Last weekend, there was a great little fly-in bbq at a grass airpark. Events like these are always enjoyable, with the opportunity to meet new friends and admire their aircraft.
One of the highlights of the event was watching a group of RV pilots make a formation arrival. There?s something really cool about airplanes in a precision formation.
However, it was disappointing to see the departure procedure that several of the aircraft carried out. It consisted of what appeared to be rotation at the minimum possible speed, followed by a steep climbout at what looked to be the edge of full-power stall speed, followed by a turn in excess of 45 degrees angle of bank over the houses part way down the runway, at an altitude which couldn?t have been more than 300 feet.
The first aircraft in the group performed this maneuver, followed by some (not all) of the aircraft which followed.
The conditions that day were gusty ? maybe 5-10 knots variation. It struck me that an engine stumble or a gust of wind or a moment?s inattention is all it would have taken to bring one down.
It was especially surprising to see these aircraft perform this maneuver ? many or most of them would have known the local pilot who lost his life just last year carrying out a maneuver at low altitude right after takeoff.
I never had the opportunity to meet that pilot, but I saw the results of his accident. I hope to have the chance to meet and make friends with some of the other pilots who flew last weekend at future fly-ins, but I am concerned that if they continue with this kind of departure procedure, we may never have that opportunity.
One of the highlights of the event was watching a group of RV pilots make a formation arrival. There?s something really cool about airplanes in a precision formation.
However, it was disappointing to see the departure procedure that several of the aircraft carried out. It consisted of what appeared to be rotation at the minimum possible speed, followed by a steep climbout at what looked to be the edge of full-power stall speed, followed by a turn in excess of 45 degrees angle of bank over the houses part way down the runway, at an altitude which couldn?t have been more than 300 feet.
The first aircraft in the group performed this maneuver, followed by some (not all) of the aircraft which followed.
The conditions that day were gusty ? maybe 5-10 knots variation. It struck me that an engine stumble or a gust of wind or a moment?s inattention is all it would have taken to bring one down.
It was especially surprising to see these aircraft perform this maneuver ? many or most of them would have known the local pilot who lost his life just last year carrying out a maneuver at low altitude right after takeoff.
I never had the opportunity to meet that pilot, but I saw the results of his accident. I hope to have the chance to meet and make friends with some of the other pilots who flew last weekend at future fly-ins, but I am concerned that if they continue with this kind of departure procedure, we may never have that opportunity.
