| Author |
Messages |
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
      
 Posted Thursday, May 19, 2011 @ 02:56 PM
Hi Folks,
I've posted some clips on YouTube that are not of aerobatics (just for a change).
Some are not for public consumption, but might be of interest to Fournier enthusiasts.
Like this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaZ4f4bM0Yg
Others you can find by going to www.YouTube.com and searching for FournierBob.
All sorts of clips will come up, but find one with the blue FournierBob tag, and click on that tag.
This will take you to my 'channel', where you can find all the clips I have uploaded.
They're not all of Fourniers, but of course there is a serious Fournier bias.
Happy Fournicating!
Yours, Bob
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 02:47 PM]
--------------------
|
Donald
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, May 20, 2011 @ 09:02 AM
Do you always take off with the tailwheel down, Bob?
|
Jorgen
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, May 20, 2011 @ 07:39 PM
Thanks Bob,
as usual inspiring clips, keep them coming!
Donald,
that question is good enough to warrant a new thread! I confess I get the impression that the puny 39 hp pulls much stronger when on the main wheel, if that is because the prop disc is not at an angle to the direction of travel or whether it is just an illusion I don't know, but for that reason unless there is a risk of weathercocking (crosswind) I lift the tailwheel as soon as it is possible. With the RF 5b on the other hand, I would have stick back until lift-off.
May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, May 20, 2011 @ 08:10 PM
Hello Donald,
No, we usually lift the tailwheel at an early stage in the take-off.
However, for the shortest possible take-off in most tailwheel aeroplanes, the best technique is to hold the tailwheel just an inch or two off the ground until lifting off, and then accelerate in ground effect a couple of feet off the deck to the best climb speed.
Matt & I have experimented with RF4D, Chipmunk, Champ, Stearman, Maule and a few other types, and this is the best way for minimum ground roll in all of these.
But in this particular case, the take-off from our airstrip is downhill, but in a strong tailwind, which is also a strong crosswind.
Experience has told us that it is still safest to go downhill at our particular airstrip in winds of up to ten knots (note the power lines at the top of the strip, behind the Fournier when it starts rolling).
Because this year we have only one foot of clearance from the crop at each wingtip, accurate tracking of the centreline is more important than the shortest possible take-off, so we keep our tailwheels on the ground for good steering control until the aeroplane lifts off.
Long answer to a short question.
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
Donald
Unregistered
|
Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 01:44 AM
Hello Bob,
Thank you for taking the time to write the long answer. Most interesting. I did notice in the clip that the tail came off the ground quite early as you came up the rise but then seemed to go back down and I wondered why. With a less experienced pilot I'd probably have thought it sloppy technique but I don't think we can rate you as 'less experienced' or sloppy, hence the question.
I have always raised the tail within a couple of seconds of opening the throttle and my impression is that the fuselage goes almost horizontal, which I believe is pretty much what my original French flight manual says to do, but of course these things will be written for 'standard' conditions, whatever they are, and your strip looks, and sounds, anything but 'standard'. The other thing is some time ago I read an article by, I think, Alan Bramson, about technique for the shortest take off run. Admittedly it was for tricycle gear aircraft on a hard surface but his contention was that you had to have the wing in it's lowest possible drag configuration for the greatest acceleration, no flaps in his situation. I tried it at the time and it did seem to be effective so I guess I've kind of stuck with that proposition.
This is of particular interest to me because there is a microlight strip about 10 minutes from my home that I would love to be able to use except I have always reckoned it just too tight for safety. I'm sure I could get in OK and maybe out again afterwards, but there would be very little margin for error and I'd have to have perfect piloting technique every time and no adverse influences like wet or long grass. But if your technique increases the margin by shortening the ground roll that is very well worth knowing. However I'll evaluate at another, longer strip before risking my irreplaceable machine on the far fence.
Donald
[Edit by Donald on Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 01:48 AM]
|
JamesB
Unregistered
|
Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:40 PM
It might be interesting to start a thread, devoted to video clips.
