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Jorgen
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Posted Friday, May 30, 2008 @ 06:04 PM  

Hi Guys,
Do you also have to commute to work? It sucks, right? So I tried to make it somewhat more agreeable. I have to commute a couple of days a week between Lund and Landskrona in the south of Sweden. It´s not only boring to drive the 50 kilometers in the morning and afternoon, it´s also damn risky what with all the other zombie´s in their cars and in addition overstressed and overloaded trailers with all the supplies for the rest of Scandinavia piling up on the highway. So instead I placed a 21-gear bicycle at the nearest convenient airstrip close to my goal (8 kilometers out of town). Here´s what I came up with:

Car commuting (one way): 30 min
Gas consumption: 6 liters

Fournier commuting (one way): 60 min
(Car: 10 min, Preflight: 5 min, Fournierflight: 15 min, Tie-down: 5 min, Bicycle: 25 min)
Gas consumption: 3,5 liters

OK, so time-wise it´s totally nuts, it takes twice the time (actually even more). BUT it´s at least 10 times more fun, when I come home I´ve already flown and had my excersise- no need to rush to a spinning class. I´ve already done eight round trips so as you can see I cut my CO2 emission almost by half, not bad eeh? AND- and this is the point- it can be optimized further. Last week I had a light easterly on my way home and hit a hammerwetter-thermal shortly after take-off, shut down, climbed to cloudbase and glided two-thirds of the way home. How many commutes by gliding, using pure solar energy?

As you can see there is a really simple answer to that part of the green-house effect caused by commuting, and it could be solved right away. Let´s start producing Fourniers again!

Take 5(b) just 4 fun/ Jörgen, SE-UDI, SE-XST

Picture: Öresund, the strait between Sweden and Denmark as seen from slightly below cloudbase before I had to glide home for supper.

[Edit by Jorgen on Sunday, June 1, 2008 @ 06:30 AM]

[Edit by Jorgen on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 @ 04:24 PM]

[Edit by Jorgen on Saturday, October 17, 2009 @ 07:27 AM]

joethepro
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Posted Friday, June 27, 2008 @ 02:19 AM  

see once again global warming is a good thing.... can anyone say thermals!!!!!!!
Jorgen
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Posted Monday, January 5, 2009 @ 06:58 PM  

Hi Guys,
at the start of 2009 it´s time to plan ahead and to do so you have to sum up the past year. So this is my Fournier commuting statistics for 2008:

Total number of commuter days from the beginning of april to end of october: 23
Days of non-flying commuting: 5 (low visibility due to rain 2, fog 2, high winds 1)
Days of Fournier commuting: 18
Average flight time 18 min single trip, four trips with engine shut downs and gliding, two with power-off landings. Two punctures on the bicycle.
Unexpected side effect: colleagues doing car commuting scan the skies after Fourniers instead of watching the traffic. So far only minor dents and paint scratches.

We have really cold winter weather here at the moment with temps of - 12 degrees Celsius and excellent skating ices on the lakes, check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCQtmccgJRs

Each season has its merits, but I´m looking forward to spring when I can go to work just 4 fun.

Take 5(b) just 4 fun/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 @ 03:33 AM]

joethepro
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Posted Thursday, January 8, 2009 @ 03:13 PM  

42 miles away a freind of mine keeps a bike at a grass strip and there is a very good inexpensive diner 2 min away. I can drive to my airport 10 miles away fly my founier to the grass strip eat and return cheaper than i can dine locally. I am so familiar there that the waitress knows me by name. I have spent many days at other airfeilds just visiting with the locals and meeting new freinds. A couple of times people have asked how long I was going to be there because they wanted their freinds to come out and see my airplane.WHAT A COMPLEMENT TO RENE . Founiers expand your lives in many ways.
jb92563
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Posted Wednesday, February 4, 2009 @ 01:46 AM  

Hmmmmm....

That gives me reason to think of my own commute.

I live about 4 miles from my home airport and my work is 15 miles away and has an airport about 4 miles from it.

Very doable if I wanted although like yours I would not save any time and it would actually take longer....but that fun factor is interesting for sure.

