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  #31  
Old 04-21-2009, 07:46 PM
6 Gun 6 Gun is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 846
Default TICKET

BET THERES NO CHEAPER WAY TO GET TO EUROPE
HOW MANY GAL DID IT TAKE
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  #32  
Old 04-22-2009, 08:10 AM
danielhv's Avatar
danielhv danielhv is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Mesquite, TX
Posts: 936
Default

I'd really like to see pics of the flight... did the pilot happen to have a camera handy? Man, I cant imagine flying in a single engine and loosing sight of land... what a weird feeling that would be...
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  #33  
Old 04-22-2009, 09:24 AM
Levrie Levrie is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Posts: 58
Default Spot or APRS(HF)

The ferry pilot (David) is fine and progressing well, despite the errant 'Spot' positions not updating frequently enough. He will shortly be in Denmark.

This topic raises some interesting questions and your views would be of interest.

Can 'Spot' be used reliably enough in fast moving craft like a/c for reliable feedback?

Pros:

Satellite monitoring of position using GPS.
Messaging facility (see spot message #85 where David says "he's well and all OK"
Small, Portable and relative low cost.
Web enabled monitoring for all to see progress
Emergency locate button
Handheld and great for trekkars.

Cons:

Refresh rate poor up to 20mins in sparse areas. On this occassion 4hrs lack of info!
Poor Web interface, symbols too large and bunch too much a high scales.
Too slow to feed back.
Subscription.
Is it really suitable for a/c at 200mph. with a 10 min update (33 miles).

My question? Is it possible to have a APRS(HF) system for such long flights using HF units

coupled with GPS, as In my opinion, APRS even though not 'quality controlled' beats Spot

hands down. Like the internet is not QC'd but it works by stint of popularity.

Your comments are invited.

David R
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  #34  
Old 04-22-2009, 09:30 AM
az_gila's Avatar
az_gila az_gila is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
Question Is it a transmit problem...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Levrie View Post
...
Your comments are invited.

David R
...or a web update problem?

I only see the first hit in the trip towards Europe, and that is 5 hours old.

Are there more hits, and I am just seeing an overloaded web page?
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
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  #35  
Old 04-22-2009, 09:42 AM
Levrie Levrie is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Posts: 58
Default Just don't know!

Hello Gil,

That's part of the reason I've raised the issue, we just can't tell. I contacted Oceanic when I became concerned and they contacted David directly and all was OK so we can all relax for now, just like in the old days, before this technology dependant world.

But what sort of commercial system crashes when it's purpose is to create position awareness if this is indeed the reason?

My hunch, like most faults it that it's probably a combination of small errors that cause this issue. David is a very experienced ferry pilot and it's unlikely he just ran out of batteries.

David R
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  #36  
Old 04-22-2009, 10:56 AM
Chip Chip is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 28
Default Mighty long legs

It looks like better than 1400 nm from Newfoundland to Iceland. Just about all of it over pretty chilly water. Other than the SPOT, what kind of comm is being used? I'm assuming no HF....sat phone maybe?

Was the ferry guy wearing a poopy suit, or what kind of provisions were made for landing short of terra firma?

I surely admire his courage, and though the odds are way in his favor, his faith in Lycoming far exceeds my own.

Happy landings to all,

Chip
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  #37  
Old 04-22-2009, 10:58 AM
Levrie Levrie is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Posts: 58
Default Flight status report

It seems that tracking was disengaged when an OK message was sent from the Spot device.

In order to resume 'tracking' mode, the user must hold the OK key for more than 6 secs to re engage.

So now we may know. David will arrive in Copenhagen in 40 mins time. I guess we can all follow his last sector Copenhagen to Blackbushe UK tomorrow when he's pressed the key again.

Fantastic achievement in any case though.

David R

Over my shoulder goes one care, over my shoulder goes two.....La La La.
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  #38  
Old 04-22-2009, 11:34 AM
gasman gasman is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sonoma County
Posts: 3,821
Default

WHAT AM I MISSING HERE?? SPOT shows time from take off to REYKJAVIK as 8 hours and 54 minutes???? is that correct?
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  #39  
Old 04-22-2009, 12:03 PM
pierre smith's Avatar
pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
Default Naaah...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip View Post

I surely admire his courage, and though the odds are way in his favor, his faith in Lycoming far exceeds my own.

Happy landings to all,

Chip
......Lyc's have proven themselves very well. Heck, Jon Johannson has flown around the world three times over a much bigger ocean....the Pacific and also flown from the North pole to the South....in an 0-320 powered -4. He also has 18 hours of fuel!!

Sure beats any auto engine!!

Regards,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga

It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132


Dues gladly paid!
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  #40  
Old 04-22-2009, 12:17 PM
Chip Chip is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 28
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by pierre smith View Post
......Lyc's have proven themselves very well. Heck, Jon Johannson has flown around the world three times over a much bigger ocean....the Pacific and also flown from the North pole to the South....in an 0-320 powered -4. He also has 18 hours of fuel!!

Sure beats any auto engine!!

Regards,
Fully understood...but then I'm not too much of a gambler anymore. I'm just a mere shadow of the fellow who once flew a single engine airplane from Chu Lai, RVN, to El Toro many years ago...that guy didn't worry about a thing. Now I even like to stay tight and high in the traffic pattern.

Go figure.

Chip
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