Hi,
so delightfully many of you have asked me "please write more", that I
thought to share my last flight of the year 2016.
That happened 28.12.2016, when my flight insurance was valid so far the
last day of the flying season 2016!
I drove to my third home EFTP, as I have done hundreds of time since 1992.
Went into hangare doing some pre-flight preparations, like taking it out
---From the electricity network.
Took off my beloved Europa out of her hangare...
***
I am not so experienced arctic winter pilot, but flying more or less
regulaly during winter.
1) I keep always a 100W bulb in the cockpit between the pedals to dry
the panel systems and to keep the cockpit more or less warm.
2) I keep always the battery (accu) loaded by modern charger w CPU.
3) I keep always the engine heated by electric water heater 500W.
Thats why my Europa is always connected to the electricity network by
3-way el divider like this.
My hangar is modest and far from those US Pilot Dream Caves, but Im
happy of it. Its private, perfect for my Europa and thats quite rare
here to have
a personal hangar in the Government Airport.
4) My 912S needs to restrict the airflow to the radiator, when below say
+5C.
This method is not so sophisticated, but operational. Its also easy to
adjust
in accordance with the temparature, its easy to make and easy to take off,
it cheap, its powerfull, its lightweight and reliable. Of course it
could be sexy
automatic OAT temp controlled flap system system, but...my Europa is
heavy enough.
I can make it more charming by using special tape colour matched to my
RAL black-red.
Next year!
5) heater.
6) effective de-frost system.
7) all moving parts lubricated by special winter waterfree lubricant.
8) lights (I have two front xenons, three strobos, nav lights and leds
too many (I love leds).
9) always soft paper omboard if the windshild happen to fog.
10) tight sleeves in my winter jacket (yes, the right open sleeve wants
to put throttle full easily when taxiing!).
11) warm enough and comfortable clothes.
12) autopilot (you need it when shit happens).
13) GPS (you need it even in the familiar landscape - all looks so same
and uncolored).
14) good plan and a strict awareness about for example sunset, weather.
15) freezing monitoring specially around zero, when a dew point is close.
A Year ago during fall I flew on top FL100 just above the clouds.
Suddenly I felt the
ailerons went rock solid. OAT was -3, but obviously there was some
supercooled water in the air.
What to do? I trimmed my ac to descend very slowly right through the
clouds, and reported tower I want now to descend straight ahead
(and isolated my passenger - why to make her worry). We flew out of the
clouds at 4000 feet and very soon the ailerons went free.
My aileron fit to the wings is quite tight. Lessons to learn, beware to
fly just above clouds in these conditions.
BTW, if Europa is easily controlled w/o ailerons by moving just your
hands front, back, left or right. Try it. But must be well trimmed.
16) carburretor heat - I have it always on because there is a hot water
circulation system.
Generally, the winter flying here is that easier what colder. Usually -
if not snowing - and very cold, its a long lasting high pressure.
You can make flight plans you can follow, there is a blue sky, super
visibility in our clean air and also night flying is enjoyable. You can
land almost everywhere if
there is snow less than 10 cm. In the case of forced landing, you have
100.000 frozen lakes to land. If more snow, just land without gears
and probably no damages if a bit lucky (stop the engine one blade up if
three blades).
***
...had my dep 1253Z (sunset 1310Z). Flew four minutes to our EFRT, made
couple of warning circuits over it and landed 1308Z to EFRT 30.
Total flight time 15 min, distance 22 nm, max alt 1068 ft, max speed 158
kt GS, average speed 88 kt.
And there they were, my ground staff wife Marke and our dog Lumo.
Watching no one will drive the small road just in case for aborted
landing...
Backtrack 30, and via 03 to the apron area...
Orbiting right 180...
Isnt it charming?
Preparing dep EFRT 21, runway lenght 200 metres, practically zero wind...
And almost upp into air 1315Z...
And there I was again, flying 10 years old (practically 20 years) hand
made plastic box in the Lat 61.
Just amazing, isnt it, what we all are doing (those who are still
building, do it quickly good sake!!!)
- flying hand made acs where we want, how we want and when we want!
I flew via Vesilahti and Narva (there is a Laukko Manor
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurki_of_Laukko],
last 40 years they are welknown about their horses - it has been the
biggest horse farm in whole Europe,
and the best of all was The Houston Laukko).
Distance 39 nm, flight time 22 min, max alt 1549 ft, max speed 150 kt
GS, average speed 108 kt GS,
ARR to EFTP 1337.
There is a saying many actions are better than making bad love,
but we know, that flying Europa at its best is better than
an average medium lovemaking. And what older you become,
probably more safer also! And many times cheaper!
It will be interesting what SHE is saying after reading this post.
My target of course is to get the best available tonight - wish me luck!
I hope you liked this!
I wish you all safe flights and enjoyable landings for 2017!
Cheers,
Raimo
Europa OH-XRT #417
Finland
<mailto:info@rwm.fi>
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