Ray

Jorgen
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Posted Thursday, March 12, 2009 @ 05:54 PM  

Absolutely Ray,
and apart from the fun factor there´s all the little unexpected experiences that enrichen your life and comes with the package just because you happen to be a flyer, like lifting morning fog that glistens as it unveils the earth below you, rising sun over low clouds, a kestrel joining you in the pattern, landing power off and rolling out 3 m short of your mooring points, conversation with curious and interesting people that you wouldn´t have met otherwise, etc. Sounds corny, but I view my work with different eyes and participate more actively in my days, not only because I follow the weather forecast and precipitation radar on the net rigorously. And biking is fun (you´re going flying, remember?), good for you and gets your endorphins going.

In short, it´s as Joe says: Fourniers are, and should be used as "life expanders"!

Take 5(b) just 4 fun/ Jörgen

P.S. Collin- how did your commuting go?

[Edit by Jorgen on Thursday, March 12, 2009 @ 05:56 PM]

Jorgen
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Posted Friday, October 16, 2009 @ 05:56 PM  

Hi Fournieteers,
Days are getting shorter here and combined with daylight savings-time it complicates Fournier commuting- but doesn´t make it impossible! I am still Fournier commuting once a week, but to a different place at a similar distance on the south coast of Sweden. Specs:

Car commuting: distance 52 km, gas consumption ca 5 liters (one way), time 45 min.

Fournier commuting: Bicycle 12 km (25 min), Fournierflight ca 15 min (gas consumption ca 2,5 liter), bicycle 4 km (15 min) Total time: 1 tim 15 min (55 min + 2 x 10 min pre-flight/tie down)

As before, it´s not something you do to save time, but savour other values- plus save the planet, if you believe in that sort of thing. Just thought I´d share some impressions from my latest commute yesterday:


Dawn crept closer as I biked out of town towards the airstrip in below freezing temperature after a clear night as evidenced by the moon in the upper left corner.


Looking east on my way south, note all the car commuters on the highway.


The strip I land close to work has a nice sheltered place for tie down.


I keep the "second stage" bicycle in one of the hangars were one of the three Swedish RF 5´s is going through a lengthy restore after a crash.


Going back, take off checklist: QNH 1024, Oil pressure OK, Oil temp coming up, horse inside fence….


On my way back looking west, Copenhagen on the horizon across the “Öresund” straight. The low pressure in the east kicked up a cloudscreen that only produced some light snow.


Biking back home for a nice shower and a hot meal after a rewarding day "at the office" in a spirited mood.

Keep expanding your lives, as Joe said!

May the 4’s be with you/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Monday, May 6, 2013 @ 03:22 PM]

Bob Grimstead
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Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009 @ 09:24 AM  

Thanks Jorgen,

What a great photo sequence.

Keep on enjoying that RF4D.

Yours, Bob

Jorgen
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Posted Monday, August 2, 2010 @ 04:28 PM  

Hi fellow Fournieteers,
I've had the good fortune to do some Fournier commuting lately, and a week ago I did what I didn't really think possible: an almost entire soaring commute. It's nothing of a cross country really, only 60 km BUT it's close to the sea (=normally shuts down the thermals) and underneath some heavy airspace (=might shut down your PPL) which restricts the soaring possibilities quite noticeably. On this day however I was confortably seated in a thermal only three minutes after take-off, climbing slowly but steadily. I left the engine ticking over for another three minutes just for safety, I always allow at least 500 feet for airstarts and thus never shut down under 1500 feet. After engine shut down I thoroughly enjoyed the flight and the scenery. The day was good but nothing extra regarding climb rates, but if you just give climbing some more time I think the 4 is quite agreeable to soar. I couldn't max out the climbs due to the airspace restrictions, but got good glides due to fluke choices of glidepath. After a couple of good thermals and close to goal I was getting lower, near my 1500 ft-limit and readied the 4 for engine airstart. I then happened to notice a couple of thermalling Red Kites near, and sure enough there was a real boomer that took me up and enabled me to glide home. Engine off landing is as you know a piece of cake with the airbrakes and as you can see I rolled out all the way to the pavement up to the hangar. Unfortunately I couldn´t reach the cellphone in the cockpit, but this picture was taken seconds after landing and the cumuluses in the background were my playmates. To each his own...

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen, still in the "footless halls of Air..."

Jorgen
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Posted Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 06:06 AM  

Hi Fournieteers,
just wanted to share a tip from my commuting sessions this summer- tie down. Unfortunately I'm the type of person that tend to cut margins when it comes to time, so it's been necessary for me to shave of time during the morning leg of my commute not to be late and save as many tasks as possible until I arrive home in the afternoon to prepare for the next trip, such as filling gas etc. I try to do a proper pre-flight before each flight, but make the morning tie down as snappy as possible.

