Gyroplane Training 
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Web by: Rebel Systems Training Days April 7 - 22 2001 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 May 26 - June 2 2001 April 1 - 11 2002 |
Day 20 So much for yesterdays forecast. Last night the windows were rattling, and similarly they were rattling today as well. Oh well, might as well go to the airfield anyway. The windsock was showing at least 15 knots, and tower reported 16 to 20 knots. All day the wind was blowing much too strong for single seat training, so I went into town lunchtime for a swim, (33m pool but too warm!). I reasoned that the wind would blow it self out by the end of the day and Roger had a few meetings that he had to go to, and a few other errands, so took the opportunity to get those done. He came back at 1900, and the wind was on the wane. The wind was showing a gradual decrease in strength, but the occasional gust, but starting to look useful. Off to the hanger we go and get the gyro's out and preflight. Roger says go, so we taxi out onto the long runway. Brief for me as before, fast wheel balances with main wheel skipping and lifts. After a few runs at 5800 rpm to get back into the groove, I increased to 5900, and the mains' were very light with intermittent skips. A few of those, then start to increase to 6000rpm, and the wheels were starting to lift. One of the lifts had me in the air for a couple of seconds. Now come on, humor me, this was a big thing!!! Arrival back however was a little shaky. Back to 5900 for a few more runs to calm down, then started to push back to 6000. The runs were beginning to seem very smooth, and at times I felt the mains' were off. Actually they were just extremely light, with the merest sliver of rubber being all that tied me to mother earth! It was getting late now: One more Roger? Almost flying, yes, no, yes... Nearly... Go on, one more. Last run. Got to get it up this time! Into the balance, revs at 5900, mains skipping. 6000, mains so nearly off. Runway end coming up. A little more power and YES, airborne... It seemed like an age in the air, but probably only 4-5 seconds. Ooops, I thinks I'm too high. Lower the nose gently. Ah, the ground nose first. Damn! A little unstable. Roger comes over the Radio, "well, no need for that!". I thought I was a little too high and didn't want to slow up too much so I lowered the nose to regain speed, but I wasn't that high: It just felt like it!!! Back to the apron. What a session. 1 hour 45 minutes. In the air completely at least twice, with most of the rest of the session spent extremely light on the mains'. I'm chuffed, pleased as punch! I love this!!! Good day... I haven't seen the forecast for tomorrow, so its by ear. Too be honest that is how we have had to play it anyway as the forecast has been woefully inadequate at the best of times anyway. So far we have managed to get something out of every day, so can't complain. Very different to my microlight training! Hopefully tomorrow I will consolidate on today, and start lifting for longer with less load on the brain as actions start to move to reactionary. |