Ready to fly in a Sukhoi 29 / 31 after winter inactivity.....
 

Hi Folks,

Last week I went for a flight in a Sukhoi 29 (Privately owned) after the long winter break, nearly 7 months.....without flying:bored:.


I had some thoughts before stepping inside this extreme machine (SU 29) after such a long time. Though I have more than 400 hours in the type in 13 years..

Aerobatics is not the issue, comes back quickly after a few sessions...
Landings however require lot's of attention, even more so after such a long break...

I felt a bit uneasy for a short while, then forgot about it as I started the engine, just focussed a bit more on concentration. Everything went OK..

To be able to be "current" on these kind of aircraft requires a lot of training on a regular basis.

Very few instructors are capable to help in this respects...The SEP renewal every 2 years in a ...Cessna does not help neither.

I am not the only one confronted with such an issue..Although we are "Legal" when undertaking such flight, we are not required to take the regular safety / currency checks for a ride in a Cessna 152 like at the local aeroclub

As far as I am concerned never had a "Check" of any kind on such an aircraft and will go on unchecked forever...Just have my tailweel and aerobatics on my licence..And nobody is likely to check me on these.

Here I am stepping in a monster machine after months of inactivity with no one to assess if I am rusty or have some bad habits that I should get rid of:eek:

While the PPL guy next to me takes a check ride in a 152 after a month not flying before he is allowed to go:*

Don't quite accept your excuse that "very few instructors are capable to help in this respects"... be honest - it's a money issue, right?! ;)

At the end of the day you are the one risking your life so just ask yourself whether it's not worth paying a few extra notes for a suitably rated (but more importantly type experienced) instructor to travel to your strip and check you out next time.

The cost will probably be less than your funeral.

VFE.

That's not a money issue if I can afford to own and run this plane, then can afford a suitable instructor too. When I first bought this plane in 1995 I had the chance of being trained by a world champion who was also a friend.

I then thought I knew some aerobatics after 8 years in the aeroclub flying a Cap 10. And 2 aerobatic ratings (Basic and advanced).

But I soon realised that I had to start all over from scratch, even the very basic manoeuvers had not being thought correctly. But aerobatics especially advanced aerobatics is a matter of enthusiasts, not club instructors. How many Alan Cassidy's have you got around there, not many I can assure you.

The prospective earnings are meager ( 15 min flight, do your calculations) and you land exhausted and sweaty. To reach an acceptable level likely to enable anyone to teach involves so much investment. Totally uneconomical

The point is that there are no instructors that I know capable of doing a sensible job flying these planes, let alone fly a circuit in one of them. Not that they are incompetent, they do not have the background. Then one cannot rent such machines, only own them. With very few exceptions.

So when you may need some help, better resort to your good connections, mostly competitors and display aerobatic pilots.

I understand Markkal. It is not the only instance under JAR where the written requirement is much less than the common sense requirement. Call up a buddy next time, don't rely on the authorities to tell you to do something. Another phenomenon in it's infancy of regulation which springs to mind is glass cockpit training and currency requirements. Read the current regs on that subject and laugh at the inadequacy!

VFE.

I'm not sure what is bothering you? Is it that the CAA does not mandate a check every week and two seat versions of everything are available to make you safe.

Its up to you how often you take a check in the private world - you are a sensible chap. I've no doubt you could have found a Pitts or an Extra and an instructor to get you up to speed if you felt the need before leaping into your Sukhoi - why didn't you.

You can leave flying for up to 3 years and still be legal if you want to.