aerokurier 10/2000
Editiorial JAR-FCL under threat? / Feature The Etrich Taube: "There is a lot of interest in flying her." / Pilot Report Pilot Report Dyn Aéro MCR 4S / Business Aviation The superlight business jets /  Air Shows AirVenture 2000: part 2 / Magazine Symphony: certification in record time, On floats: Ikarus C-42 takes to the water, RSA Fly-in 2000 / Helicopter German Helicopter Championships/ Travel Along the Californian coast in a R22 / Flying World Precision Flying Championship / Practice Piloting skills: deliberately flying more quietly, VFR flight abroad: northern centres of cult worship, Basic course on course, Accident analysis: caught out cold by the down-wind / Ultralight CH 601 DX Zodiac, A record 58 airfields in a single day, Ultralight European Championships / Gliding Oscillation problem with aerotows, Oldies on world tour, Ten days of gliding paradise (part II), Contesting the title in the European Championships in the North, German Women’s Championship, German Aerobatics Championships: first title for Detlev Eilers, Polish Championships, Segelflugszene: new national aerosports association

EDITORIAL

JAR-FCL under threat?

The new European JAR-FCL licence which has already come into force in some JAA countries is under fire. In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is working on a new licence for private pilots called the National Private Pilot’s Licence (NPPL), which is to be introduced as soon as possible in parallel to the JAR-FCL.
      In actual fact the reform of private pilots’ training seemed to have succeeded, as the JAR-FCL training is more extensive than that of all other national PPLs. But the JAR-FCL regulations make it more expensive to take up flying and hence are putting off a lot of people who would otherwise be interested.
     France announced its concerns early on and insisted on retaining a slimmed down national amateur pilot’s licence, mockingly referred to as the "the short hop pilot’s licence". Now the CAA has responded: the new NPPL which will only be valid in British airspace, requires a medical from the family physician and will only cover VFR flights in aircraft up to 2000kg MTOW.
     The planned introduction of the NPPL does not mean the end of the European licence, but the authorities which devised it are having to face the facts. And that is not such a bad thing.

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FEATURE

The Etrich Taube: "There is a lot of interest in flying her."

Anyone who flies an aircraft for the first time as a test pilot these days can be sure he will be spared any really nasty surprises. But what if the plane he is to pilot on its maiden flight is a faithful reproduction of a 1911 Etrich Taube? Heiner Neumann was the lucky test pilot.
    It was only after his first few flights in it that Neumann discovered that Hellmuth Hirth, the 14-year-old brother of Wolf Hirth, had received instruction on how to fly the Taube in Wiener Neustadt in1911 and had written a full account of the flight handling characteristics of this flying machine in his book, "My Flying Experiences". What could be more natural than to compare one’s own impressions with those of someone who had flown the plane almost ninety years earlier? Neumann describes how flying the Taube relies heavily on one’s instinctive feelings. An exciting insider report, supplemented by some superb photos.

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PILOT REPORT

Pilot Report Dyn Aéro MCR 4S

The four-seater MCR 4S is the latest offering from the French racing stable Dyn Aéro. Many of its design and structural details it shares with the two-seater MCR 01, of which it is a derivative.
     The low-wing aircraft is very attractive visually, albeit less aesthetically pleasing than the two-seater. The surface finish of the prototype is very impressive. As on the two-seater, the cowling fits skin-tight around the Rotax powerplant, in this case a 912S. The apertures required for the air intake and for air to cool the engine are reduced in size and number to a minimum.
     The same wide-bladed, constant-speed Mühlbauer propeller is used with both versions of the engine (912S and 914).
     The two wing tanks hold 120 litres of fuel, giving 8 hours’ endurance plus safety reserve at a cruise speed of 222km/h (120kt).

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BUSINESS AVIATION

The superlight business jets

Up to now the Cessna CitationJet has been the archetypal light business jet. A new generation of business jets below the Citation class, on which work is currently in full swing, promises to be "superlight", inexpensive and simple to operate.

