Thanks Terry, >Unfortunately however, math or not, the history is that a lot of people who >have attempted this option died in so doing.
To make such a statement, you need to know the of people who have died doing this manoevure divided by number of times the manoevure is performed. I am sure that we don't hear about the majority of people that have performed this manoevure successfully without incident. >As for turnbacks at 200 ft? Not if I'm around thank you! Especially if I'm >on the inside of the aircraft. What would you do if there was no land ahead option (i.e. wooded area)? Landing in trees is not a low risk manoevure either. > The other problem with a theoretical approach to a situation like this is > that it might indeed be achievable with an above average pilot, The paper presented placed student pilots in the simulator as well. The point being made is that a pilot of average skill with appropriate training can do this manoevure safely. Thermalling turns are done at 45 degree AOB and at lower airspeed! Hence 45 degree AOB at 1.5 x Vs level (in other words at safe speed near the ground), should be a manoevure that a solo standard pilot can acheive. Again this underscores practicing the manoevure at altitude and making sure that the student can get it right. >programs himself to consider the same option if it happens to him, We should all have our launch failure options clear in our minds during our pre take-off check. > You can guess the rest. This is why a pilot should not be sent solo if they do not have good speed control, especially near the ground. >It's usually much easier and quicker to derig the aircraft in the next paddock >than to have to pick up all the pieces on the airfield. That's still how I >would prefer to approach an event like this. I'm not sure if this is >sufficiently rational or reasoned, but wreckage on the ground has a way of >re-evaluating theoretical argument - often very dramatically. As I have said repeatedly, if you can land ahead safely, do so. This covers the situation where you can't. I am sure you could make the converse argument, seeing the wreckage in unlandable terrain off the end of the runway would be equally as sad. _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
