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Posted

It boggles the mind then. How the hell are they even allowed to pilot a passenger plane?

This is what happens when corrupt bean counters get involved with crew training costs

Posted

Thanks for posting that. I had some dealings with Mike, many years ago, and it was great to be reminded of his extremely "can do" attitude. I always found it terribly sad how his Thunder City venture folded after that one Lightning crash and I was not surprised when he died of a heart attack not all that much later. The planes and flying was really what he lived for.

 

I witnessed the Lighning crash with Dave Stock. I did not know Mike Beachy Head passed away though. That's news to me. I visited there once to walk around the display hangar. It was such an amazing experience. I was even allowed into a Buccaneer cockpit. 

Posted

I looked at that one video posted on the avcom thread.

 

 

Thing is, many RC modellers, especially old skool modellers learned how the fly the plane within the parameters afforded by the plane's airfoil and other aero parameters. Practising many dead stick landings normally drill into the pilot the importance of maintaining as little as possible airpeed (preserving as much as possible alititude) while still having as much as possibe control.

Posted

I looked at that one video posted on the avcom thread.

 

 

Thing is, many RC modellers, especially old skool modellers learned how the fly the plane within the parameters afforded by the plane's airfoil and other aero parameters. Practising many dead stick landings normally drill into the pilot the importance of maintaining as little as possible airpeed (preserving as much as possible alititude) while still having as much as possibe control.

 

 

I was a bit concerned when I read your comment as it was diametrically opposed to what I had been taught. So I watched the video.

 

It is excellent and confirmed my training. With an engine failure on takeoff (or any other low energy situation), airspeed is the only thing that will keep you alive. As counter-intuitively as it seems, the most important thing is to get the nose down immediately.

 

The video covers the why and how you need  as much airspeed as possible in these situations. Other than for CFIT and involuntary IMC, almost all GA accidents are caused by poor energy management close to the ground - EFATO or botched go-arounds.

 

With airspeed you can fly the plane to the ground with a chance of walking away.  Without airspeed, you stall and fall to the ground. there is no surviving that. Ask the girl who did just that in the Cherokee at FAWB.

 

Of course if you have lots of surplus potential or kinetic energy you can trade height for speed or vice versa, but that mostly doesn't kill. 

Posted

I was a bit concerned when I read your comment as it was diametrically opposed to what I had been taught. So I watched the video.

 

It is excellent and confirmed my training. With an engine failure on takeoff (or any other low energy situation), airspeed is the only thing that will keep you alive. As counter-intuitively as it seems, the most important thing is to get the nose down immediately.

 

The video covers the why and how you need  as much airspeed as possible in these situations. Other than for CFIT and involuntary IMC, almost all GA accidents are caused by poor energy management close to the ground - EFATO or botched go-arounds.

 

With airspeed you can fly the plane to the ground with a chance of walking away.  Without airspeed, you stall and fall to the ground. there is no surviving that. Ask the girl who did just that in the Cherokee at FAWB.

 

Of course if you have lots of surplus potential or kinetic energy you can trade height for speed or vice versa, but that mostly doesn't kill. 

 

What I tried to say and how I said it did not come out quite right. One must maintain a confortable enough airpeed with enough buffer for manouverability but not more then needed else you lose to much altitude fast which again remove your available time to look for a suitable landing site. Remember, I am refereing to an engine out condition. I hope that come accross better.

Posted

Man.....this accident makes me mad. I am so sorry for this youngsters family and friends, so unnecessary. I gave up instructing about 12 years ago but as a (and I say this truly humbly) more experienced member of my current employers pilot pool, it hurts to read this. I really feel for the instructor who signed off the Solo and solo consolidation and I truly hope the instruction given is not found lacking. Sadly IMHO, this type of accident, baring mechanical failure is totally avoidable with a firm grasp of basic aerodynamic principles and aeroplane operating procedures. A Cherokee is perhaps one of the most docile training aeroplanes. Very upset to have learned of this........I have been off Avcom several days.

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