My first retirement post – buying a new aircraft
Back to Forum- This topic has 55 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 1 Jun 2016
at 16:03 by FDOS_UK.
-
- Author
- Posts
- Skip to last reply Create Topic
-
LuganoPirateParticipantIt does look outstanding and it’s single pilot certified. However, doesn’t going from turboprop to jet require an additional rating, or is that covered by the type rating for the aircraft?
4 May 2016
at 23:47
MartynSinclairParticipantOperating any single/twin, pressurised / turbine aircraft as a single pilot (irrespective of single pilot certification) & sharing the airspace with the professionals will be an interesting decision.
Edit to add I am not suggesting for one minute that Charles is not a suitably qualified and appropriately rated pilot….
5 May 2016
at 07:05
Charles-PParticipantLatest Developments
Have purchased last week a European registered PC12NG and had my first flight as owner together with the previous who was kind enough to accompany me to point out the occasional quirk that all aircraft have and help with the landing.
I will shortly move the aircraft to Altenrhein Aviation in Switzerland who will be carrying out some maintenance, minor avionic upgrades and a refurbishment in the cabin (minor leather damage).
In September we will be taking our first family flight with a trip to Scotland via Biggen Hill to visit some friends for a week.
31 May 2016
at 10:29
MartynSinclairParticipantCongratulations Charles. I wish you many hours of safe flying and soft landings.
31 May 2016
at 10:53
Charles-PParticipantThanks Martyn – my son who is currently at university in the US is coming over for the summer and is as excited as I am about flying it.
We are planning a number of trips including to our summer house in the Midi-Pyrénées where the Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport has some very attractive prices for General Aviation as well as a separate terminal.
There is a link here if it is of interest to you – http://pano.epsigon.fr/client/snc-lavalin-aeroports/aerogare-affaires-tlp/index.htmlWe also plan to undertake something more ambitious next year with a flight to Dubai.
I went out for a half day of training with a PC-12 charter captain who has thousands of hours in the plane. Here is what I leart about short-field landings:
Be at 90-95 knots with flaps 40 at 500′ AGL
Be at 84 knots “over the fence” (maybe 300′ back from the runway threshold?) then start using the AOA to be “on speed” (right in the middle of the AOA; slightly slower is optimum, but in the middle will result in plenty short landings).
When landing is assured one can cut the power. This might be an earlier throttle chop compared to what some train (“roll back during flare” or “start rolling back above threshold”). If you are not in ground effect at this point you need to point the nose down quite a bit, perhaps 5 degrees, to maintain “on speed”. Then you need quite a dramatic flare to avoid pounding it on.With full reverse thrust and fairly light braking I was able to stop 1600′ from the beginning of the runway. My captain friend was able to demonstrate closer to 1100′ in a very challenging situation (mountains all around).
Reverse thrust can be used down to indefinitely slow ground speeds. With turbojets there is some rationale for not using reverse thrust below a certain speed but apparently not with the PT-6 (perhaps it is the inertial separator?).
Short-field take-offs
Based on the same half-day of training…Flaps 30
Rotate at 65-70 knots (depending on weight presumably)
At “positive rate” move the flaps to 15, then pull up the gear.Regards
Charles31 May 2016
at 15:32
MartynSinclairParticipantCharles P
I learnt short field landings at Netherthrope (EGNF) at the time, the shortest registered landing strip in the UK.
My late father gave me a great piece of advice which I still use today. Try not to accept an intersection take off, runway behind you can never be used…..
31 May 2016
at 17:47
AnthonyDunnParticipantCharles, now how does your latest acquisition compare to this (experienced recently, flying over the Great Barrier Reef):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GippsAero_GA8_Airvan
It looks like yours does distance, height and comfort – not quite a requirement for our sortie over the GBR.
31 May 2016
at 17:49
LuganoPirateParticipantWell done Charles, I applaud your choice.
There’s a lovely little aviation museum at Altenrhein which is worth a visit. It has unusual opening times but if you know someone there they’ll likely have a key so you can effectively have a private view. Just don’t forget to turn the lights off when you leave!
1 Jun 2016
at 09:48
Charles-PParticipantMartynSinclair – your father’s advice is indeed still relevant. I remember my first flight instructor who said,
“They built the bloody thing this long might as well use it all”AnthonyDunn – I think the Airvan is a more utalitarian aircraft designed for the rough field market, my aging body demands a little more comfort these days 🙂
LuganoPirate – thank you for the recommendation, I had not known about that museum. It sounds a little like the Musuem of Berkshire Aviation on the site of what was once Woodley Airfield, near Reading, U.K. – once the centre of a thriving aircraft industry. Miles and Handley Page aircraft built at Woodley are being re-constructed and exhibited there. I once visited just before closing and was allowed to spend an hour there providing I bought the two volunteers a pint in the local pub. Which I duly did 🙂
1 Jun 2016
at 12:53
FDOS_UKParticipant“Reverse thrust can be used down to indefinitely slow ground speeds. With turbojets there is some rationale for not using reverse thrust below a certain speed but apparently not with the PT-6 (perhaps it is the inertial separator?).”
Do you have any basic understanding of the differences between turbojet and turboprop reverse systems and how they work?
Hint, beta mode and prop disc.
1 Jun 2016
at 16:03 -
AuthorPosts