Greg Mitchell
02-10-2005, 02:11 PM
Man, how I love my Butterfly. Flew solo this morning, nil wind. Took off and landed both ends of strip. Took off about 7.30 am and climbed to 350 feet, flew some tight patterns over flying the strip at 100 feet, then fifty feet, 20 feet. Then landed her. Awesome!
After a cuppa tea and good chat, out for another flight. I found myself at 50 knots and had no tail wiggle at all like Allan got. I flew straight and level at about 5700-5800rpm at 35 knots. After a few months of feeling a little apprehensive and thinking this might never happen, I was amazed at how totally relaxed and calm I was as soon as she left the ground. Granted I smiled to myself on first climb out and thought "Now all you have to do is get her down". It was such a magical experience. I was a little worried how I'd handle the altitude but I just love to fly and being up there on my own was fun and man what fantastic view.
To actually have been pilot in command of an aircraft and have done it in a craft such as Butterfly, has fullfilled a life time dream for me.
Geoff said first landing was text book, it felt great, felt right. Second time out I was back at 25 knots at 20 feet, added some power, kept the stick forward, picked up 30knots at about 5 feet, eased back the power, let her settle in and put her down. Not quiet as nice as the first, but both smooth and as Chris would put it "pretty much a non event."
Nil wind conditions will be all my flying for the next 15 to 20 hours. Well, I'll make no excuses for raving on, I'll be excited for weeks.
Getting some high resolution pics reduced so as I can post them. The pic below was taken after both flights, I still can't wipe the grin off my face.
I thought I was hooked on gyros, now I know it for sure.
Thanks to everyone on this forum, it's been a great place to learn and interact with members. Special thanks to , Allan Wardill, Geoff and Keith Jamieson and Larry Neal.
Fly Safe.
Mitch. :D :D :D :D
Who can shrink some high resolution shots for posting, I can email them to you. Cheers.
After a cuppa tea and good chat, out for another flight. I found myself at 50 knots and had no tail wiggle at all like Allan got. I flew straight and level at about 5700-5800rpm at 35 knots. After a few months of feeling a little apprehensive and thinking this might never happen, I was amazed at how totally relaxed and calm I was as soon as she left the ground. Granted I smiled to myself on first climb out and thought "Now all you have to do is get her down". It was such a magical experience. I was a little worried how I'd handle the altitude but I just love to fly and being up there on my own was fun and man what fantastic view.
To actually have been pilot in command of an aircraft and have done it in a craft such as Butterfly, has fullfilled a life time dream for me.
Geoff said first landing was text book, it felt great, felt right. Second time out I was back at 25 knots at 20 feet, added some power, kept the stick forward, picked up 30knots at about 5 feet, eased back the power, let her settle in and put her down. Not quiet as nice as the first, but both smooth and as Chris would put it "pretty much a non event."
Nil wind conditions will be all my flying for the next 15 to 20 hours. Well, I'll make no excuses for raving on, I'll be excited for weeks.
Getting some high resolution pics reduced so as I can post them. The pic below was taken after both flights, I still can't wipe the grin off my face.
I thought I was hooked on gyros, now I know it for sure.
Thanks to everyone on this forum, it's been a great place to learn and interact with members. Special thanks to , Allan Wardill, Geoff and Keith Jamieson and Larry Neal.
Fly Safe.
Mitch. :D :D :D :D
Who can shrink some high resolution shots for posting, I can email them to you. Cheers.