I found it practical to leave the earth anchors and straps in place and mark the proper tie-down position so I can park at exactly the same spot each time and just "strap in" which saves at least five minutes without compromising flight safety. To find the same spot repeatedly I used three plastic rods from horse paddocks (I have no idea what they're normally used for, tie down the horses maybe?) graciously loaned to me by the owner of the strip. One dead center three feet in front of the prop to aim for when I taxi in and two at the leading edge just where the outriggers sit. Stop with the brake as the wing leading edges touches the two side rods. Voilá!

The rods also mark the anchors so they don´t cause a major lawn-mower break down, which might put unnecessary stress on the relation with other airstrip users. Marking the tail anchor is more difficult as you don't want to hit it when you taxi in. I put the "tail anchor" in slightly off-set to the left and marked it with a rock, large enough to be seen when mowing the lawn and also stop the airplane if you hit it during taxi, but small enough to clear the prop.

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

P.S. Note the airport signs with distances to some "nearby" airstrips, Stauning (vintage aircraft center/museum in Denmark), Rönne at the island of Bornholm and (not seen) Rovaniemi, Finland were Santa Claus is said to live. Right Markku? D.S.


[Edit by Jorgen on Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 06:44 AM]

Markku
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Posted Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 09:10 AM  

Quote:
Originally posted by Jorgen

P.S. Note the airport signs with distances to some "nearby" airstrips, Stauning (vintage aircraft center/museum in Denmark), Rönne at the island of Bornholm and (not seen) Rovaniemi, Finland were Santa Claus is said to live. Right Markku? D.S.

Yes of course, everybody knows that fact

Jorgen
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Posted Saturday, November 13, 2010 @ 05:42 PM  

Hi Fournieteers,
I promised some 4-commuter statistics for 2010, so here it is. With the trimmed down tiedown routine as described above I end up with a similar time consumption- of course that implies some extra time for pampering the 4 after the return trip, but we all enjoy doing that, don´t we?

Car commuting (one way): 60 min (50 min drive, walk/check out 10 min) gas consumption: 5 liter.
RF 4 commuting (one way): 61 min (25 min bicycle, 5 min pre-flight, 15 min Fournierflight, 1 min tie-down, 15 min bicycle). Gas consumption: 2,5 liter.

16 Commuting days, from april 1st, last on november 18th (yesterday, hence the edit- and today the snow came!).

3 Cub flights; 1 "IMC" (low visibility), 2 due to partially flooded guest strip.

13 RF 4 commutes, 6 with engine shut-downs, 3 engine-off landings.

3 commutes with gliding 10-15 min, 3 commutes with gliding 1 hour- 1 hour 30 minutes (Yes- pleasure, not work!)

1 entire gliding commute with 3 min engine time.

Partial side effect: 25 pounds lower pilot weight!

I've said it be4 and I say it again- 4 commuting is fun, worth every effort and can be taken as a proof that even if you bring your RF 4 into your everyday daily routines you will hardly get tired of Fournication: the "silly-grin syndrome" appears to be a chronic condition!

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Friday, November 19, 2010 @ 05:44 AM]

Jorgen
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Posted Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 04:21 PM  

Hi Fournieteers,
I had an excellent 4-commute today that I thought I’d share some impressions from. The forecast warned for fog that fortunately didn’t materialize, but the slight haze heightened the serene impression of dawn. It’s been a while since I made the last commute (re-re-organization at work- don’t ask) and the horses "Bernie" (left) and "Frasse" came galloping to greet me after landing- very hospitable fellows.

The dew glistened in the morning sun, there’s been a lot of rain lately and harvest is late. A lot of land is water bogged, but fortunately the east portion of the strip close to work is high ground with no drainage problems.

The RF 5 stationed at the other strip has had it’s engine hung and prop fitted, but as we all know there are quite a lot of “bits & pieces”, I wish the owner good luck with the rest of the assembly.

[Edit by Jorgen on Friday, August 26, 2011 @ 03:54 AM]

Jorgen
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Posted Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 04:30 PM  

On my way back from work...

After take-off I could spot some beckoning cumuluses on route….

…and I found some pretty good climbs under them!
Jorgen
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Posted Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 04:44 PM  

There’s no place like Cloud Base!

