Great way to spend a Saturday and Sunday
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:29 pm
Just got back from a trip to Tyax, and pushed some new
limits for my plane and my own experience. Thought I
would share with the list, and maybe provide some
encouragement to those still building. My plane, for
those who don't know, is a Rebel on 1800 amphibs
powered by a Lycoming 0320 150 HP.
Tyax Resort is on Tyaughton Lake about 1 1/2 hours
flying north from my home base at Langley BC. Here's a
couple of links to get an idea of what it's like there.
http://www.tyax.com/
http://www.tyaxair.com
The lake is at 3430 elevation, which is the highest I
have taken off from water so far with my plane.
Previous was 3000, but I was solo. This time I was
loaded with 29 g fuel, passenger, and luggage and stuff
for 2 people. The temperature was 23 C, or just over 70
F and a slight headwind (less than 5 knots). Anyway, I
was off the water in less than 2000 feet or about 20
seconds, which surprised even myself. I didn't give the
exact gross weight here, but those who fly on floats
should be able to figure it out. Once off the water,
though, my climb was noticeably less than usual (I am
more used to climbing out from near sea level). I like
to hold off climbing hard until my airspeed comes up to
80 mph and have removed flap. It took a lot longer this
time, and the end of the lake and trees came up pretty
fast. However, I did have a few hundred feet to spare
and could have traded some airspeed for climb if I had
to.
My next challenge was to get over a 6500 foot mountain
pass that was just 25 miles away. I cleared it by about
a thousand feet, but got to know better the meaning of
pucker factor. It's hard to tell what your real climb
rate is in the mountains, because sometimes you are
going up 1000 feet per minute, but then a minute later
going down 500 FPM or more if you're unlucky. Anyways,
I was really hoping I was not going to hit sink just
before I was over, as the canyon was starting to get
real narrow just before the top, and it was not the
type that you can approach at 45 degrees like a ridge.
No landings spots either, just snow, rocks, cliffs and
ice. This is where you really have to trust your
engine. Anyway, it was a great feeling to get over, and
I calmly wiped off those little beads of sweat from my
forehead.
I should back up and also tell you about my arrival at
Tyax. It was morning, and the lake was pure glass, not
what you want to see the first time in. And to make it
even more challenging, you can't land in a straight
line, as the lake is narrow and snakes a bit like a
river, and the morning sun shaded half the water to one
side by a large mountain, but the plane was still
actually in the sun. It was absolutely impossible to
tell where the surface was. All you could see was green
mountain and sky below you. I can sure see how float
plane pilots can screw up under these conditions. As
you set your attitude and speed, and slow your descent
rate with power, there is a real temptation to get down
quickly knowing the end of the lake is coming up fast.
Anyway, I ended up using half the lake, but the
touchdown was text book perfect, although as always,
sooner than expected.
All in all, a great couple of days, and a little more
confidence in my plane and myself.
Walter
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limits for my plane and my own experience. Thought I
would share with the list, and maybe provide some
encouragement to those still building. My plane, for
those who don't know, is a Rebel on 1800 amphibs
powered by a Lycoming 0320 150 HP.
Tyax Resort is on Tyaughton Lake about 1 1/2 hours
flying north from my home base at Langley BC. Here's a
couple of links to get an idea of what it's like there.
http://www.tyax.com/
http://www.tyaxair.com
The lake is at 3430 elevation, which is the highest I
have taken off from water so far with my plane.
Previous was 3000, but I was solo. This time I was
loaded with 29 g fuel, passenger, and luggage and stuff
for 2 people. The temperature was 23 C, or just over 70
F and a slight headwind (less than 5 knots). Anyway, I
was off the water in less than 2000 feet or about 20
seconds, which surprised even myself. I didn't give the
exact gross weight here, but those who fly on floats
should be able to figure it out. Once off the water,
though, my climb was noticeably less than usual (I am
more used to climbing out from near sea level). I like
to hold off climbing hard until my airspeed comes up to
80 mph and have removed flap. It took a lot longer this
time, and the end of the lake and trees came up pretty
fast. However, I did have a few hundred feet to spare
and could have traded some airspeed for climb if I had
to.
My next challenge was to get over a 6500 foot mountain
pass that was just 25 miles away. I cleared it by about
a thousand feet, but got to know better the meaning of
pucker factor. It's hard to tell what your real climb
rate is in the mountains, because sometimes you are
going up 1000 feet per minute, but then a minute later
going down 500 FPM or more if you're unlucky. Anyways,
I was really hoping I was not going to hit sink just
before I was over, as the canyon was starting to get
real narrow just before the top, and it was not the
type that you can approach at 45 degrees like a ridge.
No landings spots either, just snow, rocks, cliffs and
ice. This is where you really have to trust your
engine. Anyway, it was a great feeling to get over, and
I calmly wiped off those little beads of sweat from my
forehead.
I should back up and also tell you about my arrival at
Tyax. It was morning, and the lake was pure glass, not
what you want to see the first time in. And to make it
even more challenging, you can't land in a straight
line, as the lake is narrow and snakes a bit like a
river, and the morning sun shaded half the water to one
side by a large mountain, but the plane was still
actually in the sun. It was absolutely impossible to
tell where the surface was. All you could see was green
mountain and sky below you. I can sure see how float
plane pilots can screw up under these conditions. As
you set your attitude and speed, and slow your descent
rate with power, there is a real temptation to get down
quickly knowing the end of the lake is coming up fast.
Anyway, I ended up using half the lake, but the
touchdown was text book perfect, although as always,
sooner than expected.
All in all, a great couple of days, and a little more
confidence in my plane and myself.
Walter
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