Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire 4 May
Mark Chamberlain
Well, with the wind blowing and the rain...er raining I was determined to get
out to try my Revo out.
It was gusty and turbulent as well as quite strong wind. I wouldn't have even
considered taking off in my Arcus.
Dodging the rain showers while setting up. Had problems starting the motor first
of all and had to leave it for a while incase I'd flooded it.
I got the wing set up and prepared to do a little ground handling when it
started raining again. I ran to get the stuff sack from my van and got the wing
out of the rain. 10 mins later I got the wing out again and realised the risers
had gone through some of the lines aaarrgh!
10 mins later, lines sorted I got a chance to ground handle for a while to gauge
the wind conditions. This proved difficult due to the gusting.
Got the motor started, and inflated. Perfect inflation and off a few steps
later.
It was 50 minutes of one of the bumpiest flights I've had and I had problems
trusting the wing. Lots of movement in the harness and swinging around. I'd put
the trimmers out but could see that there was still a little more play in the
risers so I made a mental note to adjust this before the next flight.
I also didn't put my speed bar on as it needed adjusting so another mental note
there.
I was making headway at between 1 and 12mph so didn't get very far. I also had
to stay below 800ft due to the wind gradient.
The scariest part was the landing approach. Extreme buffeting at low levels and
I'm pretty sure the wing rustled, probably a tip collapse but couldn't say for
sure. Going backwards at one stage I did two or three go arounds to get the best
position/conditions to land.
The landing itself was actually no problem. I was landing down the gradient of
the field with the engine off. Remembering the technique for landing the Revo
(on fast trim) I levelled off just above ground then flared for a running
landing.
I know my Arcus would have been going backwards faster that I was flying
forwards (except I wouldn't have taken off) so my Revo has vindicated itself.
A few adjustments to make but all in all a successful test. Apart from a loose
manifold bolt my Rad didn't fall to pieces either so that's always a good start!
An unexpected days flight.
out to try my Revo out.
It was gusty and turbulent as well as quite strong wind. I wouldn't have even
considered taking off in my Arcus.
Dodging the rain showers while setting up. Had problems starting the motor first
of all and had to leave it for a while incase I'd flooded it.
I got the wing set up and prepared to do a little ground handling when it
started raining again. I ran to get the stuff sack from my van and got the wing
out of the rain. 10 mins later I got the wing out again and realised the risers
had gone through some of the lines aaarrgh!
10 mins later, lines sorted I got a chance to ground handle for a while to gauge
the wind conditions. This proved difficult due to the gusting.
Got the motor started, and inflated. Perfect inflation and off a few steps
later.
It was 50 minutes of one of the bumpiest flights I've had and I had problems
trusting the wing. Lots of movement in the harness and swinging around. I'd put
the trimmers out but could see that there was still a little more play in the
risers so I made a mental note to adjust this before the next flight.
I also didn't put my speed bar on as it needed adjusting so another mental note
there.
I was making headway at between 1 and 12mph so didn't get very far. I also had
to stay below 800ft due to the wind gradient.
The scariest part was the landing approach. Extreme buffeting at low levels and
I'm pretty sure the wing rustled, probably a tip collapse but couldn't say for
sure. Going backwards at one stage I did two or three go arounds to get the best
position/conditions to land.
The landing itself was actually no problem. I was landing down the gradient of
the field with the engine off. Remembering the technique for landing the Revo
(on fast trim) I levelled off just above ground then flared for a running
landing.
I know my Arcus would have been going backwards faster that I was flying
forwards (except I wouldn't have taken off) so my Revo has vindicated itself.
A few adjustments to make but all in all a successful test. Apart from a loose
manifold bolt my Rad didn't fall to pieces either so that's always a good start!
An unexpected days flight.
