AD circuit without instruments

Flight instruments were covered when in flight (altimeter, gyro, ASI) and while doing touch and go's. The gyro could be easily supplemented by reading the compass, for the altimeter we knew our reference points (especially hills), for the ASI it was more of a feeling thing. We performed 9 landings and 1 G/A. There was quite a few orbits at the beginning as this french falcon was being tested performing IFR flights.

These are most of the planes used by Avilu for schooling. Wish you a merry Xmas!

Flying a plane...

First time I touched a yoke was in a flight between Lima and Cuzco. After takeoff the captain announced his name, and my dad said, "hey that is a friend of mine!". Soon all siblings were inside the cockpit of the DC-8. This being Peru, we went a bit off course to get close to some Andean peaks, got to steer a bit while sitting on the capt's lap and of course landed in the cockpit.


This was the DC-8 that faucett used for inland flights. The company went bankrupt, after a series of accidents and financial troubles in the early 90s.

Landings on Runway 01, Departure Briefing

Today we learned a bit more about Departure Briefing that is performed during the Checklist. Things such as, were and how we go, which runway, upto what altitude and then to where are thought off, then cases of emergency (if above 1000' can return to airport, else find somewhere in front of you with 30' angles), abort take off, Vst, Vx, Vy, Vglide.

In order to get used to another traffic pattern we performed 4 landings on RW01 (see pic), where we land from the lake. This was followed with 6 landings on RW19, including a few emergency situations.

Emergency Situations, loss of flaps, engine

We first did a few landings without flaps, here we put 1600rpm at the on the runway on downwind, our approach was therefore from a lower position and we used throttle to control height, as well as lifting the nose to maintain speed. While doing the aerodrome circuit, at certain times the instructor would inadvertently turn off the engine. It was now time to decide what to do regarding making it either back to the runway, finding a place where to make an emergency landing (a park taking off, near the shore of the lake). Flaps were used if we were too high, and we were sure to drop the nose at the beginning in decent to have speed. Remember first fly the plane then worry about the rest.

Stall practices over Lago Maggiore

Flying Practice consisted of seeing how the plane reacts when the angle
of attack it to high to the relative wind. Flying on a straight path,
banking, descending and ascending was performed at very high angles,
until the stall warning was reached. A bit later on came the stall
accompanied with a quick drop resulting from loss of lift. To overcome
this we dropped the nose until a speed of 80mph.

2 Lessons, 8 and 9 Landings

Today we continued with our AD circuits. 8 where completed in the
morning, 9 in the later session. Main purpose was to get more
comfortable with the throttle specially when one is too high or too low
on final. We came from a steeper angle by climbing to 2600' (follow to
2000' go right, then left to go back downwind). When in final, we went
down to flaps 4, and using the lights set ourselves to the right
altitude. For lower approach we went to 2000' and at the end of runway
on downwind pulled throttle to 1600rpm and lower flaps.

I ended buying some batteries for my new toy, the VHF scanner... but
still figuring out how to install it, program it, set it. The day ended
with a nice ground school class in aerodynamics.

My 1st time airborne

The first time I flew was in Nazca, Peru in 1983. We boarded a single engine plane in order to view the Nazca lines that are carved in the desert below. I felt sad as Miguelon had to be left on the ground, I guess he never flew in his life.

Off course in the air I felt sick and had to use one of those paper bags!



The lines are a 2000 year old mistery: UFOs, astronomical calendars, etc. My opinion, I think Nazca people were good geometrists and drew this as a present to the gods.
On the way back to Lima, we hit a huge pothole on the "bajada" before cañete. Without a spare (also punctured, way up), we got lucky when the owners of the plane from Nazca drove down and helped us out giving us their spare.

Aerodome Circuit: 11 Landings

Today we kept doing circuits, throttle, carb heat and FINAL check were
performed. Landings are getting smoother :)

2 Lessons of 8 Landings each

Today we kept on doing aerodrome circuits, new responsibilities were talking CB to the tower, and lowering flaps on FINAL. Last flight ended 3 minutes before night time. I also finished the first page of my log book, 8:26 flight time. 27 landings.