Nice day, south of Seattle. Grumman Mallard taxies by. Cascade Mountains & Mt. Rainier in background.
http://youtu.be/RjQvvXPIydw
_
|
Jorgen
Unregistered
|
Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 04:18 PM
What a nice video James,
thanks for sharing that, I particularly enjoyed the soaring sequence. I had a nice one hour soaring flight with the 4 yesterday, but OOh how I really miss soaring the 5b!
May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 07:10 AM
Hi Fellow Fournier Folks,
Here is my latest clip, on-board footage of us running through a practice of our 2011 sequence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h_0jEfeiLA
Immediately before that on my YouTube 'channel' is the same sortie as seen from the ground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jADhp1JQggA
Just for anybody who's interersted.
Yours, Bob
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 07:12 AM]
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 07:12 AM]
--------------------
|
Jorgen
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 09:51 AM
Fantastic Bob,
very nice videos! I was so pleasantly surprised to see you DID keep the Hamster-Loop there at the end- it is a spectacular maneuvre and a suitable end of a very nice sequence. Christian Zok and his friends are flying north in a week and we hope to meet up, I'll be sure to tell him that news!
As an aside, I have got a number of clips like the one shot from the ground from the display at Eslöv a couple of weeks ago, I think it's probable that the lens is dirty or foggy, which effectively inhibits the focusing of the camera. Still, that external clip does show your excellent formation dicipline and give a nice overview of the sequence.
Good show, keep Fournicating!
May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen
|
Jorgen
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 10:00 AM
Bob
it also dawned on me that part of the difficulty of flying formation aerobatics must be due to the fact that you alter the "spatial orientation"-bit quite a lot. You fly almost the whole sequence looking sideways- I can only imagine what that does for desorientation. The vestibular canals are oriented at roughly 90 degrees angle to each other- that means you "switched places" with the canals when you turn your head to the side while doing aeros. Consequently all maneuvres that you are used to now possibly cause new "confusing inputs".
If I ever try formation aeros with the "SE-XSK" guys I will bring a puke bag!
May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 02:39 PM
Thanks Jorgen,
You are quite right about the spatial disorientation.
I also get neck problems and back problems from the twisting, especially under 4 to 5 G.
I am now on first-name terms with my osteopath.
There is much more information on this stuff in an article I recently submitted to Christina Lindberg at Flygrevyn, but she has rejected that because it is 'too late in the year for airshow stories'.
She also rejected my earlier article about flying my RF4 to Sweden, because it happened in 2009, despite my telling her that it was not a news item and the whole point of the article was that I did it the 'old-fashioned' way, with just map & compass and no GPS.
If you want to read those articles you had better contact her, and maybe get any other flying friends who might be interested to contact her and tell her you would like to read those articles (if indeed, you would).
I have told her that I no longer have the time to write full-time and only have time to write articles about stuff I actually do in the Fournier.
I have since said I will not send her any more articles because she rejected those last two, and I do not appreciate taking a couple of weeks (or sometimes more) to write an aticle, opnly to have it consigned to the bin on an editor's whim.
It's sad, because I have been writing for her for more than 25 years, but that's how things now stand.
Let's hope the rain stops soon and we can once more enjoy our Fournicating in the sun.
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Tuesday, June 21, 2011 @ 06:51 AM
Hi Guys,
Here are a couple more clips from last weekend's display, for anybody who's interested.
I think (hope) we're gradually improving.
As you can see, we've put back Christain Zok's Hamster Loops, now we know that nobody else on the circuit can fly them!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR-qn7b3jAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiXlFv0yOvU
Enjoy.
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
jb92563
Unregistered
|
Posted Tuesday, June 21, 2011 @ 11:02 AM
Awesome, really a nice perspective on the wing pilot's focus.
Love those hamster Loops...you just don't see that kind of formation with other aircraft types
so you have once again shown off some of the things an RF4D does best.
I have to catch up on all the videos I have been missing since my paint project started.
Thanks for putting those up....inspirational and enjoyable to watch.
--------------------
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Tuesday, June 21, 2011 @ 12:48 PM
Thank you Ray,
It's very kind of you to say so.
