Hypothetical Scenario

[shags_j]

How did this get onto glider tugs?

 

 

[facthunter]

Wayne the trouble is that the gusts are a large proportion of the flying speed and have a larger effect.. The lower wing loading means the plane gets pushed around more by the wind gusts, and the wing has a lot of surplus lift available , because of its area. Nev

 

 

[Zibi]

That's just pure stupidity in my opinion...a competition like that is simply asking for things to go wrong

I agree, but that's just human nature.

Almost as much can go wrong in any competition involving vehicles - yacht races, car races, motorbike races, etc and people still do it.

 

If you can manage the risks and find people willing to risk their lives and equipment - I guess, let them do it, maybe we can learn something from them.

 

Like from the video I've posted - how easy it is to ruin your prop and engine in a STOL.

 

Would I join a competition like this in my plane - probably not, but on the other hand I've been in yacht races where boats end up capsized or with broken masts, etc.

 

 

[Wayne T Mathews]

Wayne the trouble is that the gusts are a large proportion of the flying speed and have a larger effect.. The lower wing loading means the plane gets pushed around more by the wind gusts, and the wing has a lot of surplus lift available , because of its area. Nev

I understand and agree with what you're saying Nev. The point I was trying to make though, is that because they are slow, many people do not realise that both the Storch and the Hornet are infact high performance, specialist aircraft. Expecting them to be as easy to fly in gusty conditions as, let's say a Cessna, would be like expecting a rally car to be as easy to drive in city traffic as, well, let's say a Commodore.

 

Doesn't mean the rally car can't be driven in city traffic though. Just means the blokes who do are gunna have to work harder than every one else. Which is the price rally car drivers are willing to pay to be able to do the things they do on mountainous dirt roads, whilst going to the places they can go to... It's not for everybody.

 

When I was in 38 SQN on the 'Bous, we had business cards made up as a joke. The logo said, "No Sweat Airlines (NSA): We'll take you places no one else wants t'go to."

 

We had to work bloody hard at times on that old balus! But damn! It was fun... And I've yet to meet a Storch or Hornet pilot who doesn't feel the same. But I will concede, it's not everybody's cup of tea.