Taylor Sport First Flight

[whake]

Re: Taylor Sport First Flight

I have a BC12D S/N 6628 1945..I did a lot of back figureing on the weight and balance and came up with a basic weight of 768 LBs before the required items and 813.8 Lbs after the required items and before accessories. I have an empty weight of 824.7 lbs.. I hope to weigh the plane in the next couple weeks to confirm the calculations

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Taylor Sport First Flight

Over the Rockies of Colorado the winds are most often West Northwest at anything from 15-75mph. Flying west upto the windward side and a deep rotor will cause a steep decline. It is both surprising and disturbing, 1500-3000 ft a minute. Meaning if you're 500 feet above the ridge... you can be even with the ridge in 10-20 seconds. Always good to fly as high as possible and stay away from the downwashing rotor. Believe me one trip through the bastard and you'll remember it for the rest of your life... however long that is. 14,500 will keep you above it on all but the windiest days. On the truely windy days it'll jump
to 20,000.

The point is, if you've got altitude use it, all of it you can get. Don't worry about airspeed (Of course don't stall). You can convert altitude to airspeed. If you've got altitude that is. If not think about going through the low spots along I-80 in southern Wyoming or through Central New Mexico along old Route 66. Avoid Colorado. I've done this in Bonanza's, Turbo Commanders, 310's, 182s and a couple of times in a 150hp 7GCBC, and a 118hp Taylorcraft. Flying early mornings and watch for traffic in the low spots. Everybody is trying the same thing at the same time. I'd do it on a nice day in an 85hp lightly loaded. Not sure about a 65 hp.

When you're flying the mountains "not sure" means don't. Otherwise you're working an awful geometry problem. Will the updraft lift me before I catch a rock. I don't know about you but I'm just not that good at math under that kind of time pressure. Wind x Gravity - airspeed + altitude
+ updraft - downdraft (this test should take no longer than 5 seconds) How'd YOU do?
With regards;
Ed O'Brien
Denver, CO.

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Taylor Sport First Flight

Whoops -- the preceeding should've gone on the and 10,000 climbing thread. My mistake.
With regards;
ED OBRIEN