aerokurier 6/2002
 Editiorial Innovations from a lateral
thinker / Feature Night
flying training: in the realm of the senses /
Pilot Report Cessna 150 with Rotax 912S / Fairs ILA 2002:
positive signs / Magazine Extra
500 PA: crash prevented ILA debut, Charges for weather reports, New European pilot’s
licences (part 2), SR305-230 diesel engine from France, Albatros Air: club professional,
In the cockpit with Rod Machado / Vintage Aircraft Piper PA-23: south-west
German Apache / On
the Approach to Idar-Oberstein in Hunsrück / Travel Seven
in one go / Flying Pilatus
P-3-05 / Practice Flight
safety: radar and transponder, Medicine: enjoyable flying without nausea, Brushing up on
tyres, Accident analysis: end of a balloon trip
/ Ultralight Speedy Mouse: all
inclusive, Dynamic undergoes crash testing again
/ Gliding Start to the season in the Alpine
Arc, Biggest glider now ready for production, New training methods under test, Multiplier
ability, C squad in St. Auban, Second Club Class World Championships in Musbach, Flying as
an aside
EDITORIAL
Innovations from a lateral thinker
Frank Thielert has brought it off. His aero engine TAE 125 version of a
car engine was certified at the Berlin Air Show ILA 2002, dispelling the doubts of those
who could not believe a new aircraft engine could be developed, tested and certified in
such a short time.
Certification of the TAE 125 clears the way for the diesel engine to
finally make its way into Europe’s General Aviation fleets. The engine accepts both
diesel and kerosene, with fuel consumption significantly lower than today’s
avgas-powered powerplants. Only a few technologies have succeeded over the years in
reducing what it costs to fly for one hour. With the diesel engine this now becomes
possible.
The example of the diesel engine shows that innovation is possible in
General Aviation also. The critical factor here is an approach that departs from
tradition. Unconventional thinking and taking the offensive are the key to advancing the
cause of GA, not following in the old tracks and timorously begging for acceptance.
Top of Page
FEATURE
Night flying training: in the realm of the senses
For the daylight pilot, venturing into night flying presents fresh challenges, above all
for the senses. Flying at dead of night requires the appropriate rating. The legal
requirement is five night flying hours, 10 night-time take-offs and landings and two
overland flights by night. However, the N-VFR rating is linked to the CVFR extension to
the PPL.
Top
of Page
PILOT REPORT
Cessna 150 with Rotax 912S
The attractions of the training classic Cessna 150 have received a boost thanks to
Fläming Air in Oehna. With a 100hp Rotax 912S installed, the two-seater offers better
flying performance and significantly lower operating costs.
Since April of last year the liquid-cooled four-cylinder
engine has been officially approved for installation. The advantages it offers are that it
not only consumes less juice, but above all it runs on super grade petrol for cars, which
is cheaper. A variable-pitch propeller ensures that the available power is converted to
propulsion more efficiently.
Another advantage is that the Rotax retrofit satisfies the
higher noise control requirements without any additional measures being necessary.
Furthermore, if the aircraft to be converted is already certified for night-time flying,
then this certification continues to be valid after installation of the new engine.
However, the €32,000 transplant does have a downside.
Top of Page
FAIRS
ILA 2002: positive signs
ILA 2002 started with a record number of exhibitors. No less than 1,067 companies from 40
countries were showing their products at the air show between 6 and 12 May. Diesel engines
featured prominently among the General Aviation exhibits at Berlin Schönefeld.
Two exhibitors virtually stole the show, Diamond Aircraft and Thielert Aircraft Engines
(TAE).
The 135hp diesel TAE 125 is now certified under JAR-E for
operation both with diesel and with kerosene. Now that the diesel has been type certified,
certification of the DA40 TDI has moved forward significantly and is expected within a few
weeks.
Not many people can have suspected that the engine builders from
Wiener Neustadt would be presenting so soon not just a mock-up but actually the prototype
of the twin-engined diesel DA42 Twin Star at the Berlin Air Show. Also powered by the TAE
125, the four-seater is expected to cruise at up to 203kt TAS at 12,500ft. At 168kt TAS at
10,000ft, according to Diamond, fuel consumption will be only 29.6 litres of diesel per
hour.
