Flying a Gazelle on Sunday

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Looking forward to this Sunday, off to have a go at a Gazelle. It will be the first Rotax power a/c i've flown, will be interesting to see how it goes. Very much looking forward to seeing how my training and very limited experience on Jabs (only about 55hrs now) will translate into flying the Gazelle.

 

I have the checklist and downloaded the POH, but does anyone have any hints or tips on this this a/c?

 

Cheers

 

 

[dazza 38]

You will be bored.You dont fly a gazelle you baby sit it.IMO.Yes I have flown one.Sorry dont take offence, just my sarcastic humour.Have fun mate.

 

 

[Hildy]

hmm. I'm flying a gazelle next week as well. or should I fork out the extra $35/hr for a pioneer 200?

 

 

[Bryon]

I learnt on a Gazelle and then transferred to Jabs for my HP endo

 

Flying a Gazelle is fun, they are responsive and forgiving.

 

The things that you need to be aware of is that it is a lot slower than a Jab, typically 75-85 knots cruise, slows down real quick and can handle a crosswind better

 

Fast, it aint, fun, it is

 

Everyone should fly a Gazelle at least once

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Lol "I will be bored". They must be docile things to fly along then. I got an email from my instructor saying "55 55 55" - watch the speeds and you're fine. Anyway i'm sure to have fun, but then I gotta take the wife house shopping after :(

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

The speed difference sounds like a challenge, im used to sitting on 65 - 70kts on finals in the 230, might be a bit of pucker factor to have the Gazelle down at 55kts. I have an instructor going up with me of course, so i'll take any advice I can from him, hopefully the Wx is good on Sunday for a nice smooth flight. Then again I also like a challenge so a bit of xwind wont hurt!

 

 

[Bryon]

SAJabiruflyer,

 

Just have fun

 

I have brought a Gazelle in at 65-70 on finals because it gets affected by the wind a lot easier

 

Smile and enjoy it

 

 

[Hildy]

I usually bring the little jab in at about 60 on final... went around a few times trying to bring her in at 70 and finally drove her into the deck at 80. about a 14 knot crosswind.

 

I've heard that the gazelle has the same numbers as a tiger moth: 60, 60, and 60.

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Ha ha Byron you sound like the instructors i've had "just have fun". Got told many times if I stopped having fun it was time to stop flying. I guess that's true being Recreational Flying and recreation is something we do for fun!. Regardless, im looking forward to it, today is shaping up to be a great day, if this Wx carries on into tmw, perfect!

 

 

[Tomo]

Go for it SAJflyer! The change will be an eye opener if you've never flown anything else before.

 

I think you'll find it very easy to adapt to. Just get used to seeing higher RPM!! Rotax rev lots more than the Jabs! :big_grin:

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

I may have flown a Stinson and Siai Marchetti Jet before too, hypothetically of course. Both were great to fly, the Jet was just "point and shoot" so much power I didnt even need to use the rudder, well at least it felt that way. Hypothetically of course. :)

 

 

[Yenn]

Great little aeroplane the Gazelle. It would be hard to be bored flying anything, just do something different if it gets boring. I only flew one once but enjoyed it, but I have a few hours on its tailwheel sibling, the Skyfox, which isn't boring at all.

 

 

[Spriteah]

They are a great aircraft. All they lack is fuel load. During nice weather you fly them doors open. On short final don't forget to push the land now button.

 

 

[Denny]

Started flying the Gazelle a couple of weeks ago after about 75h in Tecnam aircraft

 

and I have to say I love flying her. Even though she is pretty slow and doesn't like

 

climbing turns with 2 POB on a hot day, you can still have a lot of fun with her

 

while saving 50-60$ per hour compared to a Tecnam.

 

The only thing I don't like about the Gazelle are the easy landings, it's almost ridiculous how good

 

my landings turned out last weekend I just couldn't believe how consistent and smooth they were.

 

I find the Tecnams a lot harder to land well in a crosswind which makes the landings much more

 

challenging and exciting.

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Well it was a great experience. Once I got used to the slower speeds and different feel of the a/c, it was ok. We did a quick flight out to the training area, did some basic manouvers etc, then some circuits. Not having any flaps to play with meant a different technique for end of downwind, but I got used to it ok. All in all a great, fun experience. Will hopefully do another coupla hours on one soon, then it's off to find a Tailwheeler for an Endorsement

 

 

[Bryon]

Well it was a great experience. Once I got used to the slower speeds and different feel of the a/c, it was ok. We did a quick flight out to the training area, did some basic manouvers etc, then some circuits. Not having any flaps to play with meant a different technique for end of downwind, but I got used to it ok. All in all a great, fun experience. Will hopefully do another coupla hours on one soon, then it's off to find a Tailwheeler for an Endorsement

SAJ,

 

did you have fun?

 

 

[Acky]

SAJ, there is a Gazelle at Murray bridge that im seriously considering spending some time in soon.... but what Tailwheelers are you looking at? There is the Sportscubs at aldinga, but i havent found much else around in SA.... what am i missing? I've also heard about a lightwing at renmark.

 

I think the Gazelle would be nice for the local short distance flights...where you want to se the world a bit slower.

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Hi Bryon, yes I had a lot of fun!! That's the aim of my flying!. Acky - I flew the one at Murray Bridge with Mike Chapman in the right hand seat, knuckles white, sweat pouring off his brow, haha. It's funny when you guys call me SAJ, that's the first 3 digits of the numberplate of my first ever car, a lovely classic 1974 Celica. Acky, Mike was a good instructor, calm and patient with me, and filled me with confidence so that after the first t/off and landing he didnt need to come onto the controls. Perfect day for it too, if only I had my Nav's I coulda flown somewhere.

 

 

[Acky]

I've done probably 70% of my dual hrs with Mike. I get along with him fairly well. I remember on my first dual nav, i flew a crap circuit, and my landing was crap....he just looked at me and said.... "I'm not happy with that. do it again" lol. it was the worst circuit that i can recall tho. I ALMOST went to the airport on sundayto finish of my conversion to the J230, but the weather was too good, and Mike wants to do some crosswind work with me in it before he signs me off. Are you planning on flying the Gazelle more soon?

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Hi Acky, yes i'd like to do a bit more time so I can safely fly it Solo. Mike said another hour or so and i'd be fine. Just a matter of finding the time

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

I also want to do a TailWheel endorsement, so probably going to end up at Aldinga in their Sport Cub I reckon

 

 

[Hildy]

3525 is a nice little gazelle. Flew out of ymnd to the coast and back. 65 climb 75 cruise 65 approach. Cheap to fly too.

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

I flew 4146 at YMBD

 

 

[flindersflyer]

There's a Lightwing at Port Augusta gliding Club too. I know. I tried it last week.

 

 

[foxworker]

I'm a big fan of the 'fox taildragger; I learnt to fly in VH-LRF. I find the Gazelles pretty un-interesting to fly. However the great thing that both aircraft do really well is side slipping. You can slip them all the way down, correct them easily and pretty much just gently plonk them on the ground. I'm definately a three pointer in the 'dragger; the gazelle almost lands itself. Great plane to do the initial training in (Gazelle).