| Author | Message | ||
     Jim_Sb |
Slaughter, I don't think the aircraft thread is terribly off topic. I often think of my S2 as a ground-bound aircraft of sorts... Just needs some gyros.  Jim in SB | ||
| Court |
"Traumahawk" . . I LOVE it ! My trial by fire came with CFI Carl Fritz who gave me the old "at the first sign of an imminent stall, release back pressure on the controls". I, perhaps and all or nothing type, interpreted "release" and slam control yoke to panel. The Tomahawk, you'll recall, came with some pretty scary warnings about it's stall behavior and a, less than comforting, "don't worry that it takes several turns to recover, while most planes recover within a 1/4 turn" dialouge. Well, my take off and departure stall day came. Level at 4,500, MCA, full power, carb heat off, flaps up, shallow bank to the left and yoke in my lap. Now, saavy readers will remember that the 'Hawk's t-tail was controvesial for in terms of how it did, or did not, contribute to stall entry and recovery. Something about it being in a different flow than the winds. All I know is that what the book at described as a "mild shudder, followed by a gradual decrease in control effectiveness" arrived as what sounded like shovels being smacked on the side of the alumium skin and me staring a wheat field in the face. (the only sound that comes close is that of ice being shed from a partially iced prop in a 172RG and hitting the leading edges and vertical stabilizer - Joplin, MO - 1991 In retrospect, the plane never entered a spin and I'm certain that what I REALLY experienced was about a 30o nose down attitude, combined with fear and inexperience. Anyway, I went on to spend several hundred happy hours with the cute little Tomahawk and it's bubble canopy and loved those hours I spent in the air. NOTE: To those of you who are not AVI8OR's and are laughing, chuckling "he got scared of 30o nose down. Hell, that's not even half way to straight down", I'll leave Jim to explain that the first time you see 30o or 40o you'll SWEAR you are directly earthbound, Jim, I like your taste. A pal at church bought two Malibu's for his business (Silo design) and it's the ultimate lust object of private pilot. Do you remember the Paregrine and how it was to be the "single pilot, owner flown jet"? I confess a fascination with the Cessna Carvavan (w/o FedEx graphics) for some odd reason. Now, I miss flying.... Court | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Court, The Tomahawk's T-tail was notoriously sensitive in pitch, which gave rise to the Traumahawk moniker. The Piper FBO in Van Nuys had a few that were landed so hard by students that the main gear pancaked leaving the aircraft flat on the runway. I saw the evidence after one such landing... I had no trouble with it and enjoyed the incredible views of SoCal provided by the bubble canopy... I did my spin training in a near new 172 at DuPage airport (West Chicago, IL) with an ex-military instructor. I *loved* them. The instructor did NOT. After 3 spins or so I was grinning and he said "head back to the airport". Spins do provide an incredible view of the ground beneath you, using the windshield.. Court, I confess my lust for the Malibu is based on 3 things. Pressurization, turbo-charging and de-icing equipment. With aircraft, as with Buells, ice can ruin your whole day... | ||
| Court |
I'm like you, I liked the Tomahawk. Frankly, the bubble allowed to to feel like I was playing in a baby Cessna T-37. >>>ice can ruin your whole day... You got that right. I was over Joplin when a heated pitot iced. Remember the training you got about the "gradual degradation of vaccum driven instrument displays"? Gradual, I learned, meant roughly 3 nanoseconds. I'm playing ball and needle hockey and telling KC ARTCC to please get me down 1,000 into colder, or up 1,000 to warmer. Eventually, and I confess that one minute seemed like 10, they gave me the climb 1,000, hold and maintain. Well, about 500' of up and I was out the tops, basking in sunshine. The ice that had accumulated on the prop, spars and leading edges left as quickly as the artifical horizon had tumbled. My fear and alarm far exceeds, I am sure, any REAL danger I was ever in. But, the sound of 140KIAS ice whacking thin aluminum sounds like gravel being fired at the bottom of a garbage pail over your head. Gads....now you are stoking my need to break out old files. Buells and aircraft most assuredly evoke similar emoitons and passion. I like that. Court | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Hi Court, you iced up a heated pitot? That takes some effort, eh? *Whew*. You did *not* overreact. Once you're in icing conditions you *must* get out ASAP. Period. Anything else would have been foolhardy. I have picked up trace icing several times, the worst time when ABQ Center *insisted* on vectoring me into a cell. WEASELS! I was not happy.  But the Bonanza is a stout and well made aircraft and handled it with aplomb. Aircraft, being my first "love" and consuming the bulk of my discretionary spending prevented me from Buell ownership until recently. C'est la vie. But look at the bright side. Now I've got a *hangar* in case the garage ever gets full of bikes! | ||
| Tripper |