Top of Page
MAGAZINE
Extra 500 PA: crash prevented ILA debut
At the end of April, the Extra 500 PA, equipped with a 450shp Rolls-Royce/Allison
turbine 250-B17F, completed its maiden flight in Dinslaken-Schwarzeheide. Then on 30
April, around midday, the unthinkable happened. During the approach the aircraft suddenly
lost altitude, brushed against trees on the final approach and plunged down towards the
ground. The two passengers were extremely lucky in an unhappy situation. Walter Extra and
his companion emerged from the severely damaged aircraft unharmed. At the time of going to
press the reason for the accident was still the subject of speculation. The propeller
pitch control is said to have failed.
Now Walter Extra and his devoted crew face the task of rebuilding
the plane. In two or three months a new prototype should take off on its maiden flight.
Initial impressions of quite outstanding flying performance should then be confirmed.
Charges for weather reports
From 1 July, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) is to charge for providing weather
reports. The telephone and fax services will then be accessed on 0190 numbers. A summary
of the phone numbers and price structure is provided in tabular form.
New European pilot’s licences (part 2)
The JAR-FCL regulations will come into force in this country later this year. Among
those affected, i.e. pilots, many unanswered questions remain. We invited some experts in
the subject to answer the questions most frequently asked over the next few issues of
aerokurier.
In the June issue the questions covered include: can I get my JAA
medical from a Swiss doctor as well, and will this be accepted by the Federal Aviation
Office (LBA)? What does the flying instructor have to enter in my licence after the
one-hour training flight? Is it any easier under JAR-FCL for someone who has eye problems?
Or what has become of the disputed LBA committee of experts which up to now took care of
the medical borderline cases?
SR305-230 diesel engine from France
Britten-Norman, which is based on the Isle of Wight, is in charge of certifying the
SMA SR305-230 diesel engine in the Socata TB20. Later this year the CAA should issue the
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
The Société de Motorisations Aéronautiques (SMA) recently founded
the company AeroNexx Europe with Britten-Norman and a French maintenance company. They are
to carry out all diesel conversions in Europe in future. In the USA, Embry-Riddle looks
after the American STC for the Cessna 182. Once this has been issued, its validation for
Europe will follow. Serial production of the SR305 will commence shortly. Between 400 and
500 engines are to be built this year.
Albatros Air: club professional
In only a few years Albatros Air e.V. in Bonn Hangelar has become established as one of
the strongest clubs around on the airfields. The club is run like a professional company.
In this month’s aerokurier we introduce you to this club, which functions quite
differently from traditional clubs.
In the cockpit with Rod Machado
As the "flying instructor voice" of the Microsoft flight simulator, American Rod
Machado is not only the most-heard flying instructor in the world. The experienced
commercial pilot with over 8,000 flying hours and numerous type ratings to his name also
holds two academic titles and is a much sought-after speaker at aviation events. Machado
is virtually unrivalled in his ability to pack serious aviation subjects into humorous
"little packets" and captivate his audience.
Top of Page
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT
Piper PA-23: south-west German Apache
The PA-23 Apache, launched on the market at the beginning of 1954, was Piper’s first
twin-engine with four seats, and was to prove the first of a long line of touring
aircraft. Piper had taken over the plans for a comfortable twin-engined plane from the
estate of Stinson in 1948. One of the Apaches has arrived in south-west Germany after an
eventful past.
Top of Page
ON THE APPROACH TO
Idar-Oberstein in Hunsrück
Anyone who lands in Idar-Oberstein with a rumbling stomach has come to the right place.
The local culinary speciality, joint roasted on a spit, is available right on the airfield
which for some time now has been a jewel in this decorative town.
The novice who approaches Hunsrück airfield for the first time
might easily deduce from the radio traffic that this is a controlled airfield since words
like Sierra, Lima and Foxtrot crop up frequently. But these are not references to
mandatory reporting points in the south or other directions. Rather, the
"points" refer to the menu at the airfield restaurant. Connoisseurs of the
airfield have this special approach sheet for Idar-Oberstein in the cockpit with them and
use it to order the speciality grills whose codes are printed on it.
Top of Page
TRAVEL
Seven in one go
A married couple from Bavaria decided to visit seven countries that border the Baltic Sea
on their travels. In a Joden Ambassador, they flew over Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, and in so doing they discovered that the Baltic has already
adapted to the rest of Europe, at least as regards the flying part of the trip.
Top of Page
FLYING
Pilatus P-3-05
The somewhat bulky design is deceptive: in the P-3, Pilatus has created an extremely agile
aircraft which also retains its value very well. A particularly fine example, built in
1959, is flying in Aachen-Merzbrück today.
Top of Page
PRACTICE
Flight safety: radar and transponder
One has to concentrate hard when flying VFR in the vicinity of an airport. Secondary radar
is becoming increasingly important in visual flight too. What are the factors that need to
be considered when operating the transponder and how does one obtain radar support?
