not when the crosswind component is at the max spec for the airplane! :)
Only Vespas...
> TheRealBicycleBuck
04/20/2019 at 19:42 |
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This is so good to see. Stick with it! I have my license but learning is the most fun. Working on a sailplane rating now. Imagine being towed by another airplane. F—ing terrifying! One thing is did during my dual was to put a voice-actuated recorder in the intercom chain to get and review all my instructor’s lessons. I t was a real help.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> Only Vespas...
04/20/2019 at 20:19 |
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Thanks! I recorded video of one of my early flights and tried to talk through it, but all the GoPro picked up was the airplane noise. I need to work through the audio issues before I try video again.
I started on hang gliders and have ratings for foot launch, boat tow, and aerotow. You’re absolutely right, the first time on aerotow solo was terrifying. The tow vehicle wa s a Dragonfly ultralight. The flight envelope of a Dragonfly and a hang glider barely overlap, so towing behind one is the fastest most hang gliders will every fly. This isn’t me, but it will give you the idea:
The hardest part is staying in alignment with the tow plane. It’s super-easy to roll a hair too much and get into a control-lock situation. It happened to me on my second tow. The tow plane started turning right and my glider wanted to go left. I aborted and released the line at less than 200'. It was a quick ride back down to the tarmac, but I managed to land before the fence. I felt like I was on a long walk of shame carrying my glider back, but the instructor had nothing but praise. He thought he was about to witness a crash.
I have my check ride in a few weeks and I’m in instrument ground school right now. There are a couple of glider fields around Houston, so I’m hoping to pick up that rating sometime in the near future.
Good luck with your sailplane rating! What else do you fly?
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WilliamsSW
> TheRealBicycleBuck
04/20/2019 at 20:26 |
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Lol I landed once at KPWK wi th the rudder and ailerons fully deflected, and still drifting a tiny bit. AWOS said it was 17 kts direct x wind but suspect it was more. Fun times!
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> WilliamsSW
04/20/2019 at 20:34 |
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As they say, take-offs are optional, landings are not. I opted out so I wouldn’t have to worry about landing.
KDWH has a treeline along the south end of the runway which makes crosswind landings really tricky. We had a day with 15 kts crosswinds and my instructor made me go around and around and around and around just so I could get used to the crazy turbulence at the south end. It was good experience, but it’s something I would prefer to avoid if I can!
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WilliamsSW
> TheRealBicycleBuck
04/20/2019 at 20:54 |
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Ha true ! And with an instructor is a great way to push those boundaries a bit.