FastEddieB Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I don't think I'd really ever want to fly across water out of sight of land.It is an uncomfortable feeling. When I ferried cropdusters to S America, even following the island chain, there were several long overwater legs, long enough that you lost land behind you and had nearly an hour or more before land cropped up in your field of view, hopefully more or less where it was supposed to be. The longest ones were S. Caicos to Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, and Grenada to the S. American coast. And usually just dead reckoning - GPS was just a glimmer in some engineer's eye. I think the rule was 1° off course was 1 mile off course in 60 miles. Anyway, it must have worked out because I'm still here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Not to get political, but... ...check out the righthand autofill suggestion that Safari gave me: Has Karen in absolute stitches! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 The longest ones were S. Caicos to Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, and Grenada to the S. American coast. And usually just dead reckoning - GPS was just a glimmer in some engineer's eye. I think the rule was 1° off course was 1 mile off course in 60 miles. Anyway, it must have worked out because I'm still here! Rule one for such flights: Carry *way* more fuel than you need to make the flight. I would think that without GPS or a VOR that would be a little scary. An unforecast wind could play merry havok with your navigation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Rule one for such flights: Carry *way* more fuel than you need to make the flight. Burned about 15 gph. Had about 50 gals in the wings, plus 150 gals in the hopper. That's 10 hours of flying in the hopper alone! That should be enough fuel even for a Republitard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbigs Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 No question the Cirrus and Flight Design parachutes are superior technology. Astounding some still strain to find fault with this advance in aviation safety. Clinging to old ways of thinking die hard.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Jefts Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Interesting thought Duane, but wouldn't a 45 knot wind be producing some pretty large waves? Landing into wind would surely then put you head on to the waves whereas all the ditching advice I've read says that it is advisable to land "along" the swell not "across" it. I must say that whenever I've crossed the Channel or the Irish Sea I've always been mighty glad to coast in and leave the sea behind!!!! The rule of Ocean ditching is land parallel to the primary swell, down the secondary swell, with the best into the wind component you can get. When landing parallel, the best position is on top of the crest of the major swell. There is quite a distance between the peaks (highest point) of the primary swell so in the case I mentioned you would land on the backside of the primary swell or the trough. Avoid the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Jefts Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Here is another example of Ocean ditching with a happy ending. http://www.military.com/video/forces/coast-guard/uscg-video-shows-pilot-ditching-cessna/1213277733001/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Being a Cessna 310 with a re retracrable undercarriage helped a lot, but a textbook ditching regardless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmInce Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Rule one for such flights: Carry *way* more fuel than you need to make the flight.Rule #2, early on, let the powerplant sample fuel from EACH SOURCE, if at all possible. That includes the ability to transfer fuel.The newer generation of aircraft will do it automatically, sometimes even before takeoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralarcon Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Being a Cessna 310 with a re retracrable undercarriage helped a lot, but a textbook ditching regardless. Yes agree, if he had landing gear hanging out under the fuselage , your chances of flipping over are much higher. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.