Medicine: enjoyable flying without nausea
Reaching for the sickbag is not a sign of a lack of fitness for flying. Nausea among
pilots and passengers has a number of medical and psychological causes.
Brushing up on tyres
Aircraft tyres often lead a shadow existence because they are frequently concealed beneath
fairings. But surprising tyre defects can have fatal consequences.
Accident analysis: end of a balloon trip
Material technical defects on the flying vehicle and probable overloading of the basket
resulted in an accident to a hot air balloon near Chiemsee. During the accident, which
occurred after the balloon basket had touched down heavily for the second time on a field,
14 out of the 22 passengers were injured, five of them seriously.
Top of Page
ULTRALIGHT
Speedy Mouse: all inclusive
It could well have been Henry Ford who was marketing the Speedy Mouse: like his "Tin
Lizzy", this aircraft is available in only one equipment variant.
We put the ultralight monoplane, which has a composite fuselage and wings in timber frame
style, through its paces once again. The Speedy Mouse shows that it is still possible to
offer a modern aircraft to recreational pilots at a very favourable price.
Dynamic undergoes crash testing again
Two weeks after an accident befell a Dynamic, the manufacturer Aerospool has put the
aircraft through a new crash test. The test showed that the composite monoplane can take a
much greater load than that required by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents
Investigation. It also turned out that the cause of the crash was unlikely to have been a
fault in the structure. We report full details of the study findings in the latest issue
of aerokurier.
Top of Page
GLIDING
Start to the season in the Alpine Arc
Thermalling upwards at 5m/s to 4,000m or so and then casually translating this altitude
into distance – where can one do that as early as March? Caiolo in Addatal between
South Tyrol and Tessin.
Caiolo is right in the middle of a paradise of thermals and waves
in the Alpine Arc. To the north, the central ridge protects against bad weather and at
higher wind speeds causes the air to form waves. Just to the south of the Bernina massif
the best wave is to be found. To the south of Caiolo the mountains stretch out once more
towards the Orobic Alps, before gradually running into the Po plain.
The distance flying area between Monte Rosa (150km) and Bozen (120km)
can – with safe landing out possibilities always within gliding range – be
opened up from Caiolo quite easily, stage by stage. Pilots who are new to mountain flying
will find plenty of challenges just in Addatal. The distance to the end of the valley,
past Bormio, Stilfser Joch and Ortler, is 60km.
Biggest glider now ready for production
The world’s biggest glider, the 30.9m wingspan ETA, is no longer a one-off. On 30
April a second plane took off in Ostheim on its successful maiden flight. Designer Dr.
Reiner Kickert was particularly pleased that following the improvements the superglider
now falls within normal certification limits. Empty, but with a competitive set of
instruments, D-KFEM weighs 650kg, so that a 200kg payload can be carried in the fuselage.
The ETA can thus be certified in the normal way as a motor glider (weight limit 850kg) and
used without restrictions in gliding competitions.
New training methods under test
At the end of March the national gliding team underwent two weeks’ training in
Vinon, southern France. At this year’s spring meeting, the team prepared itself not
just for the forthcoming international championships – and here the European
Championships are awaiting the previous national team in Hungary this summer – but
the gathering was also another by-product of the 2001 World Championships in Mafikeng.
Multiplier ability
The multiplier course on Alpine flying in March was – according to the prospectus
– aimed at flying instructors who are considering the French Alps for a youth event
or a club training camp. Hanna Starsinski describes what was waiting for them in St.
Auban.
C squad in St. Auban
The spring training camp for the national junior team (C squad) was the perfect start to
the gliding season.
Second Club Class World Championships in Musbach
Nearly 70 pilots plan to attend the 2nd Club Class World Championships in Musbach in the
Nordschwarzwald (North Black Forest), more than for any international Club Class
championship.
Freudenstadt flying squad, with its gliding site in Musbach, is
ready for the onslaught. The Schwarzwald (Black Forest) airfield, at an altitude of just
under 700m and with a 900m long grass strip (17/35) is big enough with extra parking
spaces rented. The only drawback is that for the first time in a world championship
competitors will have to fight it out in two groups.
Flying as an aside
Where can one disappear from the beach for two to three hours on a family holiday and
enjoy some exciting gliding? Stefan Gehrmann was lucky enough to be able to enjoy such a
family holiday. He describes his experiences with the Silent AE-1 electric plane in
Sardinia.
Top of Page |
