David-aviator
Well Known Member
One blade and the trusty Lycoming comes to life. The thing may be mechanical but it has a life and it's sound is reassuring when it wakes up. That sound is power, the stuff that makes flight possible for we wingless humans.
Checklist reviewed and compete. Short taxi to open space, throttle up and Lycoming responds with more sound and power and now movement!
Fifty-five knots, stick back and the machine gracefully lifts off and is flying, accelerating and climbing without hesitation. At 100 knots, steep left climbing turn and in no time, roll out on downwind still at 100 knots and accelerating. Power back, way back to slow to 80 knots for flap extension. Base leg, turn to final, 60 knots and on the runway in about 2 minutes total.
Did 2 of those plus a short tour checking for enemy aircraft (none observed) and back, parked in the hangar in 24 minutes. Total fuel burn, just under 2 gallons. Do that three times a week and it will keep anyone proficient and all for less than 6 gallons of fuel. That's stretching the fuel budget and getting something in return. Anyone can fly straight and level, it's the take offs and landings that require some thought, practice and practice does make for perfect - sometimes - 2 squeakers today.
RV FLIGHT IS GOOD, indeed VERY GOOD. It doesn't get any better if you love to fly.
Checklist reviewed and compete. Short taxi to open space, throttle up and Lycoming responds with more sound and power and now movement!
Fifty-five knots, stick back and the machine gracefully lifts off and is flying, accelerating and climbing without hesitation. At 100 knots, steep left climbing turn and in no time, roll out on downwind still at 100 knots and accelerating. Power back, way back to slow to 80 knots for flap extension. Base leg, turn to final, 60 knots and on the runway in about 2 minutes total.
Did 2 of those plus a short tour checking for enemy aircraft (none observed) and back, parked in the hangar in 24 minutes. Total fuel burn, just under 2 gallons. Do that three times a week and it will keep anyone proficient and all for less than 6 gallons of fuel. That's stretching the fuel budget and getting something in return. Anyone can fly straight and level, it's the take offs and landings that require some thought, practice and practice does make for perfect - sometimes - 2 squeakers today.
RV FLIGHT IS GOOD, indeed VERY GOOD. It doesn't get any better if you love to fly.