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I saw the pictures....ouch.

  Your Pacer and my Vagabond had something in common...(like all short wing Pipers)... the glide ratio of a brick.

http://www.full-lotus.com/pilot/pilot_corner_archive.htm

Link to the write up and a few pics..

looks like alot of bad choices were made by the pilots, with very little to do with the aircraft... It is very easy to say in an emergency #1 fly the plane.. In training I has an instructor that refused to let you fly level.. turn you head and he was pulling the power and drilling emergency procedures into you.  I cant tell you how many practice engine outs I had, some all the way to an off airport landing to get a few "soft field" landings in.  Well when it came to the real thing happening to me on take off with minumum airspeed, no more runway, and lots of trees, I did not do the right thing that time.  I focused on a restart and got busy in the cockpit.  Let me tell you that 100' of altitude at about 60 mph in a pacer on floats is gone in about 1.5-2 seconds.  I am fully convinced that if it were not for the full lotus floats, I would not be typing this today.  All I remeber was a loud backfire, loss of a comforting sound, pushed the nose over checked fuel tanks, checked mags (prop was windmilling so it should have restarted), looked up and said oh shit this is gonna hurt ( I distinctly remember that) as the windshield filled with dirt and snow...I was nocked out for a few but came up pissed off and swearing.. The kids were running across the field think that Dad was a gonner and screaming so I climbed out as fast as I could after turning off the fuel and master.  For some reason as I crawled out I grabbed the keys lol.. I got out turned around and took one look at the plane, got even madder, kicked it called it really bad things and threw the keys across the field..(took me awhile to find them later on).  After we got everyone calmed down, we pulled it apart put it on a trailer and went to have Thansgiving day dinner... Could have been alot worse.  I have the full write up on the full lotus site with pictures..

see... over there I have to hold my tounge.. here I am free to say...dude were you    I saw that and wanted sooooo bad to ask WTF ?  If you have integral part of your craft that you know is bad??? I say drop 40 bucks and fix it right then and there.  I am kinda a tight ass with money but I do draw the line when my feet leave the ground.

Want to take some fun out of flying... go to this NTSB site,

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp

   and type in the word Kitfox or Avid in the AIRCRAFT Make / Model box.

Sometimes it's good to know what might, and does, happen.

Here is a partial post from the "other" site in regards to carb problems....

  "I think if Rotax would put  cloth  or Kevlar  mesh in the  rubber boot  this off field landing would have been prevented.  The rubber split and I lost all vacuum and the engine quit."

  Ok.. shit happens... but, then it says... 

  "The  boots had been inspected at the last annual .  There was evidence of a problem at that time. "

Hello?? 

Hey...I'm an A&P... I get upset when I see this.... (not)sorry. 

steve

I think this is the webpage that got me wondering .... but it's a Canadian site so I don't know how it might apply here in Michigan.    http://putorius.blogspot.com/2007/01/update-on-ethanol-in-auto-fuel.html

I was just doing a little research on this and dropped the question to Shell.  We will see if they answer anytime in the near future.

  As I read the one that started out..."Always remember that it takes a college degree to fly a plane......", I was reminded of something I saw once that reminded WWII pilots that their aircraft..." was built by the lowest bidder".

steve...

    ...and another hr on 84KF this evening.

here is the answer..

In case you may need a laugh:

Always remember that it takes a college degree to fly a plane but only a high school diploma to fix one!

Reassurance for all those of us who fly routinely in our jobs.

After every flight, Quantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet," which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft.

The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, then the pilots review the gripe sheets right before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor.

Here are some of the actual maintenance complaints submitted by the Qantas' pilots (as marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (as marked with an S) by the maintenance engineers.

By the way, it is relevant to note that Qantas is the only major airline in the world that has never, ever, had an accident!

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in the cockpit.

S: Something tightened in the cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.

S: Live bugs on backorder.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces    a 200 feet per minute descent.

S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of a leak on the right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume reset to a more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you're right.

P: The number 3 engine is missing.

S: Engine found on right wing after a brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!)

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.

S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

And the best one saved for last......

P: Noise coming from under the instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from the midget.

