Flying Weekend! [Update: Now with VIDEO!]

Kinja'd!!! "TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
04/20/2019 at 19:04 • Filed to: None

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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).

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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!

Kinja'd!!! Kinja'd!!!

[ Update]

I finally got a timelapse video to work!


DISCUSSION (7)


Kinja'd!!! 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.


Kinja'd!!! 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! :)


Kinja'd!!! 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.


Kinja'd!!! 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?


Kinja'd!!! 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!


Kinja'd!!! 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!


Kinja'd!!! 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.