Hot Solo
 

The 'What was your solo time' thread sponsored by Intersection (great topic) is a facinating and instructive read. Thankyou all.

Altered aircraft performance due to the loss of the instructor's weight is an issue I would not have foreseen!

I'd be grateful for comments and advice regarding going solo in extreme heat (40C plus). I wonder what other issues arise there of which I am equally unaware? <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[ 22 December 2001: Message edited by: rainbow ]</p>

1.you will be prone to sing with joy.
2.you will think about having away with the plane and not coming back.
3.you WILL foget 90% of what you have been told.
4.you will be grining like a bull in a feild full of randy cows.

Good luckand all the best, let us know how you get on. G-OKAY <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Thanks g-okay for your good wishes even if they are a tad premature! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

PPL training one hopes will start next year (not all that far away). It gets pretty hot here and I was particularly interested in strategies dealing with the heat especially take-offs and landings. (They're the important bits, aren't they? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> )

Best wishes to you.

[ 22 December 2001: Message edited by: rainbow ]</p>

The strategies will be to concentrate on the rather arcane business of leaning the engine at ground level, and the performance calculations for take off and landing lengths.

I say arcane, 'cos having learned in S.E. UK, I've never flown in greater than 25 degrees, or from an airport higher than 436'

On the other hand, you'll probably find the carburetter heat control pretty arcane......

Steve R

Before going solo you should have done plenty of dual which will teach you the problems of hot performance, Solo you will get just the same differences as in a colder location though the performance difference may be slightly more noticable.

Thankyou folks for the very useful advice. Merry Christmas to you.

rainbow: From your description of the location, I'm guessing your going to be learning somewhere like Hedland!? Maybe Karratha?

I lived up there many years ago - would be interested to know if thats where you are? I was in Hedland in the mid-80's, had a little electronics business together with a mate of mine... great time/wierd place!

I think what you'll notice most when flying up there (not that I did, but I know just how HOT it can be) will be the thermal activity - I imagine it will be a bit bouncy on occasion. It will be really important to work out density altitude and performance calculations (take-off distance etc.) but from memory all the runways in that neck of the woods are very long - plenty of space we got!

Andy <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]</p>

First solo in 40C heat?

You are going to be about half a stone lighter on landing than take-off, I should think. Perhaps you should have aircon fitted to the 152? <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Hersh

Rainbow...let's know at what strip you will be flying?
Remember air density,keep it rich and lift off slowly. Feel the mains about to leave the runway and have plenty of airspeed before you decide to pull back on the yoke.

Have fun and on your return, if you are sinking faster than you would like, keep the airspeed up a tad. I like you have learned in very similar conditions in west oz and understand your concerns. The aeroplane will defineatly feel lighter after losing your instructors weight, but try to remember to take a few deep breaths, maintain airspeed and height and enjoy every last minute of it. <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Thanks again folks.
Aussie Andy, yes, Hedland or Karratha will be where it is at. Runways are long for the odd pass and military jet. (Hope they're long enough for the 152.)

Hersham Boy, with regard to want of aircon in the 152 a strategy may be to kill two birds with one stone. Namely, replace the instuctor's weight with a block of ice. (Shoulder harness of course.)

And Elevator, yes, a few deep breaths is certainly sound advice! (And no screaming on the exhale.)

Once again thanks all. Invaluable. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

On the subject of 'singing for joy' (g-okay's message above), I'm just curious to know what tunes were buzzing around other peoples' heads during their solos. Come on... I can't have been the only one humming 'Those Marvellous Men in their Flying Machines', can I?
:)

AB

Distinctly remember driving down the M40 after first solo with "Who Let The Dogs Out" playing on the radio, with the volume up full, and me singing along... Then I realised that I'd spent the last 1/4 mile or so using the lines on the road like a centre-line, straddling the line much better than I've ever been able to do in an aeroplane! Quickly moved over to be in just one lane instead of two, and carried on singing.....

Doesn't matter what the temperature is, it's a day to remember!

(But, to answer the question - I have, on occassion, approached a landing with things on my mind. Sometimes I'm wondering if the plane will be back in time for the next renter. Sometimes I feel hungry, thirsty, or need the toilet. But once I'm in the circuit, everything else disappears from my mind, and my brain is focussed 100% on the aircraft and the runway - it's not something I do conciously, there's just too much to worry about to even be able to think about anything else, especially when you don't have too much experience. I'd imagine that if you do your first solo in 40-degree heat, you won't even notice the temperature. Until you park the plane, turn the engine off - and then you'll realise that you're more thirsty than you've ever been in your life, but too happy to care!!!)

FFF
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