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My co-pilot and I argued about leaving the C172 on
the ground or flying out before the BLACK sandstorm enveloped us and
everything in Furnace Creek, Death Valley, CA. Finally the park ranger said the
two-day forecast was very very bad and I shouted "We're outa here!". Pack up the
plane, do the once-around, load three passengers, seatbelts, clear, crank and
go. While accelerating northward I could see the edge of the sandstorm gobble
the end of the runway ahead of us and come roaring down the runway towards us. I
checked my airspeed.....zero.
Let the airplane fly itself off....up...up...BOOM
into the blackness (really amazing!) lights on, eyes on the panel, scan,
scan, scan, 30 degree left turn to get out of the sandstorm quickly. After
about 10 seconds we were in clear air and headed south. Passengers white
(Oh...We do this ALL the time!"), mud-wasp-in-pitot-tube very
angry.
Landing was more of a problem that I expected. I
knew I could depend on the Cessna stall horn but my co-pilot keep having
hallucinations about airspeed. I landed a but fast and floated 1/4 way down the
runway. Anyway we got down fine. Yes, I know, not the best piloting
and maybe get-home-itis at work, but you had to be there....
----I have always though the single pitot tube was
an accident waiting to happen. Something to consider in my own airplane
project. There are many other ways to get this velocity information that are
more rugged and less likely to fail.
Best regards,
Eric
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