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andrew(at)nzactive.com
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 Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:12 pm Post subject: Emergency equipment in general |
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Smokey, I was relieved to see the "Smith & Wesson" you referred to was, well, not quite what I thought you were referring to. I initially thought you were saying, forget the canopy breaker, just carry a big gun and SHOOT your way out! My first flight instructor would never fly without his piece, actually - we were flying out of Reid Hillview, CA, and he always took a 9mm something-or-other with him "in case we had to force land in hostile territory". Hmmm. San Jose? San Francisco? 
For what it's worth, in NZ we are *required* to have certain items of emergency equipment in all aircraft, inc experimentals - eg ELT, fire extinguisher, usually a light axe, etc. I carry a lot more than the legal minimum, and over the years have gone full circle from "it's never going to happen to me" to "if it DOES happen to me, I'll be ready." I think an axe or canopy breaker is an absolute no-brainer in an RV4/Rocket type aircraft. Yes, the canopy will probably break if you go over, but if it doesn't, or if you DON'T go over, but it's jammed for some reason...I would feel a teeny bit silly being stuck inside. Again. Having once been in that situation in an RV4 a long time ago, may I recommend some sort of digging implement - if you're upside down in a field, there's not necessarily room to get out without doing some digging. Or, as we had to, wait around for the grownups, stuck inside upside down, wondering if the thing will burn. Not nice.
In my opinion, RVs to some degree and Rockets for sure have a very good chance of ending upside down in forced landing & crash situations. Even a nice flat field could tip you up if it's soft earth...
Hence my personal obsession - a solid, braced, rollbar. Not trying to get all lectur-y here, just saying that a few additions to the basic kick-ass Rocket, some cheap, some less so, might seem real cheap if they're ever actually required. eg rollbar, canopy breaker, fire extinguisher, comprehensive first aid kit + a basic idea of what to do with it, flare pack, life jacket (if ever over H2O! disregard if you live in Kansas!) , ELT, basic survival kit, and the use of some sort of flight plan, whether formal or informal...
..and the next level, which I use for XC flights, as opposed to local/aerobatic sorties: a ditching bottle (tiny scuba tank), Spot beacon (uploads GPS position to a website that anyone can access, every 5 mins), augmented survival pack, liferaft, satphone, food & water...
Admittedly *some* NZ flying has, perhaps, more in common w Alaska flying than *some* of the lower 48 flying, so my approach to safety equipment might seem a little OTT, but I'd probably do most of this, now, if I was still flying out of good ole WVI, CA.
This is no lecture - respectfully submitted in case it's helpful to anyone
Andrew
(HR2, NZ)
________________________________________
From: owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com [owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Rob Ray [smokyray(at)rocketmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 1:25 AM
To: Rocket List
Subject: SW 911
Guys,
After several requests for information, here is a link to a site selling the Smith and Wesson 911 canopy breaker tool Fireman and Police officers are issued in many places.I carry mine every time I fly anything now. I tested it recently on a damaged RV4 canopy. The punch-end easily pierced the plexiglass and the saw-end had no problems cutting a large swath out (wear gloves!).The serrated blade also cuts heavy straps (shoulder harness) well, very sharp.
Don't leave home without one...
FYI!
http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum979.php
Smokey
HR2
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jrstone(at)insightbb.com
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| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject: Emergency equipment in general |
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Andy, great post!
I have been wanting to improve my roll. bar, could you send me a pic of yours.
Thanks for the advice.
Jim Stone
HR 2
Louisville KY
Sent from my iPad
On Jun 4, 2010, at 4:11 PM, ACTIVE NZ - Andrew <andrew(at)nzactive.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
Smokey, I was relieved to see the "Smith & Wesson" you referred to was, well, not quite what I thought you were referring to. I initially thought you were saying, forget the canopy breaker, just carry a big gun and SHOOT your way out! My first flight instructor would never fly without his piece, actually - we were flying out of Reid Hillview, CA, and he always took a 9mm something-or-other with him "in case we had to force land in hostile territory". Hmmm. San Jose? San Francisco?
For what it's worth, in NZ we are *required* to have certain items of emergency equipment in all aircraft, inc experimentals - eg ELT, fire extinguisher, usually a light axe, etc. I carry a lot more than the legal minimum, and over the years have gone full circle from "it's never going to happen to me" to "if it DOES happen to me, I'll be ready." I think an axe or canopy breaker is an absolute no-brainer in an RV4/Rocket type aircraft. Yes, the canopy will probably break if you go over, but if it doesn't, or if you DON'T go over, but it's jammed for some reason...I would feel a teeny bit silly being stuck inside. Again. Having once been in that situation in an RV4 a long time ago, may I recommend some sort of digging implement - if you're upside down in a field, there's not necessarily room to get out without doing some digging. Or, as we had to, wait around for the grownups, stuck inside upside down, wondering if the thing will burn. Not nice.
In my opinion, RVs to some degree and Rockets for sure have a very good chance of ending upside down in forced landing & crash situations. Even a nice flat field could tip you up if it's soft earth...
Hence my personal obsession - a solid, braced, rollbar. Not trying to get all lectur-y here, just saying that a few additions to the basic kick-ass Rocket, some cheap, some less so, might seem real cheap if they're ever actually required. eg rollbar, canopy breaker, fire extinguisher, comprehensive first aid kit + a basic idea of what to do with it, flare pack, life jacket (if ever over H2O! disregard if you live in Kansas!) , ELT, basic survival kit, and the use of some sort of flight plan, whether formal or informal...
...and the next level, which I use for XC flights, as opposed to local/aerobatic sorties: a ditching bottle (tiny scuba tank), Spot beacon (uploads GPS position to a website that anyone can access, every 5 mins), augmented survival pack, liferaft, satphone, food & water...
Admittedly *some* NZ flying has, perhaps, more in common w Alaska flying than *some* of the lower 48 flying, so my approach to safety equipment might seem a little OTT, but I'd probably do most of this, now, if I was still flying out of good ole WVI, CA.
This is no lecture - respectfully submitted in case it's helpful to anyone
Andrew
(HR2, NZ)
________________________________________
From: owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com [owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Rob Ray [smokyray(at)rocketmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 1:25 AM
To: Rocket List
Subject: SW 911
Guys,
After several requests for information, here is a link to a site selling the Smith and Wesson 911 canopy breaker tool Fireman and Police officers are issued in many places.I carry mine every time I fly anything now. I tested it recently on a damaged RV4 canopy. The punch-end easily pierced the plexiglass and the saw-end had no problems cutting a large swath out (wear gloves!).The serrated blade also cuts heavy straps (shoulder harness) well, very sharp.
Don't leave home without one...
FYI!
http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum979.php
Smokey
HR2
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smokyray(at)rocketmail.co
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| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:04 pm Post subject: Emergency equipment in general |
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Awesome Andy, you can never have too many goodies! Having flown a single seat, single engine jet for many hours over bad-guy land, it's nice to know you have options (and cool toys) if you end up on foot, or fin! The one thing you can't stress enough is good old H20, water. I carry fold up survival water packs, sea dye, mirror, strobe, mini leather-man, compass, fire-starter and spot tracker in a small waterproof belt pack and stow it in my center console. My back seat cushion has a cut-out underneath it for a standard airline type life vest. I too have retrieved several flipped-over RV's and all three couldn't dig out once the glass was broken. I thought at the time a hydraulic roll bar you could "jack up" if needed would be cool, hmm. This changed my forced landing choices (if given one) to use county and access roads, large paved areas, lakes, pastures, fields in that order. Like the Boy Scouts motto says, "Be Prepared" is good advice
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