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Post by Thomas Hawk on Jan 16, 2010 8:54:16 GMT -5
Thought I would throw this out...What planes have the most luck/advantage/ease in the Rally? I've entered both my Douglas DC-3 and DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver. Fairly different birds with differing flight characteristics (nothing new about that, right?!  ). Based on the distances noted by the flight schedule - distances seem short to me, I'm wondering about the relative time needed for the flights, the weather that the GAAR admin has chosen for us, and the flight strips that might be jumping up at us. Is the larger Dougas an advantage or disadvantage? How about the smaller Beaver - will it be disadvantaged in weather planned for us? Curious to know what the experience has been in prior rallies down under, and I'm certainly looking forward to the challenges of flying both these birds. |
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Post by Tom Goodrick on Jan 16, 2010 9:54:26 GMT -5
In past GAAR's there have always been several DC-3's and I am sure there will be many in this one. I would fly minge except that I just finished the World Rally and am looking for something new. But if you are a good DC-3 pilot, you will not have much trouble with this GAAR. The DC-3 is not so fast that it will have trouble with this scoring system.
Because this GAAR has such short legs (averaging just over 100 nm), planes that cruise faster than 150 knots will have a substantial disadvantage in the scoring. The reason is you are scored on the percent deviation either side of a target time. The faster your plane in the Flight Test, the smaller your target times. With a small target time, five minutes lost in a sloppy set up for an approach or a missed approach will be a bigger percentage of your target time. You will score lower than some one with a 100 knot cruise. Also, on these legs, cruise time is a small portion of the total flight time. It may be less than half so a high cruise speed has less influence on the total flight time.
My Flight Time gauge is used for the timing and that will eliminate the time wasted on taxiing because it starts and stops at 30 KIAS. This aids uniformity as only what you do in the air matters.
All that said, this is an event to be enjoyed. That is why I am flying three planes with cruise speeds of 185, 175 and 165 KTAS. I like a challenge.
BTW finding the "runway" will be half the battle in this Rally.
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Post by Thomas Hawk on Jan 16, 2010 14:33:54 GMT -5
Hi Tom,
Yes, makes sense. I was certainly more concerned that some of the weather setup might be harder to deal with in a Beaver, and some of the shorter flights and possibly any non-asphalt strips might be more of a challenge for the DC-3. Just looking for a reality check at the moment before I begin the flights.
I've yet to install your timer, but think it is a good time. One less thing to deal with is always good in a DC-3, and gravy in the Beaver.
Cheers, and see you in the skys!
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Post by Brett I. Holcomb on Jan 16, 2010 15:06:32 GMT -5
Hi Tom, Yes, makes sense. I was certainly more concerned that some of the weather setup might be harder to deal with in a Beaver, and some of the shorter flights and possibly any non-asphalt strips might be more of a challenge for the DC-3. Just looking for a reality check at the moment before I begin the flights. I've yet to install your timer, but think it is a good time. One less thing to deal with is always good in a DC-3, and gravy in the Beaver. Cheers, and see you in the skys! I just did Leg 1 and the DC-3 (MAAM-SIM with BGA paint) in FSX had no problem - that's a 2,999 foot grass strip. The DC-3 flew long before most strips were paved! She's flown off dirt/marsden matting/steel mesh/just about anything. Check out the Hump flights and what was done in WWII with her. She's not afraid to get her feet dirty <G> |
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Post by johnl on Jan 17, 2010 4:55:15 GMT -5
Although "the faster your plane in the Flight Test, the smaller your target times", and the more difficult the percentages, slower aircraft are much more affected by the wind.
In a 12mph wind, a Lancaster at (say) 240mph TAS suffers a +/-5% penalty, a DC-3 at (180mph) suffers a +/-6.7% penalty, a Ford Trimotor (120mph) suffers a +/-10% penalty, while the Tiger Moth (90mph) suffers a +/-13.3% penalty.
Having said that, the best advice I can give is to fly something that you think you'll enjoy, and be very wary of the local fauna (especially the spiders).
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Post by Tom Goodrick on Jan 17, 2010 10:49:37 GMT -5
John, it's actually a little worse than that for two reasons: 1) the correct formula increases the percentage and 2) GAAR speeds are in knots (wind and airspeed). The second leg has 17 knot surface winds on both ends. I have not yet checked winds aloft but hugging the surface is not advised for most legs.
The correct formula is Diff = TAS/(TAS-W) -1 and x100 for percent. This gives the slow 90 knot plane a 15.4% error.
We won't benefit from legs that go in opposite direction with the same wind on each leg because the difference is absolute - always accumulating: 10% fast plus 10% slow = 20% error.
The wind on the second leg is 19.6 mph at each end.
But, having compared my practice no-wind times with the target times, I do not expect a big problem. In most cases I will be loitering a bit with each of my planes. The hard part is not to loiter too much!
It looks like a fun challenge.
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Post by blindsquirrel2 on Jan 29, 2010 13:05:37 GMT -5
Hi, Robert, is that right that you are giving gravy to the Beaver?  Don't let it ride in the DC3 for at least 16 hours after it's meal. Cap't Zlogg carries a mouldy Siberian cabbage potion which helps in some circumstances. Andy. |
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Post by Quark on Jan 29, 2010 15:56:03 GMT -5
Cap't Zlogg carries a mouldy Siberian cabbage potion which helps in some circumstances. Under no circumstances accept fluids from Capt Zlogg! His Siberian Cabbage Potion makes an acceptable alternative anti-freeze, something not needed in current Aus weather conditions. |
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Post by Capt Zlogg on Jan 30, 2010 1:31:01 GMT -5
Cap't Zlogg carries a mouldy Siberian cabbage potion which helps in some circumstances. Under no circumstances accept fluids from Capt Zlogg! His Siberian Cabbage Potion makes an acceptable alternative anti-freeze, something not needed in current Aus weather conditions. it is another great invention of the Motherland having unique features ranging from resurrecting demised Vikings to applying stealth capabilities to any object of your choice cheers Capt Zlogg GAAR 009 vp KGB Air Droppers (cows, elephants & rhinos) chairman World Edible Poop summit, Ekaterinenborg, CCCP |
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