Flying in Rain
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As I fly most days backwards and forwards to work I tend to see lots of different weather from clear blue sky to snow. Rain is not a problem to fly through but it does play havoc with the prop. Snow gives poor viz but does not seem to have any marked effect on the prop.
The erosion on my metal prop due to flying through rain was very noticable. I had the last prop come back from overhaul and within a week of flying through rain most days the metal was already visible. It has a significant effect on the life of the prop. I now have a new prop and that has started to show signs of erosion. Even though I do my best to fly around rain some days it is just unavoidable. Yes I know I could just drive but that takes the fun out of it!!
The erosion on my metal prop due to flying through rain was very noticable. I had the last prop come back from overhaul and within a week of flying through rain most days the metal was already visible. It has a significant effect on the life of the prop. I now have a new prop and that has started to show signs of erosion. Even though I do my best to fly around rain some days it is just unavoidable. Yes I know I could just drive but that takes the fun out of it!!
The thing about rain is it can look worse from a distance than when you're actually in it. It's a bit like driving in rain...if the vis is such that you can't see,say, twice your easy turn radius, you should be turning around. keep an eye on the weather behind you, constantly monitor the visibility, configure the aeroplane accordingly, always have a good plan b, in short, use what you were taught in the bad wx low flying part of the training. (And yes, carb heat, and windscreen demist.)
'Tis better to grow accustomed to what this sort of thing is like in light rain first (or not too low a cloud base, or not too much turbulence), in an area you know, in a controlled circumstance, before you find yourself in it up to the neck.
Next time the weather is a bit manky, go and do a local, with an instructor if you lack confidence, get a feel for it.
It's actually not too bad unless you're caught out with no experience.
'Tis better to grow accustomed to what this sort of thing is like in light rain first (or not too low a cloud base, or not too much turbulence), in an area you know, in a controlled circumstance, before you find yourself in it up to the neck.
Next time the weather is a bit manky, go and do a local, with an instructor if you lack confidence, get a feel for it.
It's actually not too bad unless you're caught out with no experience.
I once flew a Cub through light rain that I couldn't avoid. I ruined the lovely varnished finish that had taken me a week to apply, polish and balance....... Fortunately the prop had a brass leading edge which protected the wood. Rain has also ruined the paint on the steel prop on the Auster, it also showed me where all the leaks are. 
Ah well it's a good excuse to get the prop off and check the pitch. 
As somebody commented the noise is more instantly appreciated than any great loss of viz (in light rain at least) even in a 70 mph Cub.
Ah well it's a good excuse to get the prop off and check the pitch. As somebody commented the noise is more instantly appreciated than any great loss of viz (in light rain at least) even in a 70 mph Cub.
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Originally Posted by Mike Cross
Echo the "don't fly through it if you can't see through it" advice. Suffering as I do from back trouble (it has a large yellow streak down it) I wouldn't be flying in anything more than isolated showers.
VFR? Don't set off into rain as possibility you will go IMC. Already airborne and find yourself heading for rain? Go around it or DON'T BE AFRAID TO DIVERT.
I went for a bimble in Ireland last year with friends and had a short but unacceptable case of press-on-itis. Rain? Rain? Don't talk to me about f#$king rain. Carb heater paid for itself that day. Forget about putting it to cold at 500 ft to assist with a go-around. Stayed on all the way to the ground.
The Wombat
PS, when I say rain I don't mean drizzle, which many of us live with every day of the bloody year.
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Originally Posted by Final 3 Greens
The ONLY time inadvertant IMC may occur is at night. Simple as that.
I disagree. Anyone who flies at night and does not have a plan for penetrating clouds or areas of darkness with no visible horizon is a complete menace IMHO.
Undertaking night flying by visual reference is also a choice and there must be a valid contingency plan before making that choice.
I disagree. Anyone who flies at night and does not have a plan for penetrating clouds or areas of darkness with no visible horizon is a complete menace IMHO.
Undertaking night flying by visual reference is also a choice and there must be a valid contingency plan before making that choice.
So I agree with you.
Originally Posted by Final 3 Greens
So tell me, how do you definitively measure in flight viz directly in front - i.e. without any reference?
Its a question of common sense - and not pushing licence privilges beyond their already reasonable limits. The question of rain + visibility almost has a parallel with the question over 'in sight of the surface'...a good dose of common sense helps.
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Originally Posted by Cricket23
All good food for thought so far.
Indeed, if I saw rain ahead I would divert accordingly.
But taking the point from 'FormationFlyer' -".....but also think about the type of cloud above - it can suddenly develop into torrential rain - again losing VMC minima - so be warned - its a dynamic environment out there!"
So, in this event, when you are suddenly dumped on, what would you do? Do a 180 like you would if you flew into a cloud and couldn't see through it, or......?
C23
Indeed, if I saw rain ahead I would divert accordingly.
