Hello Net After accepting an invite from Keith, another KR net member to come to Lansing MI for lunch, I went to the airport KPTK and hopped into the KR and off we go. The wind at Pontiac was 160 at 11 and the runway was 090. No problem getting off. Up up and away, heading to Mason Jewett KTEW airport just south of Lansing. I made the trip at 3500 MSL with a heading of 260. The air at 3500 was about 15kts and was not too bumpy. As I descended to Mason, the air got real bumpy, the KR was weathervaining and rolling all over the place. I attempted the landing twice and both times aborted, finally deciding to return to KPTK. On the way back I landed at another airport with a larger runway and managed it without too much difficulty. My take off was nearly a disaster. The wind was 90 degrees to the runway at 15 gusting to 23. Not wanting to stay all night, I elected to depart. I kept the tail down to gain more speed before liftoff, and that was not enough. I ran out of right aileron and did not have enough to keep that wing down. The KR came off the ground in ground effect and the spoiled wing lifted until I reached about 15 feet and then I rolled into the wind faster then I could correct. I have never had a take off that was that bad. All in all, I would say that in the future I will stick with 10 @ 90. The gust was too much for the KR. When I got back to KPTK, the controller asked if I wanted runway 090 Left or Right, I replied that I wanted runway 180. The wind was 220 at 10. What an adventure.
Orma Southfield, MI N110LR Tweety, old enough to drink this year Flying and more flying, to the gathering or bust http://www.kr-2.aviation-mechanics.com/
