First flight story? Friend of mine got the opportunity to buy a pristine Piper Tomahawk after the owner passed away. Took several months to complete the purchase due to the owner not being around to provide all the required records and information. Eventually arrived at a small airfield, where the plane was being stored, for the flight home with my friend. Was a sunny day with high humidity and, as we gained altitude, we noticed trails of condensation forming on the outside of the canopy but it was fine. Condensation on the canopy got worse so we tried to climb into clearer sky to clear it but the reduced temperature made it even worse. Eventually it got so bad that we couldn't really see outside at all. Only option was to reduce altitude and find areas where heat from the ground allowed the canopy to clear. Eventually made it home by "hopping" from one sunny area to the next, with the canopy fogging every time we left a sunny area. Turned out that the plane had started to look a little neglected while it was stored and somebody from the owner's family had taken it upon themselves to have it cleaned before we picked it up. The owner ran a car painting business and we suspect somebody had used various industrial sprays to clean the plane and left a hydroscopic residue on the canopy which caused it to absorb moisture and fog. Point being, I guess, that when there might be unexpected things that require your attention on a first flight, it's probably a good idea to optimise the the things you CAN control.
Thats the problem here in the wheatbelt, bloody wind. We live about 1 hr from Northam for the last 2 years and the weather is different then in Perth. Anyway its a beautiful landscape and a quiet life, when harvest is finished 😃
How do you get along with luggage space? Seems so perfect for long distance trips, but I wonder if there is space to put all the gear. Apparently only 20kg in the luggage compartment behind the seats no?
lighter on the controls than anything I have ever flown, climbs very strongly, uncomfortable seats, need some work on the instruments because I keep having to swap to my reading specs which is annoying, but its incredibly stable and easy to fly. It doesn't stall in the traditional sense. I suppose I could force it, but at these early stages of learning the aircraft, it seems placid and isn't going to surprise me with any nasty behaviour.
@@4xoverland hard to stuff it up. If you aero or spin it watch vne. Happens quick. Was good for 135knts. Re-classed it when they put it into US LSA category. Had a couple of incidents early on when it fluttered at 160-170. They have since addressed these issues and reweighted the control surfaces. As you know, if you have it really clean, it will cruise above the current stated vne. I have an electric constant speed and in good conditions get 135 true. I only do this in very still conditions if I’m in a hurry. I have flown lots of aircraft in 47 years. This is the best for what I do now. Great to catch a few thermals and just go and enjoy flying without stressing when you fill up😀😀
Andrew's a person who does everything that he loves. Living his best life😊 Enjoy mate.
🙋🏼♂️ from Cape Town
First flight story?
Friend of mine got the opportunity to buy a pristine Piper Tomahawk after the owner passed away.
Took several months to complete the purchase due to the owner not being around to provide all the required records and information.
Eventually arrived at a small airfield, where the plane was being stored, for the flight home with my friend.
Was a sunny day with high humidity and, as we gained altitude, we noticed trails of condensation forming on the outside of the canopy but it was fine.
Condensation on the canopy got worse so we tried to climb into clearer sky to clear it but the reduced temperature made it even worse.
Eventually it got so bad that we couldn't really see outside at all.
Only option was to reduce altitude and find areas where heat from the ground allowed the canopy to clear.
Eventually made it home by "hopping" from one sunny area to the next, with the canopy fogging every time we left a sunny area.
Turned out that the plane had started to look a little neglected while it was stored and somebody from the owner's family had taken it upon themselves to have it cleaned before we picked it up.
The owner ran a car painting business and we suspect somebody had used various industrial sprays to clean the plane and left a hydroscopic residue on the canopy which caused it to absorb moisture and fog.
Point being, I guess, that when there might be unexpected things that require your attention on a first flight, it's probably a good idea to optimise the the things you CAN control.
Good call, in ten years time it won't matter if you went today or tomorrow.
Awesome as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along
Great job staving off this variant of "get-there-itis"! Looking forward to sharing in more stories of more flights!
Congratulations on getting airborne again
Very sensible decision!
So so glad to see you flying again Andrew. Your other true love (beside Gwynn).
Great Job 👏
Great work
Lekker Andrew 👍
Nice vid.
Thank you for sharing...I prefer the first motor glider...but its not money...enjoy your flights..be safe and fly smart.
I've been looking forward to this content coming out....
More please more❤
Thats the problem here in the wheatbelt, bloody wind. We live about 1 hr from Northam for the last 2 years and the weather is different then in Perth. Anyway its a beautiful landscape and a quiet life, when harvest is finished 😃
How do you get along with luggage space? Seems so perfect for long distance trips, but I wonder if there is space to put all the gear. Apparently only 20kg in the luggage compartment behind the seats no?
So, how did you find it? had a Sinus for 11 years. for what I do, best thing ever.
lighter on the controls than anything I have ever flown, climbs very strongly, uncomfortable seats, need some work on the instruments because I keep having to swap to my reading specs which is annoying, but its incredibly stable and easy to fly. It doesn't stall in the traditional sense. I suppose I could force it, but at these early stages of learning the aircraft, it seems placid and isn't going to surprise me with any nasty behaviour.
@@4xoverland hard to stuff it up. If you aero or spin it watch vne. Happens quick. Was good for 135knts. Re-classed it when they put it into US LSA category.
Had a couple of incidents early on when it fluttered at 160-170. They have since addressed these issues and reweighted the control surfaces.
As you know, if you have it really clean, it will cruise above the current stated vne. I have an electric constant speed and in good conditions get 135 true. I only do this in very still conditions if I’m in a hurry. I have flown lots of aircraft in 47 years. This is the best for what I do now. Great to catch a few thermals and just go and enjoy flying without stressing when you fill up😀😀
Hi Andy, how is the CASA certification process going?
Kind Regards,
Jean Caetan
I stopped flying RAA because they became a mini CASA
CASA wanted to keep me on the ground by making up rules over the phone! RAAus is the only option remaining.