Pietenpol-List: More Flying Stories !!
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 11:19 pm
Original Posted By: "DOUGLAS BLACKBURN"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: More Flying Stories !! Each and every flight in a Pietenpol is an adventure in itself, be it local or cross country. I can relate to Bob's fictional train story. The lasttrain I spotted, I climbed to attack altitude of 800' AGL, pull power and rolled in for a fictional strafing run, entering a high speed 75 mph dive, andsqueezed off a burst from my pretend Vickers machine gun on the front three carsand engine. Pulling up, over 500 feet from the engine, I was hoping he was a lousy shot. I felt like Europe, 1918 !! Bank back and forth in front of theengine, then flew parallel for a while, gave 'em a salute, and peeled off. Too Cool !! Hey, here is the way I estimate my ground speed. When flying IFR (I follow Roads), it's very challenging to keep the shadow of my plane on the road,just in front of a car or truck, especially in the heat of the day when thermals beat me around. I can now see how the speed of traffic relates to myshadow. The speed limit of the turnpike is 70 mph, and most traffic slowly gainson me. Assuming most vehicles travel 75 mph, this puts my cruise speed right around 70 mph !! Who needs stop watches or GPS !! On most local flights, I keep two rolls of Toilet Paper onboard, one on each side of my hips. Ya know you can buy a pack of 20 rolls for about $4 bucks at Wal Mart. I can usually flush someone out of the house of one my friends, by doing a low pass (over 500') flying overhead at full power, and lettingthe exhaust note knock on the door. When I see them come out, I give 'em a wing wag, and climb to T.P. bomb drop altitude of over 1000' AGL, and trying tocorrect for wind speed and direction, I let go with a rolling action of my wrist and arm, so the whole roll unravels. Slight roll left to keep an eye onthe unrolled paper, it really gives me a feel for how fast I'm actually traveling...it gets small really fast!! The thing is so light, and falls so slow,that any slight breeze blows it way off target. Once in a while I get it to land within 1/4 mile. On several occasions, I'll climb to the highest altitude I'veever been to - around 3000' AGL, and let one go, and circle back around and see if I can cut it...very difficult to do. I haven't got a cut yet, but it sure is a Hoot to try !!Chuck G.More flying stories to come !!________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pietenpol-List: More Flying Stories !! Each and every flight in a Pietenpol is an adventure in itself, be it local or cross country. I can relate to Bob's fictional train story. The lasttrain I spotted, I climbed to attack altitude of 800' AGL, pull power and rolled in for a fictional strafing run, entering a high speed 75 mph dive, andsqueezed off a burst from my pretend Vickers machine gun on the front three carsand engine. Pulling up, over 500 feet from the engine, I was hoping he was a lousy shot. I felt like Europe, 1918 !! Bank back and forth in front of theengine, then flew parallel for a while, gave 'em a salute, and peeled off. Too Cool !! Hey, here is the way I estimate my ground speed. When flying IFR (I follow Roads), it's very challenging to keep the shadow of my plane on the road,just in front of a car or truck, especially in the heat of the day when thermals beat me around. I can now see how the speed of traffic relates to myshadow. The speed limit of the turnpike is 70 mph, and most traffic slowly gainson me. Assuming most vehicles travel 75 mph, this puts my cruise speed right around 70 mph !! Who needs stop watches or GPS !! On most local flights, I keep two rolls of Toilet Paper onboard, one on each side of my hips. Ya know you can buy a pack of 20 rolls for about $4 bucks at Wal Mart. I can usually flush someone out of the house of one my friends, by doing a low pass (over 500') flying overhead at full power, and lettingthe exhaust note knock on the door. When I see them come out, I give 'em a wing wag, and climb to T.P. bomb drop altitude of over 1000' AGL, and trying tocorrect for wind speed and direction, I let go with a rolling action of my wrist and arm, so the whole roll unravels. Slight roll left to keep an eye onthe unrolled paper, it really gives me a feel for how fast I'm actually traveling...it gets small really fast!! The thing is so light, and falls so slow,that any slight breeze blows it way off target. Once in a while I get it to land within 1/4 mile. On several occasions, I'll climb to the highest altitude I'veever been to - around 3000' AGL, and let one go, and circle back around and see if I can cut it...very difficult to do. I haven't got a cut yet, but it sure is a Hoot to try !!Chuck G.More flying stories to come !!________________________________________________________________________________