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