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AIR SHOWS

AirVenture 2000: part 2

For some time now the EAA fly-in at Oshkosh has ceased to be only an event for experimental aircraft. All the "proper" aircraft manufacturers also come year after year, along with all those who aspire to this status. We went along to see what was on offer.
     The newcomers included the M-309, a six-seater push-pull aircraft which is quite striking on account of the unusual design of its tail assembly. Another of the bigger beasts was Sherpa Aircraft’s new Turbo 8, an eight-seater which looks like an oversize Super Cub. The giant single-engined aircraft is powered by an equally hefty 450hp Lycoming TIO-720 fitted with twin turbochargers.
    Also making its Oshkosh debut was another eight-seater, the Gavilan 358 from Colombia, a utility aircraft with a STOL capability. Unlike the Sherpa Turbo 8, the Gavilan has had FAA type certification since May 1998.
     Customers who decide on the Australian Explorer will have to shell out a lot more. The cheapest version 500R, powered by a 600hp Orenda V-8, carries a price tag of $820,000. The Explorer 500T was unveiled with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney PT6-135B turbine engine.
      The Lancair Company also had some new offerings on show. One of these was the Columbia Turbo 400. This is based on the type-approved Colombia 300, but runs on a 310hp TSIO-550C turbo engine built by Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM). Micco Aircraft of Florida brought its already announced SP26 along to AirVenture 2000. This two-seater tail wheel aircraft flies with a 260hp Lycoming six-cylinder IO-540T4B5.

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MAGAZINE

Neubrandenburg. The Federal Office of Civil Aeronautics (LBA) has certified the OMF-160 Symphony. On 29 August, LBA Director Ulrich Schwierczinski handed over the certification document for the new two-seater in the presence of German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and the Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Harald Ringsdorf. This achievement marks Ostmecklenburgische Flugzeugbau GmbH’s recognition as a manufacturing firm. The speed at which the Symphony has gone through the certification process must be a record. The high-wing monoplane had achieved JAR 23 certification only 872 days after OMF had been founded.

Hohentengen. Comco Ikarus has put its blockbuster C-42 on floats. At the beginning of August the manufacturer carried out successful trials on a flooded gravel-pit near Mengen. With support from the manufacturer, German customers will now be able to fly on water in Finland. There they will receive instruction on flying the aircraft on water before they set off for flying safaris through the wilderness of the Finnish maritime landscape.

RSA Fly-in 2000

Superb weather, excellent attendance figures and a wide range of aircraft made the 20th annual meeting of the French experimental aircraft association (RSA) a successful event.
    New aircraft included an ultralight variant of the Jodel D 20. Aviakit’s Vega also made a good impression. The other highlights of the meeting included unveiling of the DG 01 built by Denis Guillotel of France.
     41 aircraft competed for the various prize categories. A Sagitaire CL 8 won the single seater category, while in the dual seater class, the trophy was carried off by a two-seater Quercy built by a club in Montauban.
    The perfect construction of the first French Velocity 200 RG, equipped with a 200hp engine and retractable undercarriage, was much admired. This four-seater can manage an impressive 175kt (324km/h) during cruise and its maximum speed is 200kt (370km/h).

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HELICOPTER

German Helicopter Championships

The Open German Helicopter Championships 2000 were won with a convincing margin by Holger Hoven und Michael Schauff, flying a Schweizer 300. 15 teams took part in the competitions which were held in Eisenach, Thuringia, among them visiting teams from Japan and Austria. Heinz Schäfer and Peter Schmidt were the runners-up, flying a MD 500, while Heiko Lodes and Klaus Ständer in an R22 finished in third place.

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TRAVEL

Along the Californian coast in a R22

The two helicopter pilots Bernhard Schmid and Florian Wagner clocked up over 2,500km flying along the US Pacific coast from Los Angeles to Cape Blanco in Oregon. They were piloting a two-seater Robinson R22, which was put through its paces as a touring helicopter along the way.

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FLYING

World Precision Flying Championship

Roland Pietsch and Henry Franzkowiak’s dreams of winning a prize in the 14th World Precision Flying Championship, held between 30 July and 5 August in Sweden, did not come true. But the two pilots enjoyed a quite new flying experience.

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PRACTICE

Piloting skills: deliberately flying more quietly

Powered flight inevitably generates noise. It is quieter if your aircraft is hushkitted and has modified propellers, but only just. Considerate, quiet flying is also a matter of procedure.
      Pilots have a direct influence on the amount of noise generated, whether they are flying hushkitted aircraft or older, rarer types for which (up to now) no noise reduction measures have been available. The sources of noise on an aircraft – primarily the engine with intake and exhaust, the propeller and the aerodynamic resistance – can be set both loud and quiet. There are several means of reducing noise emissions available to pilots: the power setting, the propeller rpm and the route and altitude selected. This contribution provides the most important tips.