A jumbo jet is making its final approach to the Tampa Airport . The

pilot comes on the intercom, "This is your Captain. We're on our

final descent into Tampa. I want to thank you for flying with us

today and hope you enjoy your stay in the Tampa Bay area".

He forgets to switch off the intercom. Now the whole plane can

hear his conversation from the cockpit. The copilot can be heard

saying to the pilot, "So, Skip, what-cha got planned while we're in

Tampa?"

"Well," says the skipper, "first I'm gonna check into the hotel and

take a big crap...then I'm gonna take that new stewardess with the

huge tits out for dinner.... then I'm gonna wine and dine her, take

her back to my room and give her a ride on the baloney pony all

night long."

Aghast and amused, everyone on the plane hears this and

immediately begins looking up and down the aisle, trying to figure

out who this new steward ess is that the pilot's talking about.

Meanwhile, the new stewardess is seated at the very back of the

plane. She is so embarrassed that she starts running toward the

cockpit to turn the intercom off. Halfway down the aisle, she trips

over an old lady's bag and down she goes.

The old lady leans over and says: "No need to hurry, dear.

He's gotta take a shit first."

thats a tough call.. But a great picture!

Fred and Mary got married but can't afford a honeymoon, so they go back to

Fred's Mom and Dad's for their first night together.

In the morning, Johnny , Fred's little brother, gets up and has his

breakfast.

As he is going out of the door to go to school, he asks his mom if Fred

and Mary are up yet.

She replies, "No".

Johnny asks, "Do you know what I think?"

His mom replies, "I don't want to hear what you think! Just go to school."

Johnny comes home for lunch and asks his mom, "Are Fred and Mary up yet?"

She replies, "No."

Johnny says, "Do you know what I think?"

His mom replies, "Never mind what you think! Eat your lunch and go back to

school."

After school, Johnny comes home and asks again, "Are Fred and Mary up yet?"

His mom says, "No."

He asks, "Do you know what I think?"

His mom replies, "OK, now tell me what you think?"

He says: "Last night Fred came to my room for the Vaseline and I think I

gave him my airplane glue."

http://www.glumbert.com/media/laugh

Bet you cant watch this without laughing as hard as this guy is...

WHERE WOULD YOU BE:

IF - YOU HAD ALL THE MONEY YOUR HEART DESIRES?

IF - YOU HAD NO WORRIES?

IF - YOU CAME HOME AND THE FINEST MEAL IS AWAITING YOU?

IF - YOUR BATHWATER HAD BEEN RUN?

IF - YOU HAD THE PERFECT KIDS?

IF - YOUR PARTNER WAS AWAITING YOU,

WITH OPEN ARMS AND KISSES?

SO, WHERE WOULD YOU BE?

HELLOOooo!!!!!!!!!

YOU'D BE IN THE WRONG FREEKIN HOUSE!

;5 Winning Smart Ass Answers For 2005

Smart Ass Answer #5:

A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets.

As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened

his trench coat and flashed at her.

Without missing a beat....she said, "Sir, I need to see your ticket not

your stub."

*****************

Smart Ass Answer #4:

A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but

she couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked a stock boy,

"Do these turkeys get any bigger?"

The stock boy replied, "No ma'am, they're dead."

*******************

Smart Ass Answer #3:

The cop got out of his car and the kid who was stopped for speeding

rolled down his window. "I've been waiting for you all day," the cop

said.

The kid replied, "Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could." 

When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a

ticket.

*******************

Smart Ass Answer #2:

A truck driver was driving along on the freeway. A sign comes up that

reads, " Low Bridge Ahead." Before he knows it, the bridge is right ahead

of him and he gets stuck under the bridge. Cars are backed up for miles.

Finally, a police car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks to

the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, "Got stuck, huh?"

The truck driver says, "No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of

gas."

*******************

#1 SMART ASS ANSWER OF THE YEAR 2005.......................

A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam.

"Now class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here

tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury

or illness, or a death in your immediate family, but that's it, no other

excuses whatsoever!"

A smart ass guy in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, "What

would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter

sexual exhaustion?"

The entire class is reduced to laughter and snickering. When silence was

restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student, shaking her head

and sweetly said "Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your

other hand."

