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Milestone passed by N31BZ

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N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

As of this afternoon, N31BZ now has over 500 hours of flying time  - 500.4 hours to be exact.  It accumulated those hours in just  under three years.  Its first flight was 7 December 2005, so lets call  it 6 weeks short of three full years.  I am happy to report that it  has performed brilliantly with no airframe or engine problems.  Just normal  maintenance on the engine and routine inspections on the airframe.  So you  can rest assured that your Lightning, Jabiru 3300, and Sensenich propeller  combination will do just as well if not better.  Overall, a great  combination.

  

 Now, just for grins, since it has been flying for just under three  years so that works out to about 15 hours a  month.  Or that can be 3.33 hours per week, or .5 hours a day.   Assuming an average speed of 150 mph that becomes 75,060 miles (or 3.01  times around the earth at the equator).  Or you can look at it as 2207  miles a month, 500 miles a week, or 70.8 miles each day.  Based on mileage,  it may be out of warranty by now.

 Blue Skies,

 Buz



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  [quote][b]

Wayne Lenox

Joined: 07 Jan 2008
Posts: 75
Location: Arizona in the winter

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

Buz Great job on 31BZ it still looks new.

Nel and I will leave for Texas and Arizona this weekend in our Lightning

N1BZRich(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

In a message dated 10/23/2008 7:46:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  waynelenox(at)juno.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     

Nel and I will leave for Texas and Arizona this weekend in our    Lightning. 	


 

 Hi Wayne,

     If at all possible, take some photos during your  flight (fuel stops, places of interest, etc.) and share your trip with our  newsletter readers.  It would also be interesting to hear some of the  comments of people you meet along the way and what they think and say about your  beautiful Lightning.  Send any thing about your trip directly to me and I  will include it in the newsletter.

 Blue Skies,

 Buz



Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites, no registration required and great graphi200689022/aol?redir= http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001">  check it out!

  [quote][b]

staufferm

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 34

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

Buz,  

   

Congratulations!!!  

   

Mark  

       

From: owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of N1BZRich(at)aol.com

 Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 5:25 PM

 To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ  

  

  

     

As of this afternoon, N31BZ now has over 500 hours of flying time - 500.4 hours to be exact.  It accumulated those hours in just under three years.  Its first flight was 7 December 2005, so lets call it 6 weeks short of three full years.  I am happy to report that it has performed brilliantly with no airframe or engine problems.  Just normal maintenance on the engine and routine inspections on the airframe.  So you can rest assured that your Lightning, Jabiru 3300, and Sensenich propeller combination will do just as well if not better.  Overall, a great combination.  

    

   

    

Now, just for grins, since it has been flying for just under three years so that works out to about 15 hours a month.  Or that can be 3.33 hours per week, or .5 hours a day.  Assuming an average speed of 150 mph that becomes 75,060 miles (or 3.01 times around the earth at the equator).  Or you can look at it as 2207 miles a month, 500 miles a week, or 70.8 miles each day.  Based on mileage, it may be out of warranty by now.  

    

Blue Skies,  

    

Buz  

  



 

         

  

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N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

Thanks, Mark.  Soon your future award wining "Alcoa" special will  be flying and you can start logging "slow flight" time.  Seriously, lets do  an article on your project for the newsletter.  It might just be the type  of info that will convince people to build a Lightning using your builder's  assist expertise.  And besides, they want have to buy any clecos - or even  know what they are.

 Blue Skies,

 Buz



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  [quote][b]

EAFerguson(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:13 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

In a message dated 10/23/2008 6:27:50 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  N1BZRich(at)aol.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Assuming    an average speed of 150 mph that becomes 75,060 miles (or 3.01 times    around the earth at the equator).  	


 

 Considering a possible world record??

  

 Earl



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N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:28 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

In a message dated 10/24/2008 8:14:18 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  EAFerguson(at)AOL.COM writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     Considering a possible world record??

	


 

 Hi Earl,

     No, that is your area of expertise.  Besides I  don't have the "right" flying apparel.  But speaking of world records, I  have been meaning to ask if you were able to use atmospheric pressure  pattern routing on your world record run?  What was it we called it in the  military - flex path routing?  I may not be remembering the name  right,  But I know many years ago that technique was almost always  considered on long cross countries but today most newer pilots have never even  heard of that.  I occasionally take advantage of that on some of my cross  country flights when over 300 miles or so.  I have been able  to improve my overall average cruising speed over what it would have been  by just using a "straight line" (great circle route) on several of the  flights.  

 Blue Skies,

 Buz



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  [quote][b]

Rick

Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 113
Location: Colonial Beach, Virginia

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:11 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

 	  Quote: 	
		  Congrats Buz!I know "31BZ" has been good to you!She is a very beautiful ship C hope you get many more fun hours in her.....Until you build that hotrod Cclipped wing C tail-draggin' Lightning anyway..... RickN727RB Do not archive 	
When your life is on the go—take your life with you. Try Windows Mobile® today  [quote][b]

EAFerguson(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:35 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

In a message dated 10/24/2008 9:28:29 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     Hi Earl,

       No, that is your area of expertise.  Besides    I don't have the "right" flying apparel.  But speaking of world records,    I have been meaning to ask if you were able to use atmospheric    pressure pattern routing on your world record run?  What was it we called    it in the military - flex path routing?  I may not be remembering the    name right,  But I know many years ago that technique was almost always    considered on long cross countries but today most newer pilots have never even    heard of that.  I occasionally take advantage of that on some of my cross    country flights when over 300 miles or so.  I have been able    to improve my overall average cruising speed over what it would have been    by just using a "straight line" (great circle route) on several of the    flights.  

   Blue Skies,

	


 

 Buz,

  

 The simple answer is no. We did consider this type of plan, but ruled it  out early. I really had too many other things to plan around. The routing  was complicated enough and, while it was an 1800 nm trip, the max leg was about  370. I picked refueling stops at my max range and contacted them ahead  of time for expedited service. Several were very helpful. I avoided  controlled airports to eliminate ground waits. Weather info at several  of my stops was pretty limited. If I had wx in the cockpit that would have  helped, but I didn't. I wanted in flight weather, but it wasn't in the  budget.  Finally, I was limited to VFR, 10,000'  and some terrain  (Guadalupe Pass). Maybe next time?? 

  

 Earl

  

  



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  [quote][b]

pjdisher(at)bigpond.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

G'day Buz

 Following up on your 'Pressure Pattern Flying', I found in my archive of  books from the late fifties a book explaining it very well.

 The book, Modern Airmanship by Van Sickle page 608-614, although, I  personally think GPS is the way to go and take in the scenery.

 And congratulations on your record, I figured you could have used some  3000 gal fuel and at our cost less than 30 cense/mile, not bad.

 Pete D 

 [quote]    

    

   ---

Bill Strahan

Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 145

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject: Re: Milestone passed by N31BZ

I think I've hard Pressure Pattern Navigation referred to as PLOPS.  Here is a good reference:  



http://williams.best.vwh.net/smxgigpdf/smx2001c.pdf



If any of you are mathematically inclined, perhaps you'd be interested in a project I've considered a few times:  Write software to calculate what the actual route over ground would be on the constant magnetic heading defined by the pressure pattern navigation plan, and create a series of lat/lon waypoints that could be loaded into a gps.



The problem with the constant magnetic heading is you just don't know where it will take you, and that's unacceptable with today's airspace (especially TFRs!) limitations.  But if you could create a plan with waypoints that would still result in you flying that constant magnetic heading, then you could at least anticipate the route and/or plan slight deviations as required.



If I ever get around to it, I'll work out the math, and then create an online planner to put on my webpage.  I know I've plotted examples of 700 mile trips in which a 30 mile deviation from a straight line course resulted in a 20% reduction in flight time due to going on the other side of a low pressure area rather than the side that had the headwinds.

N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:12 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

In a message dated 10/25/2008 1:33:25 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  bill(at)gdsx.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I know    I've plotted examples of 700 mile trips in which a 30 mile deviation from a    straight line course resulted in a 20% reduction in flight time due to going    on the other side of a low pressure area rather than the side that had the    headwinds.

	


 

 Bill,

     That's exactly what I was referring to - deviating  to the right side of a low pressure area (counter clockwise rotation) or to the  left of a high pressure area (clockwise) to increase your ground speed over what  you would get by just flying a straight line to your destination.  In  today's cockpit, with actual instantaneous ground speeds now available on your  GPS, it is much easier to use this technique and see immediate results.   Just watch your ground speed increase as you deviate a few degrees off the  direct heading and see if your arrival time improves.  At least that is how  I have used this method recently.  But you are right, the actual math that  proves that this technique works is rather complex.  

     The reference you mentioned,  http://williams.best.vwh.net/smxgigpdf/smx2001c.pdf,  is exactly what I was talking about.  I am glad to see that this is  technique is not a dying art.  

 Blue Skies,

 Buz



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  [quote][b]

dashvii(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:25 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

Buz C

    I learned this technique at Embry-Riddle.  I don't remember them referring to it as that though but it's been a while C maybe they did.  I did use this technique on my trip from TN to AZ.  

