|
Message
From:
Charlie Kohler [mailto:ckohler1@cfl.rr.com]
Hey Matt,
I guess it's time to weigh in on the subject.
Jeff is right-- as usual. Training
is one piece, of this picture puzzle.
There are "approved" instructors
available. Dave Morss, Mike De Hate, and Orin Riddell and I are not Lancair
employees and have been training for years now. We have built this
airplane. We are familiar with it from every aspect. I have
thousands of hours myself as do Mike, Dave and Orin.
I have been training in the Lancair IV since 1996.
I've treated this as a full-time job. I trained with Pan American world
Airways-- on the line and in the simulator. I instructed in general
aviation airplanes all during my military and Airline career. I have had all my
(airplane) instructor ratings since 1965. And I was a check pilot years before
that with military and Aero clubs doing aerobatics and spin training
in T-34's. My list of Lancair trainees is over a hundred now. I did not
include Jeff Edwards, although I did do his first test flight with him in the
right seat taking notes. I also have a
flight manual that I have compiled which is approved by the insurance companies
and their underwriters. So much for "factory endorsed"
qualifications.
Additionally, I
worked with Recurrent Training Centers in Champaign Illinois to reprogram their
twin-engine simulator to Lancair IV numbers and flew the program as though it
were a Lancair and found everything to be quite realistic.
I also spent a day in negotiations with
Sim-Com in Orlando exploring the possibility of building a Lancair IV simulator.
Too expensive they said. Oh Well.
Even if, we train each and every pilot out there---
there will still be those who fly without engaging their brain.
Now to the WHAT CAN WE DO to stop this trend,
besides training??
All Lancair IV's should have stall strips. Look
through the archives for the excellent article by Mark Kirschner (retired chief
aerodynamist Boeing) (who I trained by the way).
A second piece of this puzzle, I believe
centers around the gross weight/CG of these airplanes. My personal opinion is
that 3550 TOGW is too heavy for normal operations. I find it difficult to load a
typical IV to these figures without getting out of limits.
I've included
my weight balance program as an attachment. Try it for yourself. Send me a copy
of a W&B if you can work one out.
The third piece of this puzzle is maintenance.
Nonstandard fuel systems-- nonstandard hardware-- nonstandard construction
techniques-- will lead to failures.
In summary;
The first issue would be to "stick with the
standard- proven stuff".
Have it inspected so that you now that was
built/installed correctly.
Take care of the liquids.
Get some training.
Get an instrument card. (You know--
that little pocket-sized blue card that has a hole in it. You hold it
up to the sky and if the colors match-- GO FLY.
Last but not least----- Don't do nothin
dumb.
Charlie K.
|