But taking the point from 'FormationFlyer' -".....but also think about the type of cloud above - it can suddenly develop into torrential rain - again losing VMC minima - so be warned - its a dynamic environment out there!"
So, in this event, when you are suddenly dumped on, what would you do? Do a 180 like you would if you flew into a cloud and couldn't see through it, or......?
C23
Well I enjoyed it anyway.... 
All JAR PPL pilots are taught this - but personally I believe the 'fatest' exist is the best option so either straight ahead or 180. However, I would point out that such conditions if being experienced for the first time are less than pleasant and would definately cause at least a minor increase in heart rate!!!
It can also be accompanied with signifcant windshear...so take care. Good kowledge of the met reports helps. I personally have been caught out a couple of times though - would be a liar if I said I hadnt....but there again I do have an IR so I have my 'contingency'.
Last edited by FormationFlyer; 7th Feb 2006 at 22:17.
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Originally Posted by Final 3 Greens
Still waiting for Formation Flyer to tell us how he accurately measures 3km straight ahead without visual references from the ground......
After all, he won't hesitate to fail a stude for transgressing.
So, come on FF, out with it.............
After all, he won't hesitate to fail a stude for transgressing.
So, come on FF, out with it.............
Sorry, been flying an aircraft - not the computer!!
I was intentionally a bit strong - whether the stude gets a stiff word, B'ing or fail depends on a lot of factors...but I do consider loss of VMC as a severe transgression..
However, lets face it - if one cannot make a rough call in terms of judgement about whether or not one has appropriate in-flight visibility to continue flight then one perhaps should not be flying - after all does one need air traffic to tell one that one cant see out the window? no...Next question will be how do you 'definitively' judge that you comply with >1000' from cloud >3000' and 1500m horiz separation - Are you seriously saying you cannot judge this?? To at least a reasonable degree?
As a point of fact I have found most pilots (& students by the end of their circuit sessions) can judge 800 or 1000' rather well *without* the aid of an altimeter....
im sure, as a pilot, you understand exactly what I am getting at, and are perhaps trying to get a rise or something...
we all get caught, we all make mistakes...but the points still stand...
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Originally Posted by IO540
"Anyone who flies at night and does not have a plan for penetrating clouds or areas of darkness with no visible horizon is a complete menace IMHO."
Yet, a plain PPL with a NQ is allowed to fly at night...
Time to duck again!
(I think night flight should require an instrument qualification, but many would disagree)
Yet, a plain PPL with a NQ is allowed to fly at night...
Time to duck again!
(I think night flight should require an instrument qualification, but many would disagree)
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Originally Posted by A and C
The leaking aircraft in the post above is one best examples of your opinion about the UK GA fleet, the owner has invested next to no money in it for years and this shows from 100yds away.
I simply could not rent out an aircraft in that state and face my customers, in my opinion a little water in that aircraft is the the least of your problems . . . . and flying in rain is the only time that it will get a wash!
I simply could not rent out an aircraft in that state and face my customers, in my opinion a little water in that aircraft is the the least of your problems . . . . and flying in rain is the only time that it will get a wash!
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Originally Posted by D SQDRN 97th IOTC
as for the windscreen wipers, you'll find the prop wash does a good job of keeping the screen clear
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Originally Posted by bose-x
As I fly most days backwards and forwards to work I tend to see lots of different weather from clear blue sky to snow. Rain is not a problem to fly through but it does play havoc with the prop. Snow gives poor viz but does not seem to have any marked effect on the prop.
The erosion on my metal prop due to flying through rain was very noticable. I had the last prop come back from overhaul and within a week of flying through rain most days the metal was already visible. It has a significant effect on the life of the prop. I now have a new prop and that has started to show signs of erosion. Even though I do my best to fly around rain some days it is just unavoidable. Yes I know I could just drive but that takes the fun out of it!!
The erosion on my metal prop due to flying through rain was very noticable. I had the last prop come back from overhaul and within a week of flying through rain most days the metal was already visible. It has a significant effect on the life of the prop. I now have a new prop and that has started to show signs of erosion. Even though I do my best to fly around rain some days it is just unavoidable. Yes I know I could just drive but that takes the fun out of it!!
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And apologies for making quite so many postings on this thread tonight!!!!
hmm. and there was me thinking instruments would probably tell me more about what was happening than the FM!!! Or is it more of a suggestion based on a lack of instruments in said aircraft and therefore is suggesting how to fill your time until not in rain!!!
Originally Posted by flugholm
I love the placards in Scheibe SF25s:
"Flight in rain: Observe flight manual"
And the rest of the time?!
"Flight in rain: Observe flight manual"
And the rest of the time?!
Or is it more of a suggestion based on a lack of instruments in said aircraft and therefore is suggesting how to fill your time until not in rain!!!
sorry! 
