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October 31 Red Bull Air Race 2007 - Final LeagueFor those who are like planes, enjoy flying or in the aviation industry, must have heard of the Red Bull Air Race. For those who haven't, I am sure you have heard of Formula 1 Racing right? Basically, the annual Red Bull Air Race is something like Formula 1 racing, just that the race course is a couple of hundred feet in the sky and the machines happen to be planes. As much as a Formula 1 driver is being pushed to accept those unforgiving G forces when cornering, a Red Bull Air Race pilot are also subjected to tremendous amount of G forces (up to 10Gs) in the race. As what 1 of the pilot said, having 10Gs acting on you is like having 2 huge elepants seating on top of you...for those who still have absolutely no idea wat i am talking about, please check out Red Bull Air Race.
I must say that my course mates and i are really very lucky to be able to witness this annual event live over here in Perth, Western Australia! Singapore aint one of the race locations but Perth, Western Australia is. heh heh...and to top things up, the race planes are stationed in Jandakot Airport which is where we are staying and flying! heh heh heh! wonderful!
So, of course, we went down to the hangers to take pics and talk to the ace pilots who will be piloting the planes this coming weekend over in Perth City for the final league of the season! oki enough of words, let's just see some pics.
Paul Bonhomme's Plane - Current Race Leader
Me posing in front of P. Bonhomme's plane
Red Bull Race Plane in the Hanger - Final tweaking
Aerobatics display
More pics can be found in the Red Bull Air Race Photo album. Cheers! Stay tune for reportage of the actual Red Bull Air Race!
Signing out~ October 30 Sortie 117 and 118 - Circuits SoloBoth sortie 117 and sortie 118 are circuit solo, each worth 1hr of air time. It's the same as the previous solo circuit sorties so there aint much for me to talk about either. Perhaps just that small point tat i attempted to come in with a flapless approach for one of the touch-and-go for sortie 118. Still alive here to fly another day!
Signing out~ October 27 Sortie 116 - PFL and Steep TurnsIt had been quite a long while since i went back to the training area for general handling training. The previous GH training was back in sortie 104. Sortie 105 to 115 had all been circuit training sorties for us to get the hang of making safe landings. A bit rusty in making my departure and inbound procedures to/from the training area, but i am glad that my tiny brain had been functioning well after a little help from my instructor who was onbound with me for the 1 and 1/2 half flight.
Requirements for Sortie 116 are Practise Force Landing (PFL and not PLF) and steep turns (45 angle of bank). For you folks out there, hahaha...force landing is perhaps the last thing that you will ever want to hear when onboard. The same goes for me...losing your engine in the sky is no fun especially when you don't have much altitude to play with. As much as you will panic, the crew in the cockpit are pretty much feeling the same. Hence the need for us to learn how to troubleshoot and attempt to restart the engine. In other words, please trust the pilots when situation like this happen. hahaha...the pilots will be doing their best to make everyone stay alive.
Not until now, i have only been executing turns up to a max of 30degree. Steep turns are basically the same, just that you are increasing the turn to 45degrees AOB. With the increase, aerodynamic forces on the wings will also be increased. Hence the need to play with power settings when entering and rolling out from a steep turn. Also, the crew will be experiencing an increase in G force to 1.5G. Quite fun if you execute the turn properly and definately not fun if you end up nose diving the aircraft. hahaha...which i think happened to me for some of the turns.
All in all, sortie 116 was performed up to standard and i managed to clear it.
Signing out~ October 26 Sortie 114 and 115 - Circuits SoloSortie 114 - Circuits Solo
After clearing my solo check in sortie 113, the weather had been stopping me from going for my solo circuit sorties. pathetic. Finally, sortie 114 - circuit solo was flown on 22st Monday late afternoon. I went up when the ATIS reported a max 10kts crosswind. Runway 24L was in used at that time. Did a total of 4 touch-and-go plus 1 full stop for the sortie.
The full stop landing could be made better if i had not been indecisive with whether to go around after the aircraft ballooned. Overall not a very good session as most of the landings made, the aircraft ballooned.
Sortie 115 - Circuit Solo
After i completed my sortie 114, i sign up for sortie 115 - circuits solo. The sortie was flown on the early morning of 24th, Wednesday. The session was fun as LP was following behind me throughout the circuit session. muahahhaa...he heard my RT calls and vice versa. After the session, he was able to tell me how screwed up my circuit pattern was.