10 Approaches, 6 Landings, 4 Go Arounds

Today we worked on landing at LSZA. Using runway 19 (915'), weather was great and we began with training. Difference between this week and last is that at LSZA we level off at 2000', rpm 2300. Take off from 950', at 1200' we put up flaps and turn landing light off. Sharp right towards Church, and before shore left wide circle back to downwind. Control apps. Call tower, flaps 1, right to TV building, Before highway left to BASE, flaps 2, rpm 1600. FINAL, land.

Simulated Airport Circuit

After more than a week with cancelled flights and bad weather, the sky quickly cleared up and I was on my way to LSZA again.

We departed from runway 19 direction W and on to Luino where the castle and pier along the lake would simulate a landing strip (at 2000',v=70mph). We would do GA, after FINAL with flaps 3 on top of the strip we would do full throttle, keep level and reduce to flaps 2 and then to 1 when we reach climb speed. At 2300' (clear) flaps were up and landing light off. At 3000' we turned left to the x-WIND and kept climbing until we reach level off at 3500' (v=100mph, rpm=2300) where we would now be on DOWNWIND side of the runway. We then checked apps (altimeter, gyros, fuel, mixture rich, carb heat, landing lights). When the start of the runway is next to us we put flaps 1 with v<100. We then fly at v=90mph until start is 45' behind us. We then turn 90' onto BASE and set rpm=1600, flaps 2, v=80 and start our descent. We turn right for FINAL and do final check (carb heat off, mixt set, flaps 3, landing clearance), speed stays at v=70mph. We line up with runway and simulate a landing before another GA.

This was repeated 5x, bad weather was closing in LSZA so we took off home... got really cloudy and scary. Evelyn had to take over the controls thru the bad part until we had good visibility again.

Turns over Cadenazzo-Bellinzona

With HB-CDH, we departed for the first time from runway 01, heading North. We left Lugano tower control at November and followed the highway towards Ceneri. We crossed the pass, banked right and started with exercises for slow flying. This consisted of putting the nose up and re-trimming after decreasing rpm to 2200 (90mph), 2000 (80mph), 2000 (70 mph, flaps 1).




Next exercise consisted of training 90 degree turns. A rectangular area marked by 2 roads, the river and the railway tracks made up our training area. Right turns, left turns... We then flew back through the Ceneri at 3000ft and the at November started our decent to runway 19. A smooth landing :)

Lessons 1.3, 1.4, HB-CDH becomes new Training Plane

"Delta Hotel" is now officially the training plane for Avilu, "Juliette Victor" is gone... though I still don't know where it will end up. HB-CDH is a french made Cessna 150, 100 HP, and with a bit different configuration then the C152. Main difference being, the airspeed indicator is in MPH and not in knots (100kt~115mph)...

We took off from runway 91, direction South. We climbed to 2000ft where we turned right direction waypoint W, at W we cleared air control with the tower and followed on towards Luino and Lago Maggiore. This would be our training space for the next 45 minutes. Exercises consisted of getting used to flaps flying at the same level (Flaps1, Flaps2, Flaps1) and seeing how the plane wanted to lift, how the speed would decrease (because of bigger drag). Corrections were made to cancel this lift by pointing the nose downward.

90 degree turns followed, using the compass and a reference point right in front of the turning side wing. A bank is given to 20 degrees, and fixed, around 7 degrees before we correct to the desired reference (90 degrees, left or right). The same was done on descent and ascent.

Next exercise was using the flaps to keep the same speed while descending. We started at 4000ft, then, by keeping a reference point (say a palce where an emergency landing could be) , we took of all power (least throttle) and started our decent keeping 70 mph. The flaps were then lowered (1, 2, 3) and we adjusted with the nose to keep same speed 70mph, but lower angle. We levelled off at 2500ft with full throttle, and after some time, started our climbing and lowering the flaps. This might have been something the Piper should have performed instead of really trying to make the runway...

