Bergen to Shetland Islands
I've done Bergen direct to Aberdeen in a 1940's vintage single, never venturing above 100 feet awl because it was a clear blue beuatiful horizon and I loved the sensation of flying low. Watch for the oil rigs! and the helicopters which are above you.
No AI, no Turn and slip, no autopilot. Just GPS and a compass & stopwatch. Check the forecast ahead for fog etc.
If the engine quits (which it wont if theres enough fuel and oil and you don't fiddle with anything) then hard cheese, but life is too short to worry about that kind of thing. One of my best flying expeiences.
Russ
p.s. I'm older & wiser now, so would not do it again, unless sutably persuaded.
No AI, no Turn and slip, no autopilot. Just GPS and a compass & stopwatch. Check the forecast ahead for fog etc.
If the engine quits (which it wont if theres enough fuel and oil and you don't fiddle with anything) then hard cheese, but life is too short to worry about that kind of thing. One of my best flying expeiences.
Russ
p.s. I'm older & wiser now, so would not do it again, unless sutably persuaded.
One should not be so pessimistic about being surviving a ditching. With a dingy, ELT and immersion suit it's probably better than 50% even in the North Atlantic. Though I suppose there is also a 50% chance of a rather frigid death. Feeble not to try IMHO. As I have said before it's best to avoid ditching in the first place.
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As someone mentioned it, why exactly don't we routinely carry parachutes in GA aircraft?
Having come from a gliding background before getting my PPL I've always wondered. There was an amazing picture of a glider pilot using his recently following a mid air, couldn't help thinking if that was a C172 he'd have just been sat in the seat watching the ground rush up instead.
I see plenty of examples in the accident reports were everyone is killed (IMC spiral dive into the ground for example) where they would have almost certainly all lived if they had 'hit the silk' once things had started to go wrong.
There's two parachutes at my club I'm the SE cupboard but imagine the funny looks I'd get if I wore one for a trip in the C152/72!
Having come from a gliding background before getting my PPL I've always wondered. There was an amazing picture of a glider pilot using his recently following a mid air, couldn't help thinking if that was a C172 he'd have just been sat in the seat watching the ground rush up instead.
I see plenty of examples in the accident reports were everyone is killed (IMC spiral dive into the ground for example) where they would have almost certainly all lived if they had 'hit the silk' once things had started to go wrong.
There's two parachutes at my club I'm the SE cupboard but imagine the funny looks I'd get if I wore one for a trip in the C152/72!
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As someone mentioned it, why exactly don't we routinely carry parachutes in GA aircraft?
Gliders tend to flock together and the collision factor is a huge risk. Not such a risk on a gentle sunday PPL bimble. The parachute is a last resort if the glider becomes uncontrollable due to loss of control surface.
SEP cockpits are small enough at the best of times without introducing the added restriction of a large backpack on everyone back.
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Is it not also an attitude thing?
I.e. gliding is (and is perceived to be) a sport - and for a sport, you wear proper equipment.
SEP flying is not seen as a sport but as a way (crazy as it sounds) of getting somewhere (even if it is a bimble), so you wear the same as you would if you were driving a car.
Cue the usual discussion regarding whether or not we should wear gloves, Nomex suits or the like...
Has any actual research/test been carried out w.r.t. exiting a spamcan? Apart from exiting, what about the empannage (or wing strut, indeed)? Are there any stats on 'injury/death could have been avoided by bailing'?
As an aside, without a functioning autopilot and controllable plane, between the pilot letting go of the controls and exiting the plane, the attitude is un likely to be conducive for a safe exit?
There are some stats quoted by an AVWeb article on ditching - and they look substantially better than 50/50...
Baikonour
I.e. gliding is (and is perceived to be) a sport - and for a sport, you wear proper equipment.
SEP flying is not seen as a sport but as a way (crazy as it sounds) of getting somewhere (even if it is a bimble), so you wear the same as you would if you were driving a car.
Cue the usual discussion regarding whether or not we should wear gloves, Nomex suits or the like...
Has any actual research/test been carried out w.r.t. exiting a spamcan? Apart from exiting, what about the empannage (or wing strut, indeed)? Are there any stats on 'injury/death could have been avoided by bailing'?
As an aside, without a functioning autopilot and controllable plane, between the pilot letting go of the controls and exiting the plane, the attitude is un likely to be conducive for a safe exit?
There are some stats quoted by an AVWeb article on ditching - and they look substantially better than 50/50...
Baikonour
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Is it really that hard to open the door though? The door on our C152 is always popping open and I've never found it to be that hard to swing open and shut it properly again. Our ex boss used to open the doors on the C172 as a demo to get it to yaw without touching the rudders. Might be a bit harder plummeting earthward at 180kts mind.
I would say that certainly on the high wing 152 you could pop the door, grab the strut and bail out without too much bother if the IAS wasn't ridiculous.
Guys and gals on the ground are going to be enjoying a big lump of metal either way in any scenario were you had lost control, only difference is it will be 12 stone lighter as I'll be floating down rather than sat in it swearing
Good point about the space though, have worn chutes in a 152 during spin training and cosy doesn't even begin to describe it!
I would say that certainly on the high wing 152 you could pop the door, grab the strut and bail out without too much bother if the IAS wasn't ridiculous.
Guys and gals on the ground are going to be enjoying a big lump of metal either way in any scenario were you had lost control, only difference is it will be 12 stone lighter as I'll be floating down rather than sat in it swearing
Good point about the space though, have worn chutes in a 152 during spin training and cosy doesn't even begin to describe it!
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Back on topic a bit......
I used to be based at both Sumburgh and Bergen and have done the trip in a PA28 4 times, a 172 8 times and a 182 7 times. The weather can be a serious challenge, plan to get stuck at either end for a few days, unless you are very happy in rough IMC, and for the Shetlands/Orkneys take some good tie downs. Other than that good quality survival kit in the aircraft, I once had an unintentional swim after an aircraft went wrong 150nm North east of Aberdeen, it was shatteringly cold, even in the specialist kit we wore as off-shore helicopter crew, and it truly was a fight for survival.
The aircraft has no idea it is over water, so doesn't care, I base that premise on the fact that I spent a year when flying jobs were scarce ferrying singles across the Atlantic from the US to Africa (Admittedly they were C208s with nice smooth turbines) but still singles.
Bergen is my favourite city in the world and the Shetlands have a huge hold on me, both beautiful at any time, but mid-summer, high pressure they become perfect.
SND
I used to be based at both Sumburgh and Bergen and have done the trip in a PA28 4 times, a 172 8 times and a 182 7 times. The weather can be a serious challenge, plan to get stuck at either end for a few days, unless you are very happy in rough IMC, and for the Shetlands/Orkneys take some good tie downs. Other than that good quality survival kit in the aircraft, I once had an unintentional swim after an aircraft went wrong 150nm North east of Aberdeen, it was shatteringly cold, even in the specialist kit we wore as off-shore helicopter crew, and it truly was a fight for survival.
The aircraft has no idea it is over water, so doesn't care, I base that premise on the fact that I spent a year when flying jobs were scarce ferrying singles across the Atlantic from the US to Africa (Admittedly they were C208s with nice smooth turbines) but still singles.
Bergen is my favourite city in the world and the Shetlands have a huge hold on me, both beautiful at any time, but mid-summer, high pressure they become perfect.
SND