Overall session was a fruitfull one as i was able to correct the mistakes that i made in sortie 114. The landings made throughout the sessions were pretty smooth and safe.
Signing out~
October 17 Sortie 113A - Final Solo CheckBase on the forecast, the weather is uber bad for flying today. Expected high winds and showers. Despite the marginal weather, the flight took off at 09:45hrs. ATA 10:45 hrs, 1 hr worth of air time. Sortie 113 is the final circuit solo check before i can start planning for my own circuit solo flights. It's also the sortie that we need to get our crosswind landing rating. Below are my debrief points:
Debrief for Sortie 113A – Tan Yang Beng Sortie Details: Sortie 113A Circuits, 4 + 1 Duration: 1hr Flight Schedule: ATD 09:45 ETA: 10:45
The full stop landing was done with crosswind of 14kts coming from the starboard. oh manz...i never wana land the plane with that kinda wind using a cessna again. if feels like you are crashing the plane onto the runway. really strange attitude! but i survived to fly another day. crosswind rating received: 10kts
Signing out~ October 14 Final Circuit Solo Check - Sortie 113Debrief for Sortie 113 – Tan Yang Beng Sortie Details: Sortie 113 Circuits, 5 + 1 Duration: 1hr Flight Schedule: ATD 14:20 ETA: 15:20
In this sortie, i performed a performance take off and short field landing. The take off was oki...but the landing was uber exciting. hahaha...i thought my aircraft aint gonna make it to the runway, but luckily, it did.
I didn't manage to clear my circuit solo check with my instructor. The required standard has been raised and i didn't make the cut. Flying sortie 113A tomorrow again. Hopefully i can clear the check this time round.
Clear sky...signing out~ October 06 Second Solo Check - Sortie 111 and 112sSortie 111 was scheduled on 051200hrs, Friday. It's the second round of solo check with my instructor. After clearing my first solo flight 4 days ago, i still feel the slight uneasiness.
Prop clear and the engine was cranked 5 mins after 1200hrs. Instead of the usual runway 24L for circuits, runway 06R was in operation. Perhaps it's due to this that i felt slight unease for the flight. Non the less, i took off 15mins after 1200hrs.
The first circuit was done using runway 06R. But as i came in for my approach, the ATC coms,
"BZX there will be a runway change from 06R to 24L, clear to land, continue rolling down runway 06R to end of runway 24L and clear for take off for 24L."
This is like the longest RT call i ever received. Luckily my instructor was onboard and he handed the calls. I just had to fly the plane. Touched down and took off from runway 24L and i continued with another 2+1 before my instructor decided to step out of the aircraft and sent me back for sortie 112, solo.
I was planning to do a 2 + 1 for my sortie 112s but again, for my full stop landing, i was complacent and didn't control the rudder properly. The aircraft yawed left and almost went into the grass. I initiated a go-around and was successful for my second attempt. haiz...i need to be more careful next time.
Signing out~ October 02 First Solo - Sortie 109 and 110After 17hrs worth of air time, finally the day had come when i am going for my first solo. For those who are in the aviation industry, you will probably have a good idea of the mix feelings that i had yesterday. my flight was scheduled at 1300hrs.
Sortie 109: Took off time was 1240hrs, and i was told by my instructor that i have to clear my first solo today. my hours are running up. flew in the circuits with my instructor; completed 4 + 1. Landed to drop my instructor off at the engine run up bay and he sent me up again for sortie 110s.
Sortie 110s: Took off again from Runway 24L at 1340hrs. climb, turn crosswind, then turn downwind...base league all was oki. Approach and finals were oki too, until the last moment. i flared the aircraft coming in for landing. but the airplane bounced and i lost control. i gave up the landing and inititated a go-around. Flew another run in the circuits before getting down to finals again.
By this time, cold sweat was already breaking out. again i flared the aircraft coming in for landing after crossing the threshold of the runway. the plane bounced abit but this time round, i was able to control the aircraft. airplane landed at 1400hrs, first solo completed. pheww....finally...
and this was wat happened next.
Signing out~ October 01 Sortie 108F & Sortie 108GDebrief for Sortie 108F – Tan Yang Beng Sortie Details: Sortie 108F Circuits, 5 + 1 Duration: 1hr Flight Schedule: ATD 16:00 ETA: 17:00
Debrief for Sortie 108G – Tan Yang Beng Sortie Details: Sortie 108G Circuits, 5 + 1 Duration: 1hr Flight Schedule: ATD 16:30 ETA: 17:30
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