uncontrollable up draft

[Caribean_gyro]

yesterday I was testing some blade adjustments and went up. To begin ,wind was 90 degrees to the run way so I was also testing the twinstar max. crosswind tolerances. Wind was 20 miles solid and gusting 5 to 8 miles above the 20. So I was practicing my 1 wheel blades tilt landings.

I was number 2 for runway 28 when I pointed to the wind above a mountain. I was 500 msl the gyro went up at 500 feet per minute. I hit 1200 in a crack and I noticed I was going in this ride for long. Noticing a cloud above me I pull power back and slower my speed to 50.

No the cloud monster wanted me in it. SO power back to idle and try to pull it to sink. No way she kept altitude at 600rpm and 50 miles then after I calm down I kept the control and told my self . hold it on a sink and hang on the blades. The wind tried to push me foward . Finally VSI hit -500 and I started my decent. Float for a mile or so and landed in idle.

Next thing call it over and start cooking food for my flying buddies that decided to stay on the ground due to the wind. Today is hangar cleaning after the party.

On thing we do in PR if the wind is bad for sailing or flying lets throw a party.

Chuck

[John_Read]

Maybe you should apply for a gliding qualification on the strength of this! :)

[birdy]

You reckon thats scary??

Try do'n 1500 fpm up,while in the vertical decent mode. :eek:
That equates to bout 2200 fpm up wind.................AND I HATE ALTITUDE. :mad:
It only took 2 seconds to pass my comfort ceiling. :(

[Caribean_gyro]

thinking on it last night. If I would of turn down ind and try the vertical sink I would off work better. Trying to do it up wind just left me hovering.

and I am using RAF blades. I could not imagine using a better blade. perhaps I would still be floating
Chuck

[Cobra Doc]

My CFI and I hit ridge lift and a thermal near Estrella Gliderport in a Cessna 152 two years ago. With the engine at idle and nose down holding 110kts, we were climbing at over 1500 fpm. I don't know how much over because that's where the indicator quit. Fortunatly it's easy to get away from the Estella Mountains, they end just north of the gliderport.

[PW_Plack]

Cody,

Perhaps the folks who chose the site for the gliderport knew what they were doing!

[Chopper Reid]

Chuck, It took me a while but when I get caught in a big thermal and I dont want the altitude, I just throw it over and throttle back, doesnt take long to start descending.

[Cobra Doc]

You got that right Paul. That location has had more world records set there that any other gliderport. I don't think it's just because Bruce is a really nice guy!

[scott heger]

A couple of years ago I was flying along very slow in the SportCopter following a eagle that was soaring 300 feet above me. Then I felt a sudden seat-of-the-pants lifting feeling. Just thinking it was another thermal that are so common to the mountain areas of Riverside County, I didn't give it much of a thought other than chopping the throttle when it hit. I then tried to find the eagle again. I looked up, but it was nowhere to be found. Scanning around I saw it several hundred feet below me; hmmmm, time to look at the VSI, which was reading 1,000 upwards even though the engine was at idle. This continued for more than a minute before I decided I had LOTS of altitude and didn't want anymore. I gave it part throttle and 10-15 seconds later, wham, down I went at 1500+ feet a minute. I continued flying till level flight was acheived a few seconds later. Talking about a wild ride, I have been in much worse in helicopters, but at least then you have a shell around you. I was thinking while riding this out,no wonder everyone thinks were nuts to fly these things. The human body only recognizes acceleration and deceleration; once those initial feelings were felt, I could not tell I was climbing or decending so quickly without the VSI(yes, I know, its ok to use the ground for reference also). Just another one of those flying lessons to be careful around mountain passes.


Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel, Ca N86SH

[MattPearson]

Scott, I'm really glad you didn't say that Eagle went through your blades. Would have been bad for the bird! :D

[scott heger]

Matt, the eagle is a better pilot than I am, its in the "genes". SCOTT

[PW_Plack]

If he has to dive to avoid getting sucked up in a thermal, an eagle can also exceed your Vne. :)

[scott heger]

Paul,
I think the eagle's internal autopilot works better. It probably holds altitude better without consulting any instruments . He is probably is a multi-thousand hour IFR pilot with the skills any fighter pilot could only wish they had....Missing a slow moving gyro is easy. There are many bird strikes reported each year, very few are with a eagle......I think they are more skilled fliers then other feathered cousins. They are sure fun to watch soaring, especially over the top of them, a rare view very few humans get to see in person.

Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel, Ca N86SH