VFR flight abroad: northern centres of cult worship

Searching for worthwhile destinations in nearby Denmark has always been popular among VFR pilots. Flying in Denmark is pure enjoyment, and not just for the sights either: a litre of avgas only costs 2 marks (as of the end of August), i.e. more than a third cheaper than in Germany.
     The pleasure starts even earlier before you take off, during flight planning. Where in the world can you get a clearer ICAO 1:500,000 map (for DM37)? Or a more useful, VFR-friendlier chart of the airspace structure with the familiar airspace classes G, E, D and C? And compared with Germany, where you need more than just a PPL to fly in Charlie airspace, which is all there is above 2500/1500ft around Copenhagen, a PPL is good enough here.

Basic course on course

Even IFR students have trouble with the various terms for course. So this refresher course is intended both for professionals and as an introductory aid for beginners. A basic knowledge of the terminology is indispensable even for modern GPS-assisted navigation. The best moving GPS map display will not help a pilot who has trouble distinguishing between the terms track and heading.

Accident analysis: caught out cold by the down-wind

A pilot and his three passengers almost met their deaths during a circuit around Birrfeld airfield, Switzerland in the face of an approaching storm.
    While turning after a go-around and with flaps set, the Piper fell under the influence of down-wind. The aircraft dropped suddenly and struck a road nearby. Although the Piper sustained considerable damage, all four occupants escaped with only minor injuries.

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ULTRALIGHT

CH 601 DX Zodiac

For years Zenair’s Zodiac has been one of the successful aircraft in the ultralight and experimental classes. Now German importer Roland Aircraft is offering the CH 601 DX, an uprated version with many enhancements. We put the DX through its paces at Roland’s new site in Neuhausen.
     Aerodynamically, visually and in matters of comfort the DX impresses with numerous improvements. Find out all about the distinguishing features of the new version in this month’s aerokurier.

A record 58 airfields in a single day

A somewhat unusual world record, Alfred Schmitz, flying safety inspector of the DAeC, landed with his ultralight in no less than 58 airfields on a single day, clocking up almost 900km in between. He and his team may not have set any FAI records with this achievement, but they seem certain of an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Ultralight European Championships

Levroux. The Ultralight European Championships held between 19 and 27 August in Levroux, France ended in disappointment for the German team. The only ray of light was a second place for powered paraglider pilot Thomas Keller.
     World Air Games champion Heinz Korella and his new co-pilot Wolfram Walter even endured the ignominy of coming last in the three axis class. The title was taken by the Spanish team, Pedro Nogueroles and Julio Revert. The European champions in the two-seater trike class were Samit Elari and Cathy Almaric from France, and the best trike solo pilot was Robert Keene from the United Kingdom. The powered paragliding champion was Daniel Martinez from Spain. Altogether 68 teams took part from nine nations.

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GLIDING

Oscillation problem with aerotows

The discussion about where to attach the cable to the glider during a tow has already generated a lot of discussion. One aspect which has been overlooked so far, the problem of "hunting" (oscillation up and down of the glider nose), is explained by Professors Josef Mertens and Wolf Röger.
    They conclude that there is nothing in it between locating the cable release hook at the centre of gravity or on the nose. Both types of link have their advantages and disadvantages and can result in accidents for different reasons. In either case – as always in flying – there is only one remedy: practice, attention and a cool head.

Oldies on world tour

Aircraft dating from the earliest days of gliding definitely count as vintage today, but their numbers are rising continuously: at the second International Vintage Sailplane Meeting in Elmira, USA, and at Vintage Glide 2000 in Tibenham, the United Kingdom, types previously not seen in the USA and Europe were shown.

Ten days of gliding paradise (part II)

The winners of the Barron Hilton Cup 98/99 enjoyed fantastic conditions in Nevada at the soaring ranch of the owner of the Hilton Hotel chain. Uli Gmelin reports from the "big boys’ playground" – enough to make anyone jealous.

