Hovering over Illinois

[StanFoster]

I was out flying today in real stiff winds. I was able to hover and was even moving backwards.

After pre-rotating..my airspeed was indicating 30 and all I had to do was just roll on the power and she was gone.

This is a shot of balancing on the mains. The camera guy was right at the threshold and I could have easily just gone vertical without any roll at all....but I went ahead with a more conservative take off.

[StanFoster]

here are a few pictures of the landing.

[StanFoster]

the flare

[StanFoster]

tail wheel first

[StanFoster]

hovering overhead

[StanFoster]

final touch down. This thing can really handle the wind.

[Mike Hook]

Great Pics Stan

Mike

[Harry_S.]

Lookin' great Stan. Carrier type landings at that. At the rate your going you'll have those 40 hrs. in by next week!!

How high were you in that hovering mode? I personally wouldn't do it less than 300 ft. I saw an RAF a couple years back, at BD's, can't remember who it was, wind was about 30-35 out of the south and I was looking to the south, along side of the taxiway and this RAF came into my peripheral view, he was over the grass off the runway and that booger came to a stationary hover about 5-6 ft. above the ground for a good 5 sec., lowered the nose, came down to just above the grass, the nose came up and he sat down pretty as you please. The wind started rolling him backwards and he recovered with power and pulled up on the taxiway and turned back towards the ramp area.

That would have been nice to have on tape.

[StanFoster]

Harry: I hovered down to 200 feet.....I was indicating 35 mph airspeed...I had plenty of altitude with that wind I was in.