So how many of us have flown in a Morane 317 ?
Just me, is it ??:eagerness: HB-RAO Lausanne- Ecuvillens June 1995
AAIB should be made aware of this thread on PPRuNe. relating to the recent history of this aircraft.
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/485895-flying-after-bumping-wing-during-taxi.html
Hi, please be kind to the newbie;)
I worked on a Tiger around ’81-’82 at Hornet at Sherburn. I did most of the stitching on the wings and my nose ended up as hard as a stick, Irish Linin is like sandpaper!
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Were you perhaps troubled by extreme short-sightedness ?
As the titles came up, my wife sighed and said ‘not another boring flying programme ! ‘ and then proceeded to sit through the entire thing, which is some kind of endorsement.
The graphics went a bit ‘Pearl Harbor’ with vertically climbing BE2’s, but still, never mind eh !
I too have flown with the fearless Capt Bod, scouting for Zepps over Farnborough.
I know Booker well, and I know the three county cross-countries which they fly and call them circuits, such that you would be doing well to do more than 4 landings in an hour’s slot.
In a small aircraft, there is no need for this (protocol aside) and and somewhere like Chiltern Park (Benson direction) you , where you are not being sent on 15 minute circuits, you could be doing a landing every three minutes or so. If you did 600 foot circuits you could shoot an approach every two minutes, and all you need is a flat field and 300 metres of grass. What you don’t particularly need are endless ATC chatter, holding points, permission to taxi, and all the other guff that goes on at airfields aspiring to be like Heathrow.
If I were in your position, I would begin to wonder why the training I was receiving was not more geared to my making progress. It is too easy, and profitable, for FTO’s to schedule endless lessons, as the instructor is logging plenty of hours, and the revenue stream is very impressive.
These aircraft are very simple to operate, and whilst I will refrain from stating a figure at which it should be reasonable to solo, in the past tyro Tiger Moth pilots would be expected to solo in 8-10 hours. Now that was wartime, they were all young and easy to teach, and lessons were intense and uninterrupted , but there was a ‘press-on’ attitude which is largely missing today.
However, enough of my grousing, I hope you continue to make good progress!
Mmmmmmmm. If he doesn’t I will.
Actually I have 20 minutes logged on Cub, about the same amount of time I have (unlogged) on Tiger Moth.
One I want to fly again, the other I have no wish ever to set foot in again.
Moggy
Why the antipathy to the lovely, horrible Tiger ?
I am guessing that you were discouraged, and maybe annoyed at its ‘out of balance’ flying characteristics, which, combined with difficult learning environment came make one feel, and appear a bit inept ?
Maybe you could pack in 3 or 4 session in a couple of days, really consolidate, and get away on your own.
Solo is no big deal in itself, but it is a great morale booster, and suddenly you feel like a pilot (cos you is one!) .
The trend to extend and extend the training process had been growing over the years, and not always, I suspect, for reasons entirely connected to the abilities of the student.
Why don’t you come and have a go in my Cub at White Waltham, and really get your eye in ?
The circs for it sitting uncomfortably on its belly were as follows-
”The aircraft was returning to Duxford, Cambridgeshire, after a display at Somerley Park when the
pilot noticed a disparity in readings between the left and right tank fuel gauges. There was also
significantly less total fuel than would have been expected for this stage of the flight. The fuel levels
were checked as being correct prior to the flight with a dipstick and without any reason to suspect a
leak, the pilot assumed a gauge error. He continued towards Duxford, calculating that even if the
gauge readings were correct, there was still sufficient fuel to complete the planned route. As the
aircraft joined left base leg for Runway 24 at Duxford, the right engine started to surge and a decision
was taken on early finals to land in a field to the east of the runway.
Full flap was selected and power reduced in order to land in this field but at this point the right engine began developing power, making
the runway a more viable option. As the pilot attempted to land on the runway, the right engine
stopped. Full power was selected on the left engine but because of the developing right roll, power
had to be reduced again. The aircraft subsequently hit the embankment short of the threshold, sliding
up it, turning through 90° and coming to a stop.
Subsequent investigation showed that the right engine had failed through fuel starvation. When
calculating the fuel required, the pilot had applied the consumption figures for a ‘weak’ mixture setting
but had flown the flight with ‘normal’ mixture selected, consumption data for which was unknown.
The investigation was unable to establish why the right hand engine had used more fuel than the left. ”
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_025507.pdf
Does this just leave one example left?
Errrr……..No
Serial c/n Owner and notes
G-APRL 6652 Preserved by Midland Air Musem, Coventry, UK.
G-BEOZ 6660 Preserved at East Midlands Airport, UK.
G-BFVT 6768 Mid America Air Museum, Sioux City, Iowa, USA.
XN817 6746 On fire dump at West Freugh, UK.
XP411 6766 Preserved by Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, UK.
N896U 6651 Preserved by Yankee Air Museum, Willow Run, Detroit, Michigan, USA. (NOW SCRAPPED !)
N1430Z 6779 Preserved by Museum of Flying at Lancaster Fox Field, Lancaster, California, USA.
ZK-SAE 6802 Preserved as cafe at Blenheim-Woodburn, New Zealand.
ZK-SAF 6801 Fuselage on farm near Blenheim-Woodburn, New Zealand.
Thank you, Old Props
News from the hospital is encouraging, lacerations and bruising but happily not too bad, all things considered.
How pleasing that they are all still around, and in better shape than even, especially as one had sunk so low back in the 90’s. A great effort.
The Daily Mail suggests it was attempting a loop, which probably means it was NOT attempting a loop.
Aeroplane impacted 700 metres from the owner’s house (if GINFO is current)
“I saw it circling around and then saw it spiralling down. I heard a sudden revving of the engine, and I thought he was doing stunts first of all. Then it burbled and went into the ground.” Banbury Guardian
I am not saying he was circling his house, got slow or out of shape, and spun in,…. but I am certainly thinking it.
There have been some seriously strong gusts today, and low level turns in high winds can get very sporty, to say the least.
And in the style of the Daniel Pemberton Orchestra (Monster Moves)….
A reprise to the first three verses penned here…
Her wings unfold, her props will turn
Aloft again her fuel she’ll burn
Her Mambas whine and off she flies
Orange and silver across the skiesBack in the air the Fairey Gannet
Sole flying survivor, upon the planet
To grace the sky o’er land and sea
“WIBAL?”, the cry, a hopeful plea….🙂
Wibal ?? took a while, but I got it ! Nice one
Anyway, it had better be……………….
Maybe we should lobby the BBMF to re-paint their Lanc Silver, and stick a vertical wing section back on top.
Got to love that authentic look !