We headed back to LSZA but had to orbit 2x at 2600ft over the runway as a plane was performing GA and touch and go exercises. Orbiting seems to be a common thing at Lugano.


Takeoff LSZA UTC=1308

Landing LSZA UTC=1415

Total flight time=1:07

Piper goes off runway, 3 injured

As I arrived today for my flight lesson, I was informed that Avilu planes were grounded until this afternoon. Reason:

HB-OQH, "Quebec Hotel" from Avilu skidded off the runway at landing in Firenze. Two of the three people on board were brought to hospital severly injured. One left hospital today while the swiss pilot still remains there. The plane was totalled.


Article from Italian Source


This is a picture of the Piper Arrow

Beautiful weather, strong winds

Since last Tuesday the weather has been amazing. Sunny, a bit cool (which makes flying conditions better)... unfortunately it has also been very gusty and windy. Staying in Lugano was meant partly to save some money and just relax and not go through the whole hectic thing of partying in Zurich... hmm. Well my flights were cancelled on Thursday because of the HB-CJV muffler, and though a Cessna 150 (HB-CDH) was found to replace it, strong winds cancelled again our flights for the whole weekend... oh well :(

Places I have been (flown) to...

create your own visited countries map

38 countries...

HB-CJV is sick :(

Juliette Victor lost her Muffler today.. unfortunately that meant
cancelling the flight and lesson :( She will be fixed in the next day,
hopefully she is available by tomorrow.



Here you see HB-CJV being tanked @ parking Alpha in front of LSZA tower.

This was sent with

This was sent with my phone. Just a quick test that this can be updated from anywhere with a connection.. The air? Maybe...

2nd Flight, Lago di Como

My second flight concentrated first on some taxiing execises on the
tarmac. Went well, and definately better then last time. Again we took
off from runway 19, direction south. At 2000 feet we banked 20 degrees
left and followed towards Lugano city. Over the lake at point E, we
talked to the tower as we were exiting their control area. We levelled
off at 3000ft and started with trimming execises. Went good ad helped in
how to keep the plane level.
Around Lago di Como for a few rounds, then over Como, Chiasso,
Mendrisio, Capolago, right to point E. Wait for jet to land at LSZA,
approach from North to runway 19. 62 Minutes Block time.

November 9th 2004, First Flight on HB-CJV

With Evelyn Mahle as my flight instructor. I took off around 1400 UTC on a Cessna 152, HB-CJV. We took off runway 19, direction south. We crossed into Italy at point W over Ponte Tresa and followed on towards Lago Maggiore, where banking, descent and ascent exercises were performed.
Ascents followed at 60-65kt, full throttle. Descents at 2000rpm, 5 V- (90kt). Level off at 90kt, 2400rpm.
Turns at 20 degrees.

This is the plane I flew, and will be flying for the next few weeks:

Problems:
- taxing
- keeping right speed in acsent

Positive
- Good landing approach

LINKS

Avilu, my flight school


ILS Bulletin Board


FOCA|BAZL|OFAC|UFAC


Tim's Air Navigation Simulation


Airliners.net


href="http://www.generalaviation.de/misc/aviation-acronyms.shtml#CCCCC">Aviation
Acronyms

Flying lessons...

Well after quite a bit of thought I have decided to take up flying
lessons, a feat I already wanted to accomplish since quite a while. I
guess it is the best thing I can do while I am here in Lugano.
I was very interested in flying while I was living in the Boston. Tomas
had already started and I guess doing something together would have made
it even cheaper. Unfortunately 911 made me think again about things, as
security and such an issue at the time.
Last night I was browsing through the first chapter (weather),
installing a PC for my landlady and watching 24... the mixture made me
only get to bed around 2am... hehehe...

;p

Riding a Jet... saab, mirage... help?

Played in Geneva, Score Avusy 10 : Zurich 22, probably biggest win of the year


On top of a Saab jet at Payerne, CH after defeating Swiss rugby champions Avusy in April.