Flying on the Cheap - Instruments

On 19 Feb 2006 20:13:36 -0800, wrote:



A clock. One that cost nearly $200.

I stared at the telephone for a minute then hung it up and went back to
work. In terms of flying on the cheap, two hundred bucks is enough for
a fuselage or a set of wings. Common sense is remarkably uncommon
stuff in the world of aviation.

Flying on the Cheap means VFR-Day; the epitome of fair-weather flying.
No IFR timed turns nor precision descents into the murk. And the odds
are, you already own a perfectly good clock for that kind of flying.
In fact, it's probably strapped to your wrist right now.

I agree with all you write however....

my tailwind is gloriously day vfr. not a spare anything except for one
item.
my aircraft also has one of the old vacuum (or is steam) cessna black
and white artificial horizons.

that single instrument has saved my life three times now.
I dont fly stupidly but I do fly as often as I can all year round.

I have been caught 3 times in 6 years.

once we were out a mile from the airfield enjoying the canyons between
those glorious white fluffy clouds that just hang there is the same
position for hours at a time. truely glorious flying!
a wind change zippered up the canyons at about 150knots.
I was turning away from a zipper in a steep turn when we were engulfed
in the white opaque stuff.
1,000ft and 60 degree angle of bank seemed like tinsel town at the
time but the AH got me out safely.

a crack of dawn flight to photograph the turquoises and azures of the
local coast as only the early sunlight reveals caught me the next
time. I could see the far island quite clearly but a check below for
the coastline revealed nothing ...nothing at all. everything had
vanished. the engine started icing about then and a dive for the carby
heat and a crack open of the throttle and all was well again.
then the far island vanished as well.
a quick look around showed that in fact everything had vanished.
a check with the local tower had them call back cavok and visibility
unlimited. a question to them as to why my visibility unlimited was so
damn opaque revealed nothing. (they were only 3 miles away)
evidently a sea mist had formed around me.
a 180 and 5 minutes on the AH had me back into transparent air again.

the third occasion was a rainshower. never saw it coming and the fine
mist made the windscreen a frosted glass portal to the world.
the AH saw me through again until it eventually cleared.

I agree with all you write about cheap flying, however if as a result
of the economy you fly frequently then sure as apples you'll end up in
the situation where an Artificial Horizon will save your bacon.

Stealth Pilot
western australia

I have been caught 3 times in 6 years.

I also live in an area where the weather changes while you watch, and can
really astound you when you look away and then look back Therefore, I
completely agree with your attachment to your vertical gyro--my only caveat
being that someone less current on instruments might get more imediate help
from a turn-and-slip.

However, I hope that you are wearing your flame-proof skivies!

Peter