Hey Jim; I until recently had a set of keys to a 1978 V35B. The company I worked for bought it from Ed King so you can imagine the equipment. I was a 150 hour pilot in C150/172's when I transitioned to the Bonanza. Life was sweet. Flying a Bonanza, driving the worlds fastest motorcycles, sports car, and then I got married. WTF was I thinking??? There is NOTHING like the Bonanza. | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Tripper, very, very, kewl! IMHO aircraft are like motorcycles. I never met one I didn't like. But some are more special to me than others. The Bonanza fits that description nicely. Until you've leaned one over in a 60 degree turn and felt how incredibly light yet stable she is, well, it's hard to describe to others. But I'd say Bonanza's are "flickable". Like our bikes she must be treated with respect, though.... My Wife and I were dating when I started flying lessons. When she found out about them she "forbid" them. He he he. Wanna guess who won that argument? Now she'd rather fly with me than on the airlines... So now you guys see I have emotional problems. Basically if it has a piston engine I either have one or want one. Boats (Malibu Sunsetter LX), cars (911 Targa), SUV's (Explorer), airraft, bikes (S2 & 883), it doesn't matter. I've got it bad... I know, I am one sick puppy. But I don't want to be cured... I desperately want an XB9S. Shhh.... | ||
| Tripper |
OK Jim, here's the strategy to follow for the XB Lightning.... Has your wife asked you to teach her to ride? HAHA! The trap is set.... Sign her up for HD Riders Edge, and of course she is thinking about which motorcycle to buy for her own. The salespeople will show her the Blasted Blast and explain it's virtues. Light, easy for short legs, smooth power delivery. Then you ease her over to the XB9S (in Black, of course) have her sit on it and discover how easy it comes off the sidestand, the easy reach to the handlebars, and the power, it comes on so soft and smooth, can you pull the clutch in Honey? Thumbs up? This is what you need. Oh, and it's 0.9% financing (they can't pass up a deal like that, it's damn near like triple coupon day.) Get that XB inb your garage before she takes the course, don't ride it cause it's waiting for her, RIGHT? Wrong. Chances are she scares herself during the riders course, you adopt the orphan and Voila! You have another Buell to ride. I'll let ya know if this strategy works... | ||
| Timbo |
Todays Golden State BRAG ride to Solvang, I almost didn't make this ride because I found a nail in my tire Saturday night. After some encouragement from SB Jim I decided to try and plug it and go. I'm glad I did. Saw some good old freinds and met some new ones too. Which made for a great ride today. Santa Barbara Jim even showed me a couple of his favorite local back roads when we broke off from the main group for a time. Incredibly beautiful twisting, turning roads that gently rise and fall through green rolling hills. What a treat. The main attraction in Solvang for us was a motorcycle museum that didn't dissapoint. Good variety of great bikes from many different eras. Matty and Ernie stopped with one of our riders who was having some trouble. They told the others to go on, that they would have it fixed in no time, but they didn't show in Solvang, so I hope all went ok. We missed you guys at the museum. Ok, enough talking here's some pics! That's Tim (not me)on the right, our fearless leader  Timbo | ||
| Timbo |
BTW, That's Saro and his lovely lady (and I feel bad I can't think of her name now) to the left of Tim in the previous pic. Here is one of SB Jim upon arrival at the museum  | ||
| Timbo |
Hey! The sign said "Buell on" so we DID!  That's James on the left and Jim on the right. The sign actually said Buellton at one time but the T was missing (we didn't alter it I swear) | ||
| Timbo |
How about some shots from inside the museum.  See? I told you it's a cool place. | ||
| Timbo |
This is an Excelsior Manxman (from England) with a bronze racing head (circa 1936 if I remember correctly).  | ||
| Timbo |
This is an AJS. Now I could be wrong, but somehow, by looking at this motor I don't think the intake flow quite matched exhaust flow.  | ||
| Timbo |
This a colorful example of one of my very favorite kinds of racing. It's a Jawa Speedway bike.  | ||
| Timbo |
A row of beautiful Nortons  There were lots of cool bikes, and I took dozens of pictures but I don't want to tick off Blake for posting too many of these. Hope you enjoyed. Timbo | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Timbo! Great pics! Sounds like your tire got you home okay too! Great. I notice you left out the Duc and the Indian. Hope 'Ti' Matty and the others made it home okay. I looked along our route in SB for them but no joy. Which means they probably headed back after making repairs. | ||
| Slaughter |
Now I am really sorry that I couldn't make the ride yesterday to Solvang. Bad enough to know I was missing a new route and a couple roads I hadn't ridden on before but seeing the pics... DANG!!! Did have a great ride to Ferrisville on Saturday - gorgeous weather and even though there were only 2 of us, was a nice day, safe ride (and on Tehachapi/Willow springs road found out what speed the rev limiter kicks in) See you all on the next one! | ||
| Sarodude |
That ride yesterday sure was fun... On the Saturday before the ride I bumped into Sparky at the Glendale dealership to inquire about the format and pace of the ride as I'd never done a BRAG thing before. Sparky, in his typical understated manner, responded that he'd be taking it easy riding 2 up with his wife on the back. I think I'll let James (jprovo) comment on how that one worked out! Actually, I thought it was a great pace on a great route. It was a little bit of work keeping up on the FXD but it was ENJOYABLE work. It was the first time I'd gotten to ride the 192 without being stuck behind someone pulling a massive horse trailer without the basic skills to even ride a tricycle - but I digress... Notes to self: * Glendale 'Blast Cup' riders are nuts. * If pumping gas in Ojai carry some KY. * I want my Blast back! When can we do this again? -Saro | ||
| Sarodude |
psst - Timbo - her name is Loli but we won't tell her that you forgot! |
