Back on the farm in Summer

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I trailered a towable man lift (bucket lift) from Georgia to New York. The thing that made it eventful is that I had to drive my truck. My 2017 Chevy 3500 HD service truck (with only 31k miles) is not my Tesla. I have grown very accustomed to the Tesla self-driving, navigation and general hi-tech luxury. The truck, although I am very fond of my truck, is stressful and expensive to drive compared to the Tesla. Being on the farm alone has been an eye opener. I had forgotten how quiet and in-nature this place is. Very occasionaly a car or plane comes by and disrupts the void, but only occasionally. It has been very reflective. It is the first time I have been up here from Georgia without a specific date I must be back for... or so it seems. "All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone."-- Blaise Pasacal mid 1600s. I guess I am working on humanity's problems. It can take a lot out of you. I feel good about some of the pics I ha...

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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