Chase Plane?

[David Paule]

Why have one? As far as I can see it offers only these benefits:

1. It's a platform for someone to take photos.

2. If the test plane has an avionics failure the chase plane can make the radio calls.

3. The chase plane can look out for traffic.

Anything else?

The reason why I'm asking is that a friend is going to make the first flight of his plane soon, and has asked me to fly chase for him. We have flown formation together numerous times and have briefed on that and other appropriate aspects of the flight.

I will not go in close enough to identify potential leaks, so that possible task isn't going to happen.

But if anyone can give me some advice, something to help make the flight safer or let me relieve the test pilot's workload, I'd be grateful.

Thanks!

Dave

[AX-O]

These are some others.

- Coordination with tower or other airspace requiring communications.

- Clearing the area for the flight.

- Ckecking for any leaks (fuel, oil, etc) or smoke.

- Airspeed comparizon.

- Coordination with ground/air facilities in case of emergencies.

- SAR coordinations.

- An important one; some one to hold your buddy to his/her plan. NOGOs

That being said. The chase should never be in the way of the aircraft conducting it's first flight. That test pilot has way too many things going on.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by AX-O

These are some others.
...

- Ckecking for any leaks (fuel, oil, etc) or smoke.
...

- An important one; some one to hold your buddy to his/her plan. NOGOs

That being said. The chase should never be in the way of the aircraft conducting it's first flight. That test pilot has way too many things going on.

Looking for leaks or smoke was the only real reason I wanted a chase plane on my first flight.

The second item wasn't an issue for me as I knew I was going to stick to the plan and did.

As for keeping out of the way, my chase pilot and TeamRV member, Tad Sargent was very helpful.

If nothing else, he was a calm voice on the radio during a stressful flight.

[Steve Barnes]

Years ago I went to support a friend on his first flight of an RV 4. Half the RV community in a large Metro-area was there too. He must have had 5+ chase planes. I opted out of joining the Circus and stayed on the ground. I am sure that their unplanned escort was fun. Fortunately it turned out fine. I won't even go in all the reasons this should never have happened.

Steve "The Builders Coach"

[Ironflight]

Axel - where did you get a copy of our pre-test plan for last weekend?

You nailed pretty much the reasons we had on paper for having a chase plane. Of course, you and I are both used to doing flight testing in a team environment. You have to have faith in your team to make it worthwhile!

If a person plans to stay in radio and visual (not to mention gliding) range of the airport, many of these reasons go away, and many first flights are conducted safely without them. if you aren't trained in the use of a chase, and can't practice with one, then you might very well be safer without one. For our test flights last weekend, we did mission-specific training to know what we were going to do. It paid off well for the plan we used.

Just don't feel pressure to have a chase plane "because other guys do it" or worse, just because you have someone who is excited about doing it. Have good, solid rationale for everything you are going to do in your test program.

Paul

[fatherson]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Axel - where did you get a copy of our pre-test plan for last weekend?

Maybe the right question is when are all of us going to be able to buy a copy of your pre-test plan? . . . on Amazon?

Seriously, Paul. I think you should be writing a book, if not now, then soon after your pending move to the quiet confines of the desert southwest. Best Practices in Experimental Aviation: lessons in mission control, by Paul F. Dye. I'll pay for my copies in advance!

--
Stephen

[Andy Hill]

Dave (and others)

From my pov, all summed above. It can have it's place, especially when seen in the wider entire test phase e.g. at some point an IAS / Alt comparison can be made - although since the chase will often be (need to be!) an RV, you need to ask how well calibrated that one is

Our "regulator" over here (the LAA) gives a list of the "aims" / "targets" of the 1st flight, and Formation is not one of them. It will only be a 15-20min flight to achieve those aims, and will be high power early on, and then some slow speed stuff, so hard for anyone else to formate on, especially since the target aircraft will not be over-helpful.

Years ago I went to support a friend on his first flight of an RV 4. Half the RV community in a large Metro-area was there too. He must have had 5+ chase planes

Something I was told, and agree with, is keep those who "know" of the 1st flight, as small as possible. This reduces pressure to make the flight with either aircraft or weather issues. We can just walk away and await the issues solved without leaving anybody else any the wiser.

Clearly if you the resources, experience and plan to do it "properly" (and above all discipline) then fine e.g. as with Paul. But I don't think anyone should feel pressurised to try and emulate that without the other elements in place...

[plehrke]

I did not use chase for three reasons: 1) I was flying out of an airport under a class B and next to a Class D. I did not want any geometry of the chase, relative to me, ever box me in with air space or access to an airport. 2) My first flight plan was always within sight of the airport due to reason 1. 3) I felt dis-simialar aircraft would be bad. We have no RV on the field and did not want a slow Cub or big Bonanza trying to keep up.

Originally Posted by Andy Hill

Dave (and others)
Something I was told, and agree with, is keep those who "know" of the 1st flight, as small as possible. This reduces pressure to make the flight with either aircraft or weather issues. We can just walk away and await the issues solved without leaving anybody else any the wiser.

This is a very good point. I did a taxi test in the morning and had a slight oil leak issues when I took the cowl off. By the time I was ready to fly the winds were up. Since there was only the essentials people there, I was under no pressure to go fly. I waited 6 hours to early evening when the winds where down to fly.

[panhandler1956]

I used a chase on mine for all the reasons previously mentioned. I was lucky, my chase pilot is ex-military, built his RV-4, and is very good at formation.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that may be unique to me was the comfort factor. Even though we were in separate airplanes, it settled my nerves a bit to have someone else with me - maybe 'human factors'?

And I think I would have been more disciplined in an emergency with someone watching - less likely to go for a hail mary.

I also agree that having a chase does not fit every circumstance.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by fatherson

Maybe the right question is when are all of us going to be able to buy a copy of your pre-test plan? . . . on Amazon?

Seriously, Paul. I think you should be writing a book, if not now, then soon after your pending move to the quiet confines of the desert southwest. Best Practices in Experimental Aviation: lessons in mission control, by Paul F. Dye. I'll pay for my copies in advance!

--
Stephen

Stephen - books take time! You might check out a new series in Kitplanes Magazine that starts with the February or March issue for a few of the things you might be interested in. I'm working to get some stuff writen up in a coherent package talking about planning, training, and flying first flights.

And man, Andy (and others) are right about keeping the crowds down. We had a TOTAL of 5 people on our first flight team, and one "SO" who has years of experience inspecting airplanes that tagged along on the preflight. Any more would have been too many - and every one was ready to scrub if we didn't met our pre-planned criteria for the flight. Chase planes seriously complicate the process if you don't know how to use them correctly.