Today is Dirty Harrys birth day!

[GyroRon]

I didn't know Clint Eastwood was a rotorhead too! Happy B day Harry. I hope I make it to 72

[barnstorm2]

What makes you believe he is a rotorhead? ???

[Chuck Irby]

Happy Birthday Harry. I celebrated your birthday by going flying. I hope you were able to get into the air today also.

[Harry_S.]

Thank y'all. It's cold (69*) here in Ocala, Fl. and I have a bugger of a cold, so no flying for a couple more days. It should be around the lower 70's by Sunday, so maybe then.


Dirty Harry

[barnstorm2]

>:( hey, you guys fooled me. I thought you ment Mr. Eastwood. ::)

No offence Dirty H ;D

[Chuck Irby]

Hey Harry,

It might help your cold to get into the air. What do you fly?

It was a cool 64 degrees here yesterday. After about forty minutes I did get kinda cold at 1500 feet & 55 mph even in my insulated coveralls and some thin leather gloves.

It's supposed to be even warmer today.

[Harry_S.]

Hi Chuck;

I felt much better today and did go up for about 45 min. A bit windy down here but was enjoyable.

I built and have been flying an RAF 2000 for about 6 yrs. now. After about 90 hrs. I installed a Ken J. stab. Have had nothing but enjoyable air time since. Coming up on 400 hrs. Hobbs time. I try to fly 2-3 times a week, weather permitting.


Dirty Harry

[Chuck Irby]

Hello Harry,

I appreciate your reply and am glad you're feeling like flying again. Now that cold will have no choice but to get better. I like the feel of a good
flying RAF with a good horizontal stab. I have 17 hours in three different RAF's. How many ponies can your Subaru make?

[Harry_S.]

Chuck;

I really don't know how many "ponies" I can ride. I have the stock EJ-22 carburated, coil and distributor. I pulled 620 lbs. static about three years ago.

The countryside around here is beautiful horse land and I usually fly low and slow, 500 ft. @ 55-65 mph and enjoy the scenery and the interstate traffic. Drop in at several different strips now and then. I've pushed the envelope before but now, I just appreciate stirring up the air every now and then.


Harry

[Chuck Irby]

Hey Harry,

I asked about the horse power, because The RAF's I flew in had marginal HP for take off purposes. Once at altitude, they were fine. One was rated at 130 and another at 145 and I have no idea what the third one was, but it got up much better than the other two.

[Aussie_Paul]

Harry, you said,

"The countryside around here is beautiful horse land and I usually fly low and slow, 500 ft. @ 55-65 mph and enjoy the scenery and the interstate traffic. Drop in at several different strips now and then. I've pushed the envelope before but now, I just appreciate stirring up the air every now and then.

That just says it all about our sport/hobbie of recreational flying.

Aussie Paul.

[Harry_S.]

Thank you Paul, like I said, at my age I just am real happy I am able to enjoy 30 min. flyin' around the country side a couple times a week.

Chuck; how much do you weigh? I hit around 225 most of the time and my gyro performs real well while solo but the more passenger weight I add, performance deteriorates. My climb rate really sucks if I have a 200 pounder in with me. I can tell performance starts downhill if the passenger weighs more than 160.
I struggle up to altitude and then it's gravy.

[Chuck Irby]

Hello again Harry,

The RAF I mentioned with the 130 HP engine was owned by an instructor who weighed about 260. I weighed about 190.

I remember feeling like it would never leave the runway. Then when it did, I had to hold it just a few feet above the runway till it got up enough air speed to gain altitude. As it warmed up during the day, it got worse and worse. In addition, I had to hold a lot of left stick to compensate for the extra weight on the other side. That training experience was basically a waste. After six hours I left him feeling like it had all been in vain.