Good job Joe! A reminder that safety in aviation is not the absense of
parts breaking or "bulletproof" engines (because there arent any!) but on
having
a plan of action on how to deal with a variety of emergency situations.
Any idea how many simulator hours are spend with the commercial guys on
practicing emergency situations?
A reminder about departures. I, for one, treat departures differently
depending on the airstrip. I rarely, if ever, so straight out departures
anymore. At my field, KVLD, the main strip is 7500' lond with two other 3500'
strips set up like a triangle. On any departure from that airstrip I can
shut
the engien off anytime after rolling out and make a safe landing. The Corvair
and Kr setup allows me to return to the field anytime after departure if I
use a steep climb to 1000' (100mph) and then settle into a cruise climb
(130mph). This is at empty (no passenger) WIth a passenger I will circle the
field once or do S turns on climb out to gain another 1000' or so. The climb
outperforms the glide distance.
On a short field - 2500 or less grass - for example, I will do a high
performance climb - 80 mph to 300 ' above field and then begin a crosswind
turn - normally this is about 3/4 down the strip - I can make the end of the
strip in case of engine out but I have started a turn to come back and land.
Ive seen many people climb straight out of a small field and only been
climbing at 500'/min - not too safe in my book.
The object is to know your airplanes performance and build up your
safety margins and practices to be as prepared as possible.
For the last note...Have your airplane prepared and airworthy, have your
procedure learned and practiced, and - do go to church. Have your soul
prepared as well. I am not afraid to die - I am ready - but I also dont have
a death wish. I trust that the good Lord has more for me to do as well. I
fly because I enjoy it and love it. My dad would always say when we would
land and get in the car for the ride home "now the dangerous part of the
journey begins." Cars are more hazardous to your health. Ive yet to be
passed by
one while flying.
Well, enough preaching - Joe - Well done - (rod bearing from my take on it
but let us know) - get it together by the Gathering though - if you need help -
holler!
Bill and N41768