That all makes the effort of fitting the camera and remembering to turn it on worthwhile.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
Jorgen
Unregistered
|
Posted Tuesday, June 21, 2011 @ 06:00 PM
Go Redhawks, go!
Absolutely spectacular performance and like Ray I love the hamster loops, the in-cockpit view when you chase the smoketrails are exhilirating with a sensational perception of speed! I still can't get how you did the waving run with one hand on the throttle only, but I think it's a very good way of ending the performance.
I'm sorry to hear "Flygrevyn" rejected your articles. To be honest I haven't read "Flygrevyn" in a while and judging by the mandatory content of the editorials you should probably have had more luck if you submitted a story about cats. Consider changing the title to "Bob Growltiger flies North" and insert frequent expressions like "purring engine", "clawing for altitude" etc.
I have great respect for your physiotherapeut if you can still move, the formationflying you do seems like a schoolbook example of what not to do with a neck- static strains in awkward positions and under G-loads from various directions. Ice-boat sailors have a bungee-chin strap to offload their neckflexors in supine position, but I suspect it would be difficult to adapt something suitable for turning your head the way you do. Please keep us updated will you and thanks again for a very inspiring performance!
May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Wednesday, June 22, 2011 @ 06:20 AM
Hi Jorgen,
Thanks very much for all that.
Yes, I can see from the way that a spine is constructed relative to the Fournier's seat shape that I am not doing the best things with mine. Age and stiffness do not help either, but as with all these things, it's not too much of a problem as long as I do it regularly. The problems arise after six months of abstinence from formation flying.
Christian's hamster loops seem to have been a favourite with most spectators. Strange really, becasue they are quite easy to do if:
1) You have the smoke to follow -- without smoke they are extremely dangerous, because the following aeroplane (usually me) can so easily misjudge the point to pull up into a loop, and find himself head-on to the other guy coming down, especially in the second or third loops.
2) You get the separation precisely correct. This just requires some simple maths and a knowledge of the looping diameter of your aeroplane, but so many of our competitors seem to have skipped this simple preparation step.
Yes, Christina seems to have become a little less friendly and easy-going in her older age. Perhaps she is retreating into a cat-like existence with her mushrooms. Regrettable; her magazine is not benefiting from these developments.
Oh, and that hands-off waving run? -- you just have to be absolutely, precisely in trim of course!
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 05:52 PM
At last a blue sky.
This is a very brief clip from a super, lovely, champagne-drinking lady at a private function (actually Matt's sister -- it was her birthday).
It's brief, but the orange smokes show up well against the blue sky in the low sun (it was 8.15pm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRLcJFRWpKk
Enjoy, Bob
--------------------
|
Donald
Unregistered
|
Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @ 03:26 AM
Lovely. I agree the orange smokes, the warm evening light and the cloudless sky do go very well together.
|
Jorgen
Unregistered
|
Posted Wednesday, June 29, 2011 @ 05:26 PM
Did I smell Bollinger?
nice clip, missed the hamsters though 
By the way, I managed to miss flying wing man to Christian Zok on their trip to Siljansnäs in Dalarna, it seems I will never make it up there. I did tell him about your program though. Keep up the good work for the benefit of worldwide boost in Fournierism!
May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Monday, July 25, 2011 @ 10:37 AM
Hi Guys,
I just found this non-aerobatic clip from last year.
Speed 100 mph, height about ten feet.
We occassionally go higher (see the shadow) to miss flocks of gulls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxQxk-E6bmQ
Enoy.
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, August 5, 2011 @ 07:16 AM
Another recent clip from the spectators' viewpoint.
Awful resolution, thanks to the system, but we thought the flying wsn't too bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9unQJU5LqM
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
|
Posted Friday, October 28, 2011 @ 11:15 AM
Hi Guys,
Here's a much shorter clip, showing just the first part of a coastal display.
The only real difference is that it was raining, with rain streaming back over our canopies, trickling down the instrument panels and eating away at our propellers.
Still, they needed a wash!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rblfc2pHEik
Yours, Bob
--------------------
|
|
