I knocked off early from a very busy stairshop and went out scouting this afternoon for the first combine in my area. I can easily spot a combine ten miles away from its dust plume. It wont be long and the John Deeres will be thicker than flies clearing off Illinois so I can fly down on the deck for miles. This is the best time of the year for flying.
I was flying about 2 feet off the soybeans in the low shots. It is a complete absolute rush to fly this low.
Gyrocopters have to be the best kept secret in aviation. They are so easy to precisely control them and in almost any kind of wind. It amazes me how fixed wing pilots just dont understand these things at all. I flew fixed wing until I got my butt in a gyrocopter. I dont want to go back.
Stan
Replies
Stop it. I don't need another hobby.
Gyros have always fascinated me, just not enough to get a qual. Now you're pulling that string again. :-)
Got my taildragger qual a few years ago. Quite the humbling experience to go from tricycle to a late 40's Citabria.
The average pilot, despite the somewhat swaggering exterior, is very much capable of such feelings as love, affection, intimacy, and caring.
These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
once you get that close to the ground do you get any kind of ground effect/ boost in upward lift ?
Jeff: Whe you get within a half rotor diameter of the surface...you get a substantial amount of "ground effect" What is happening is that the air cant all escape freely and it gives less drag and more lift. You can definately feel it. Lots of interesting stuff goes on with rotorcraft. I find them extremely satisfying to study their aerodynamics...then actually go out and apply them in the air.
Stan
The whole idea of ground effect flight/hovercraft fascinates me. I thought when I was in 7th grade we all would be driving hydrogen fueled hover cars and well... that didnt seem to work out.
the russians did a lot of ground effect stuff too...
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/4346/S90.htm
I knew that it happened with powered rotors, and assumed it happened with gyros, but had to be sure! Keep sending pictures!!!
JerseyJeff_ If you were flying low and then went over a ditch...you would lose some ground effect...but it would just settle a little.
More ditch running...then the last one is I-57 looking towards Champaign, Il.
Here is a combine that just started in my area today. The other shots
Stan
So cool to see these..keep em coming. stinky
I always see all your photos titled with the 1a1a1a1a1a1a and all I can think of is you tooling around up there going La-La-La-La-La-La with a smile on your face.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
Stan, years ago my instructor and I had the chance to fly a T210 through Nevada to Las Vegas..We decided to do some "low flying". Flying at 180 knots at 15 feet was a rush. It was something I will never forget, Instructor would not let me touch the controls...made us both nervous at that speed you cant see the wires.
After landing we were both drenched in sweat. So cool. Your pics remind me of the the good old days, man its beatiful up there. stinky
Friend of mine hit a power line doing that.++++++++++++++++++
The average pilot, despite the somewhat swaggering exterior, is very much capable of such feelings as love, affection, intimacy, and caring.These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
What would happen if you were flying 2' off the ground and all of a sudden came upon a ditch that was 10' deep?
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
DW's lookin' over my shoulder here at lunch - she wonders if you ever drag your feet in the grain? Yer shoes look close!
Forrest
As usual, neat pics, Stan.
They're really starting to kick it into high gear around here. Rumors of a storm this weekend. Apparently they would rather harvest a bit damp rather than run the risk of losing it to a storm.
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer