Today’s hop will include some “advanced handling” - which should be interesting. In reading the mission description I was brought back to the sweat drenched uncertainty I felt when I was trying to learn some of these maneuvers and perform them in front of a grizzled FAA designated examiner who was smoking in the airplane as I fumbled my way through them decades ago. I assure you, they were as ugly today as they were that day over 95 degree Conway, SC…
Per usual, the full startup is on the menu - don’t miss an item Cadet…!
Off we go to rendezvous at WP2…
Time to break out the beer and porn - we’re in the MOA…! Oh wait…maneuvers, yeah…
Where’d I put my sick sack? Looks like it’s gonna be a @smokinhole type of day!
There are a lot more voiceovers that I don’t show in these AARs - lots of good tips, advice, and parameters for the maneuvers…
Next up - a spin…! Which goes well…
Net up a spiral dive…again, the triggers and messages are perfectly constructed in these missions. I’m impressed…
Performing lazy eights - fortunately the parameters for judging appear fairly liberal, because mine weren’t the sharpest lines in the skies for sure…
After that - we do a duel flame-out deadstick landing. The divert airfield in the brief is the abandoned field, even though the much larger airfield of Kobuleti is below - but we’ll stick with the plan. It isn’t until I’m halfway down that I realize I can start the APU and use the APU gen to get my avionics partially back…duh…
I end up a little hot and high close in (typical for an engine out procedure) and touchdown a bit warm, then can’t remember where the emergency brake is until I’m about to barrel of the end of the runway. Into the grass I go, I flip, and still I manage to Qualify. Since part of the briefing was “you can eject if you have to”, I guess a broken airplane is just as good…
Hey…uh…is someone gonna get me out of here??
Fun mission with some fun maneuvers.