Flying

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Flight Reports

A nice write-up of Terry Miles very long (real) cross-country adventure.
Here is a rundown on the first "Velocity Midwest" flyin!

Bird Strike

A summary of bird strike incidents. Sid Knox had a bird strike in N199RS with Canadian Geese.

John Abraham struck a seagull at 200 kias in N222TZ.

Flying Tips

Flying with an Open Door
Flying the Velocity IFR
VNE Article
Radio License Koch Chart for Density Altitude Performance
Crosswind Chart

Cockpit Cooling Tip - Rene Dugas'

This is a post operative surgical knee chiller. It has a 12 volt pump and chill pad. I place the circulation pad at the small of the back and ice in the cooler. Works great. Remove it from behind the seat three seasons of the year. Long trips I freeze 8 oz water bottles and drink as needed.

Rene'

Grass Runway Technique, Tips, and Experiences

Brent Bourgeois

This is what I do: no warranty expressed or implied:

Flying 16 years off of a 3800ft really nice turf strip

Std RG IFR ,IO360 200hp 3 blade Catto 2300 static rpm

max speed: 2900 rpm, 1000ft, ram air , 150 deg ROP 17+ gpm!!!
218mph verified many times flying a 4 sided box with gps avg.
usually fly locally 5 gpm, LOP 135 kts, 2 or 3 people
density alt up to 3000 in summer

3 times in all that time I could not put 4 guys and 60 gal fuel because the turf field was wet and density alt was high, flew out with 15 gal to a real airport to get more gas. Gross weight an a hard runway is not a problem, just flies like a pig trailing edge fences, VGs in front of ailerons

I never fly with more gas than necessary, flies better light any way.

prop damage from FOD happens (not often) but it happens on asphalt strips too (mostly cowl screws) JB weld quick set to fix
always use speed brake

I watch the RG gear close, I know it takes a beating, tires and brakes last a long time on turf.

Brent

Waiter

Grass Field Tips from Waiter
as published on Canard Aviation Forum

I speak from a LongEZ, but they are very similar.

I perform turf operations three or four times a year. BUT, Only from fields that I know personally, sounds like that isn't a problem for you.

 1) The grass itself needs to be very short.
2) The surface needs to be hard, no moisture
3) No rocks or other big stuff that will damage the prop.
4) no hidden holes, or mounds, prefer freshly rolled.
5) CG - AFT CG limit is more desirable then forward limit.

The problem is, that tiny nose tire acts like an anchor. The amount of drag presented as it rolls across the turf is directly proportional to items 1 - 5 above. (Try and ride your 10 speed bike with those skinny tires, through the grass, same thing)

The plane will accelerate to some speed, (V-won't go any faster, or V-wgaf) depending on items 1-5. The runway could extend from Ohio to Florida, but if I can't get the nose wheel off the ground, I'll never be able to accelerate to liftoff speed.

I generally taxi, and start my takeoff roll with the speed brake down. The speed brake has little drag (compared to the nose tire itself) at these low speeds, and offers protection against stuff getting thrown into the prop. At this point, the speed brake is really a "mud flap".

The plane accelerates up to that magic V-wgaf. I then take advantage of any bumps or skips, to get the nose wheel to hop off the ground. Sometimes this happens in two or three steps, i.e. get the nose wheel to hop off for a couple seconds, pick up speed. Get the nose to hop off again, pick up a little more speed, etc. etc. until the nose stays off.

Once I achieve the speed that I can hold the nose off, (very shallow angle, just enough to keep the nose tire from touching the ground), I retract the Speed brake (mud flap)

The airplane continues to accelerate and do a normal climb out.

The biggest factor, is getting the nose tire off the ground.

MY RULE;
Never land on a turf runway unless I have personal knowledge of its condition. The Guy on Unicom see's planes takeoff and land all day from the turf, and just assumes that its OK for you. ITS NOT. I can easily land on a runway that will require a truck and trailer in order for my plane to depart.

Waiter

John Dibble

Reports these results from flying from grass strips.

  • Shortest Runway Used - 2600'
  • Density altitudes (approx) - 1000 msl, 80F
  • Take-off weight 2200 lbs
  • Aircraft rated HP - 220 HP
  • Prop Used - IVO adjustable
  • Runway used - With an uphill grade for the 1st 1/2 (which I think had a significant effect), I used around 2200'. My sister who was in the right seat commented that the corn field was coming up rather fast....

Scott Derrick

Lake Ca, 1C9, 2500 ft long rwy right near sea level.

Test Pilots

Albert
Dave Bertram

Flight Test Plan

Media:Flight_Test_Plan_N44VF.doc

Velocity Flight Training

Albert
Dave Bertram