Earthstar Forums

In a message dated 5/2/2011 10:12:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
kessb@wavecable.com writes:

Hey John,

I'm also re-thinking the solo long cross country in a new aircraft. As
Richard has carefully pointed out, the Gull can be easy to fly, once you have
spent some time with it. I had lot's of Cessna 150 time, and an old draggy
ultralight 25 years ago and still was humbled with the characteristics of
the Gull. It flies like a much bigger airplane, and is response as such. The
nose wheel steering is a little quick, like go-carts, but once off the
ground, nicely balanced to the ailerons and elevator. The sink rate does build
quickly if you pull the nose up too soon. Just keep 65-70mph nailed right
to the ground with power off and you will do fine. Later you can slow to
60mph and put it where you want it.
One of my flying friends just bought a Titan II, and had another high time
in type friend fly it back home. My friend was high Cessna time and
Phantom ultralights, but felt safer to have our buddy ferry it back just 3 hours
away.

kb



Hi Kes/John
Please do not ship it, either fly it, or have someone fly it for you. I am
available if you don't feel comfortable your self. I have had a nombre of
people fly along in there planes with me to Oshkosh and other shows that had
only a few hrs in there Gull before the left. and it has worked out, you
must have confidence in your ability to learn and adapt to the needs of the
weather and high winds and all but most people are up to the task.
Happy Flying
Mark

Mark,

I'm glad to get these instructions. 

I agree that the plane is wonderful and well-suited to the flight. I just
question the wisdom of that trip this time of year by a novice pilot making what
may be his first cross country trip, over land that is mostly wooded and also
mountainous in a plane he's flown only a few hours, at most. The Thunder Gull is
a very forgiving airplane. Nature is not so forgiving. I think it takes awhile
to "really" learn how to fly, and fly safely. I remember my first instructor 26
years ago telling me, upon getting my private certificate, that all I had was a
license to learn. He was absolutely right. And I'm still learning.

(I'm also trying to figure a way to get the HKS, but for now, getting the Rotax
debugged and back in the air is all I can afford.)
 Dick O'Reilly

In a message dated 5/3/2011 11:09:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
dickoreilly@yahoo.com writes:

Mark,

I'm glad to get these instructions.

I agree that the plane is wonderful and well-suited to the flight. I just
question the wisdom of that trip this time of year by a novice pilot making
what may be his first cross country trip, over land that is mostly wooded
and also mountainous in a plane he's flown only a few hours, at most. The
Thunder Gull is a very forgiving airplane. Nature is not so forgiving. I
think it takes awhile to "really" learn how to fly, and fly safely. I remember
my first instructor 26 years ago telling me, upon getting my private
certificate, that all I had was a license to learn. He was absolutely right. And
I'm still learning.

(I'm also trying to figure a way to get the HKS, but for now, getting the
Rotax debugged and back in the air is all I can afford.)

Dick O'Reilly





Hi Dick
Having made that flight several times a year for the last 20 years I am not
so intimidated by the terrane, witch is not very wooded, but I fly high
when crossing mountains so it doesn't much bother me what is down there since
I am looking at from 8 or 10 or 12,000 feet. The mountains are much less
scary from up there. There beautiful actually. Mountain flying is a learned
art and one that I have ben studying for the last 45 years. I to am still
learning.
The biggest thing to be aware of while flying besides the clouds is the
wind direction both to determine the best altitude to fly for the most
favorable winds. this vearys dramatically with altitude. the other concern with
the wind is the way it reacts with the mountains if you were flying in to a
blind canyon and the wind was blowing across the canyon from right to left
fly on the left side of the canyon and you will get lift in places and be
able to climb out of it due to the up sloap ridge lift, the right side would
be varry turbluant and down drafts.
The other thing to know is wen flying in the afternoon in the summer with
thermals when the plane encounters an up draft pull up a little and slow
down to stay in the lift longer than when you runout of the other side of the
thermal put the nose down and fly out of the sink faster. finesse is
necessary of coarse but it is counter intuitive to do this but it will allow you
to cover more distance per fuel used. not the best tecneak if you have
passengers though.
This is one of the really fun parts of flying is that there is so much to
learn.
Happy Flying
Mark