Always a lot going on..

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I have had a serious of "near zero days" (reference hiking jargon), but I think they mostly just seem like zero days. I am getting stuff done, just not at 100% efficiency. Not sure anyone can move with 100% efficiency... Anyhow, I am planning on starting my next journey on May 1st. -- more details as they unfold. I know what I like and dislike. I know what turns me on and off. It's time for that knowledge to be guidance. We booked a trip to Wyoming/Yellowstone park in a few weeks. It will tackle at least three items that have been on my list 1.) Visit Yellowstone (in winter). 2.) A longish snowmobile trip. 3.) A visit to Wyoming. That will be my 50th state. That will make it all US states, 100 countries and all continents. I will likly be getting involved with MTP (Most Traveled People) https://mtp.travel/ where they break countries into regions. I decided I like this music. DiDuLa - "On the way home"

Life in Northern Atlanta. If you substitute the car for a small airplane in this pic it would hit the national news. I am glad I am flying to stay away from wrecks like this one. Aviation is so much safer. I did a nice emergency engine out (simulation) the other day (required). I picked a great spot. My flight instructor had a good laugh when I told him the engine out field strongly reminded me of landing in Greene NY. I wish I had a pic, but I was busy. Clear the trees, towers, hills, and wires and you have it made. I won't trade any of my sweaty palms (anywhere) for anything.

Comments

David said…
Wow, knowing nothing about aviation myself, I am assuming that 'engine out' means that you're simulating what to do if the engines all of a sudden stop working while up in the air and that you have to try land it this way (your comment about the sweaty palms makes me think my assumption is true :) ). Isn't that really dangerous by itself then, such a simulation??

Regards,
David
Charles said…
Yes, a simulated engine out in training is dangerous. I do know one instructor (and student) that crashed badly in that training element. Aviation training and safety is always improving. In the day, they used to take you down just before touch down. Nowadays We go down to about 200 feet as a safety margin.

It is simulated by having the instructor pull the throttle back to idle while the student is doing something else and the instructor announces the engine out situation.

The checklist for the student is something like this:
1. Maximum trim up and maintain 65 knots. (also keep in mind the power might come back on unexpectedly and that requires both hands on the stick and push hard!)
2. Look for a place to land, taking into account winds, terrain, topography, distance, etc.
3. Head that way.
4. In the C172, start at the floor with the fuel selector valve, then work up the panel in a "cross" pattern (appropriate) looking for mixture, mags, and other anomalies.
5. FLY THE PLANE!
6. Attempt restart.
7. If no power, land the plane as appropriate for the selected landing site. (this is where the simulation ends and the assessment is made of survivability)
8. Find clean pair of shorts!
David said…
Haha, I bet no. 8 is true, and probably should be 'no. 2' in this case :D

Truely impressive stuff, aviation. It must be great to know how to fly a plane. I wouldn't know where to start, also it seems like an awfully expensive passion to me...

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