  

 I remember a few years ago watching a made for tv movie during Christmas: Here in the states it was called Mercy Mission C The Rescue of Flight 771.  It was called something else overseas.  It was the true story of Capt. Gordon Vette. (great last name!)  He helped a lost Piper Pawnee that was out over the ocean trying to deliver a crop duster.  I believe the only radio nav that he had on board was an ADF which broke.  So they came up with some great techniques to find where this guy was.  I can follow it alright C but I wish they still taught navigation to this level! Check it out here: http://www.navworld.com/navcerebrations/mayday.htm

Brian W.



   

 From: N1BZRich(at)aol.com

Date: Sat C 25 Oct 2008 06:12:29 -0400

Subject: Re: Re: Milestone passed by N31BZ

To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com

   In a message dated 10/25/2008 1:33:25 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time C bill(at)gdsx.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I know I've plotted examples of 700 mile trips in which a 30 mile deviation from a straight line course resulted in a 20% reduction in flight time due to going on the other side of a low pressure area rather than the side that had the headwinds.

	


 

 Bill C

     That's exactly what I was referring to - deviating to the right side of a low pressure area (counter clockwise rotation) or to the left of a high pressure area (clockwise) to increase your ground speed over what you would get by just flying a straight line to your destination.  In today's cockpit C with actual instantaneous ground speeds now available on your GPS C it is much easier to use this technique and see immediate results.  Just watch your ground speed increase as you deviate a few degrees off the direct heading and see if your arrival time improves.  At least that is how I have used this method recently.  But you are right C the actual math that proves that this technique works is rather complex.  

     The reference you mentioned C  http://williams.best.vwh.net/smxgigpdf/smx2001c.pdf C is exactly what I was talking about.  I am glad to see that this is technique is not a dying art.  

 Blue Skies C

 Buz



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Paul K Smith

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9
Location: Hindmarsh Island, Sth Australia

Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:48 am Post subject: Re: Milestone passed by N31BZ

Congrats on the 500 hour milestone Buz, and always interested to read pieces like improving travel time by navigating around high and low pressure systems.  I'll take a look at these references posted by some of you, but the rule of thumb of clockwise round a low and anti-clockwise round a high is of course the exact opposite down under, indeed anywhere south of the equator, not just in Oz of course.  So down here we would fly to the right of a high and to the left of a low to improve ground speed.

On another topic, the Aussie dollar is quickly pushing imports like the Lightning off our radar.  We've lost 40% in 4 months against the greenback.  Ouch!  Still have the dream it will all come good again.

Evening all.  Paul Smith.

N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:24 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

In a message dated 10/27/2008 8:49:42 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  stay(at)caithness.com.au writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  On    another topic, the Aussie dollar is quickly pushing imports like the Lightning    off our radar.  We've lost 40% in 4 months against the greenback.     Ouch!  Still have the dream it will all come good  again.

	


 

 Paul,

     I certainly understand what you are saying about  the Aussie dollar vs. the US greenback, but what hurts you guys certainly helps  us when buying the Jabiru engine.  But as to purchasing a Lightning kit,  remember that Nick develop "sub" kits so that you don't have to buy everything  as once and allows a builder to get started without a large outlay of  cash.  You might want to consider that.  

     I also understand the "reverse coriolis effect"  down under, but have always wondered if "stuff" flows "uphill" when down  under?  Inquiring minds want to know.  

 Blue Skies,

 Buz



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catalpaaviation(at)wideba
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

I do know understand what “stuff’ is but I do know that when I take off in my Lightning it immediately rolls to the left (coriolis effect) until the wheels are pointing towards the blue and the fin is pointing towards the green which at this time of the year is turning brown.  I guess it must have something to do with the American made A/h as it now is has the blue up and the brown down as I look at it.  Now if you fitted an Aussie made A/H to a Jabiru and took off in America it would roll right (coriolis effect).  Another problem I have encounted when doing a x-country in the Lightning is reading the charts, they where designed for Jabirus in Australia and reading them in reverse does pose some problems but if you use them as sun shades (not required in the Jabiru) it does orientate them for the southern hemisphere.  

Anthony  

   

--

N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:05 am Post subject: Milestone passed by N31BZ

In a message dated 10/28/2008 6:36:50 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  catalpaaviation(at)wideband.net.au writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Another problem I    have encounted when doing a x-country in the    Lightning is reading the charts, they where designed for Jabirus in Australia    and reading them in reverse does pose some problems but if you use them as sun    shades (not required in the Jabiru) it does orientate them for the southern    hemisphere. 	


 

 Hi Anthony,

     Thanks for 'splaining that to us in the northern  hemisphere.  But if you have problems needing a sun shade just continue to  fly your Lightning inverted or when the "air is dark".  Any difference  between day and night when down under?  And another question - has your FAA  equivalent in Australia mandated that you guys switch to the metric compass  yet?  Inquiring minds want to know.

 Buz



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