Contesting the title in the European Championships in the North

103 competitors from 24 nations enjoyed eight competition days, ideal thermal conditions with frequent cloud streets, but also tricky and then critical situations at the 10th European Championships.
     FCC Berlin in Lüsse, about an hour’s journey on the motorway to the south of Berlin, proved an almost perfect setting for the European Championships, making it a European Championship at world championship level. 21 European nations had sent pilots. There were also visitors from Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. The pilots took off under the flag of the International Gliding Commission (IGC).
     In the open class, Bruno Gantenbrink (51) took his third European Championship title after three days of wins, overtaking the’98 European champion Uli Schwenk and world champion Holger Karow. In the standard class, Herbert Weiss (51) took second place behind European champion Jean-Marc Caillard. Bernd de Boer only narrowly missed a bronze. The 35 year-old physicist made a distinguished début at his first European championships, finishing in fourth place, only seven points behind the Italian Riccardo Brigliadori.
     In the racing class, Stephen Jones and his team mate David Watt from the United Kingdom held the lead on the last three competition days, but in a singularly unspectacular way. The German racing class team Michael Grund and Werner Meuser started out impressively, but their luck ran out on the sixth competition day. After five days Michael Grund had clocked up sufficient days’ wins and placed finishes to be "half-time champion", while Werner Meuser was in position three. But this success came to an abrupt end on the sixth competition day with an off-field landing. After that Michael Grund took some risks to try and catch up. The decisions did not pay off, and it was a case of sparkling water rather than champagne. Werner Meuser took fourth prize (results).

German Women’s Championship

56 pilots took part in the German Women’s Championships held in the middle of August in Neresheim, the best entry ever. The club class entry was especially good, with 30 aircraft.
    After some slightly troublesome launching conditions, the women were blessed with seven flying days in a row, most of them with a 2000m cloud base and a rate of climb around 2.5m/s. By the middle of the competition the results were looking particularly good: the average speed of the fastest contestants in the standard and racing classes was over 110km/h!
     In the racing class the average task set was 338km. The longest distances flown were 400km. The biggest daily tasks in all classes (over 400km in the standard and racing classes) all ended prematurely off-airfield. But the tasks in the standard class, which averaged 319km (maximum 357km) were also very respectable. In the club class an average of 264km was set. The longest distance flown here was 320km.
     Sylvia (Üli) Stampke experienced the championships in Neresheim in the cockpit of her LS1-f, not flying solo, but in the team event. She has recorded the adventure of team flying in the club class for aerokurier. (Results)

German Aerobatics Championships: first title for Detlev Eilers

An airline captain by profession, in his free time he is a successful acrobatics pilot. Now Detlev Eilers (45) has taken his first title in the German Aerobatics Championships in Landau, held between 22 and 30 July in Landau.
    Second and third place in the champion class from a 23-strong entry went to Gregor Wilke (Biberach) with a lead of 100 points and Helmut Lindner (Walpertshofen) after a respectable race to catch up.
      16 pilots entered in the semi-acrobatic class. Here the clear winner was Pilatus-B4 pilot Andris Kade from Karlsruhe. Jürgen Thies of Niederweis came second in a Lo 100, followed by Wolfgang Schieck of Sauerlach in a Salto. (Results)

Polish Championships

Rain and storms featured strongly during the 45th Polish Standard Class Championships held between 24 June and 9 July in Leszno.
     Winner of the championships was 44 year-old Jerzy Kolasinski in a Jantar Standard 2, in second place was Robert Sleczkowski (29) and in third place Stanislaw Kluk (61), also both flying Jantar Standard 2s. As the best guest pilot in the international competition, Miroslaw Matkowski came in sixth, while Waldemar Labusga (LS8) was tenth.

Segelflugszene: new national aerosports association

Coburg. A national air sports club/association called Segelflugszene e.V. has now been founded. Its primary objective is to improve conditions for aerosports in Germany. In insurance matters the new association has already achieved a spectacular success. Segelflugszene e. V. concluded framework agreements at the beginning of September, enabling its members to make significant savings in insurance premiums. Membership subscriptions are extremely moderate: only DM12 per club, irrespective of size, or per individual per year.
     Further information can be obtained on the Internet from www.segelflugszene.de, or by fax from +49 (0)9151-71210 or in writing from Segelflugszene e.V., Hohensteinstr. 12, 91217 Hersbruck.

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