The only real test on glide ratios that I have done brings me to conclude
that my plane at 90 mph best glide (assumed) gives me about 2.5 miles for every
1000 feet of altitude lost. Im not sure of the actual ratio but I try to
fly a minimum of 5000 AGL when possible - usually higher - on long cross
country
flights to always give me the best possible margins of safety and
performance. I can normally land at an airport anywhere along most routes I
take when
properly planned. Sometimes weather interfers but then I change my routing
to a less direct route and fly airport to airport. When I fly around here I
have made notes on my charts and waypoints in my GPS as to where all the
private strips are at. Many are not on charts and I have found many that help
me
make more direct paths- especially when I fly southeast of Valdosta I can
choose to fly 35 minutes over swamp with no landing strips in sight or take a
slightly less direct route and add only 3 minutes but be in gliding distance
of an airport (private and paved) during the entire route. I prefer the
longer route as it causes less of a "pucker" factor. This sound very
different
in an airplane when flying over water or snake infested swamps. I will also
fly above broken and scattered layers on long cross country flights rather
than fly low. Jusr be careful not to fly over solid layers where you run out
of
options to descend. The use of GPS is nice during these flights. At 9,000
- 14000 the air is cool, usually calm and more stable. I would sacrifice
speed due to headwind for a higher altitude anytime. The KR is efficient
enough
to allow this and a few minutes extra is a small sacrifice for safety. Ive
done many flights above 9000 and enjoy it. This airplane climb very fast and
will do even better with the turbo (in progress).
All this is a just a reminder that flying can be hazardous to ones
health - plan and think accordingly. An engine rebuild is a small price to
pay
when considering the cost of your life and the loss and effects on family and
friends. I fly for fun and for business. I plan to do so as long as I can.
It is something I enjoy and I enjoy sharing it with my friends. Im not
scared to fly though it has given my a scare a time or two, but no more than
driving at night and scaring myself when I doze off for a split second. I
sometimes see pilots who are overconfident of a "production" aircraft and
engine
and dont fly accordingly. I myself have looked back and wondered why I flew
so low in a 150 on a cross country flight and realized that I assumed nothing
could go wrong yet give myself more margins with my plane that I built
myself. The 150 was a rental I knew little about, its damage history,
repairs, did
the last pilot not mention a problem, maintenance...and so forth. Yet many
times I hopped in and flew with confidence, and now I believe it to be
overconfidence. Airplanes are mechanical things and they DO break. We just
have
to learn to fly preemtively and build to the best of our ability. Dont be
scared to build - get help when needed - build with safety in mind and learn
from those of us who have broken things or made poor choices. I think all of
us have invaluable build and flight information that can inspire and motivate
others and ourselves to enjoy the wonder of flight.
So Mark Langford - he will get his engine fixed, do the repairs and
tweaking and be back in the air soon - KUDOS to him
And Bob Lester - recuperating from his back injury - doing well - and he
is in the process of building new main spars fand engine for his plane to
get him airborne again - KUDOS to him as well -
KUDOS to all who pick up the pieces and go on. You are inspirational to
us all and make us proud to be in the KR family.
Bill and N41768