Three friends from de local Cajun congregation of Thibodeaux , Louisiana were asked, "When you in your casket, and your friends and church members are mourning over you, what would you like dem to say?"

Jacques said: "I would like dem to say, I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man."

Fouche commented: "I would like dem to say, I was a wonderful teacher, and servant of da church, who made a huge difference in people's lives." ............ .....

Boudreaux said: "I'd like dem to say, "Look, he's movin!"

sounds like a great way to vacation.. Good luck on the training.  The champ is a piece of cake to fly and landings are a no brainer in it... you want something that will keep you on your toes try a pacer in a good cross wind!  Speed management is the key to a good landing.  Get you speeds set up on approach dont come in fast then try to bleed it off right at the end as you will float way down the runway.  If the plane stalls at say 40 then my approach would not be over 45 when I cross the numbers.  A quick flare to arrest sink rate and you are on the ground with the stick in your lap!  Most of the strips I fly into do not allow you to be floating down the runway.  you have one shot at it and if you are too high or fast, you better get the power in now and go around or you will be cutting trees at the end or swimming in the river..

They're starting my training right out on a taildragger next month so I guess that's the only way I'll know to land. It took a little search to find a place that would do that. Figured I might as well start on what I'll be flying & get that endorsement right off. I live in Colorado but will just take a truckload (I'm in the trucking biz) out to Ohio and they say I can camp there in my sleeper and fly twice a day for as long as it takes. I've got a bunch of time reserved on their Aronca Champ. So that'll be my vacation. ;D

Because the Series 5 sits at such a nose high attitude on the ground, getting it to achieve this position just prior to the 3-point landing requires that the stick be way back when it touches down.  Now, that's the norm for any taildragger, but being so light, with such a slow stall speed, makes it critical in 84KF.

  Here's the physics of a botched 3-point landing.....

  Normal approach, when over the numbers start to round out, level off, and keep pitching nose up to flare. If the speed is a bit to fast yet, hold that nose high attitude and bleed the speed off. With speed now decreasing, more back pressure is required to "hold" that landing attitude.  Now the fun.

If the mains touch first, with the tail still up, the downward momentum of the tail forces it to continue down, increasing the angle-of attack, you get increased lift again and plane shoots up again What many pilot refer to as a "bounced" landing is actually the result of the plane getting a quick burst of "new" lift from the rapid increase of angle-of-attack when the tail continues down (quickly) when the mains are on the ground acting as the pivot point.

I guess my point is ...  have the airspeed and attitude correct at the moment of ground contact or the plane will "bounce", and to get it in the correct nose-high attitude requires that , at the time of stall, the stick be ALL the way back. If it's not, and the mains contact the ground with excess airspeed, (then momentium moves the tail down) it will balloon back up.

I won't get into "wheel landings" right now. But that's why the timing of touchdown on the mains and simultaneous forward stick pressure is necessary in that situation.

Here's another teaser picture.  I like to refer to this hanger as my "toy box", although they are not my toys.  But then again doesnt the mechanic really own the plane and just let's the pilots fly them??

steve

EAA 975 is hosting their annual pancake breakfast, swap meet and poker run on Saturday the 30th.  Hope the weather holds!  Any Alaskan EAA members or anyone with an interest in aviation is welcome.

Keep it up Steve... you will find me on your doorstep begging, pleading and crying......

now tell us the story about why you learned to keep the stick in your lap.. she get a but squirrely on ya?

Take your pick.... I won't say which one it is.

    Not much wind this evening, so 84KF got another 1.1 hrs in the air.

The engine purrs when at 4,000, 4,500 rpm and is performing great. I'm starting to trust it more now, and getting use to the high rpm noise, although at 4,000 rpm it now sounds no more annoying then the the Lycomings and Continentals at 2100-2200 rpm. I'm amazed at how smooth the engine is through out the entire rpm range.

  Only one landing today, on pavement, but I know now to make sure the stick is ALL the way back when the ground and tires meet. With 1st notch of flaps...stall at 38-40 indicated.

39.1 total time.

I'm including a Stearman pic for Leni.

steve