He still has it..... and The calm before the storm

[Paul Taylor]

Today after work I took my nephew to the flying field. He was given a mongoose last summer at our Cheezehead Fun Fly and has not been able to fly it because he lives a few hours away and with school and some family issues we just have not been able to connect. But now that summer is here I will see more of him.

Any we got him acquainted again with C/L flying. He did not forget how to fly. He first flew our old trainer Buster and did not bust it. So next we hooked up his mongoose with a Fox 25 and away he went. Just like riding a bike I told him.
He wants to get tuned up for the 2011 Cheezehead Fun Fly. I hope to talk him in to also flying in the Memphis Stunt Classis this fall. We will see.

And now the calm before the storm.
I put up two flights. First one was good, except for the fact that I once again forgot to pull out inverted after the insides. I did not want to roll up my lines until I did it right. By the time is was my time to fly again, the sun was now behind the trees the temps were way cooler (must have been down to 90) and the wind was all gone. I did my wing over and then started my insides. As I came over the top of the second loop the plane almost fell out of the air. Buckled and fluttered. I knew what it was and took a step back, next loop and step back. Talk about dancing in the circle. I got thru the pattern, but a I never knew when I was going to hit the next wake. I think I would rather fly in gusty winds then no wind at all.

[Brian Massey]

No wind at all can be really treacherous! I have a lot of problems "stepping back" and still keeping my attention on the manuver itself.

Brian

[Dan McEntee]

  Just take a short shuffle step while you are doing each loop, nice and smooth like. Some guys say take a step back to equal the wingspan. I first heard of this as the "Bob Hunt Shuffle" as some have said he was the first to perfect the dance. Like anything else, it takes a bit of practice and a good groovy airplane helps.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Peter Nevai]

I don't get it, Been flying off ond on since 71 and never had a problem with controlling the plane in still air. Perhaps the plane was buffeted a bit but thats about all. Never gave it a second thought. I love still air as there are no surprises. Maybe I just had more time flying in dead air and subconciously adjust for it.

I look forward to those still air (LOOK NO WIND!) days. Although to be honest a tiny bit of constant breeze is better than none as it helps me set up where I should do the manuevers. Had on more than one ocassion to start a stunt in the wrong place at the wrong time when a little breeze kicked up in the middle of it.

Perhaps some of what people think is wake turbulence is actually some wind kicking up with the plane being caught up wind, Oh and hot days with still air can and does generate some pretty strong thermals, could be that as well. Nothing to be done about it though.

[john e. holliday]

Turbulance is there, I know now.   Used to think the same thing.  Do not like looking at the top of the airplane or bottome when doing loops.  A good breeze in one direction is what I like best.  Especially when it is coming from the sun.   

[dave siegler]

The mongoose was real nose heavy, how dies it fly?

Oh yeah the tank is too large.... but that wa my best effort at making a tank from scratch


dave

[Paul Taylor]

Dave,
The Mongoose flew fine. Tank worked out well. Now we just need to get him on the handle more often.