I spent almost an hour listening to the wind on the fuselage, enjoying the view and the flight.

I did a gliderlanding and with some help of the wheelbrake stopped on the pavement outside the hanger. The cumulus in the background was the last for the day. In the background, just at “SE-XST”s six o’clock, you can maybe spot a yellow combine. They were harvesting like crazy, the forecast calls for more rain tonight.

In short, just another day of commuting for a Fournieteer. "-Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds....."

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 @ 12:07 PM]

Donald
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Posted Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 05:34 PM  

I envy you, Jorgen. Not just for being able to 4-commute but for having such lovely strips at either end.
Jorgen
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Posted Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 03:12 AM  

Thanks Donald,
hope I can spread some Fourninspiration. I'm not really an early bird myself, but early morning flights are special with calm air, special light and other factors that makes the effort of rising extra early very worthwile. As for biking, it's a great workout and with todays prices of fuel, I much prefer to pour the precious gas in the 4 than in the car!

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 @ 04:29 AM]

Collin
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Posted Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 00:01 AM  

Hi Jörgen,

Love the gas can on the bike. I can carry 2 two gallon cans in my side bags on my motorcycle. My motorcycle and the RF4 get about the gas mileage.

Collin

Jorgen
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Posted Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 04:17 AM  

Thanks Collin,
it's nice to be among fellow Fournieteers that can maybe appreciate my geeky way of commuting. As you can see I use a 20 liter Jerrycan, strapped tight it makes for a surprisingly stable setup. But the other day I made an evasive maneuvre when a cat suddenly appeared and the sloshing effect made for an interesting gravitational challenge indeed. I always fill the can as full as I can after that.

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

Bob Grimstead
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Posted Thursday, August 25, 2011 @ 06:55 AM  

Hi Guys,

Another very good reason for ALWAYS filling all fuel cans to the very top is that the fuel is not explosive, only the vapour.
The less air space or vapour you leave, the safer you are.

Stay safe out there.

Yours, Bob

--------------------
Flying and displaying Fournier RF4Ds VH-HDO and G-AWGN, building replica RF6B G-RFGB and custodian of RF6B prototype F-BPXV

Jorgen
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Posted Sunday, August 19, 2012 @ 06:29 PM  

Hi Fournieteers,
not a real commute but each year I visit my AME (Aero Medical Examiner) who lives 1,5 hours drive away. However, he's got an airstrip 4 km from his house/office. I usually make the trip by air, bringing a foldable bike and make a nice excursion/workout of it.

I have been contemplating using the 4, but it's very hard to fit a bicycle in a 4. It is possible to fit a pair of inlines/rollerskates though.

Today I tried it, but to achieve speeds compared to the bicycle you need skipoles. I managed to find telescopic poles, designed for this nordic-walking trend, that I could fit in the 4. I got them for free, probably because the telescopic fittings were absolutely rubbish and wouldn't hold them extended against the slightest inpact. Some drill holes and removable screws + nuts cured that little problem. I also cut off the baskets for reduced size. The inlines are hidden behind the bag in the picture, were a helmet and the paddings were also packed:

The result was overly positive, the trip went very well. A word of caution though: braking with inlines are technically demanding to say the least, so ride with caution. I also absolutely recommend knee, elbow and preferrably wrist padding + helmet. When you fly to a place surrounded with acceptable roads a pair of inlines might increase your range at your destination considerably.

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Sunday, August 19, 2012 @ 06:52 PM]

jb92563
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Posted Monday, August 20, 2012 @ 10:15 AM  

I inlined on a paved trail through a forest park with my husky pulling me on the leash one time...big mistake, since huskies don't obey speed limits
once they start to run.

I had to become very proficient with braking and as you said it is difficult to do it well and you end up using your hands, knees and Elbows.

Dont forget the wrist protectors as well since landing on your hands it can easily cause sprained or broken wrists.

Sounds like you need to take the RF5B on your trips so you can bring a bike. Will one fit in the 5?

--------------------
Ray
RF4D #4057 N-1771 Rectimo 1400cc
http://picasaweb.google.com/jb92563/FournierRF4D
http://www.touringmotorgliders.org

Jorgen
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Posted Monday, August 20, 2012 @ 06:02 PM  

Ouch Ray,
"-Watch out were the Huskies go
and don't you eat that yellow snow" (F. Zappa)

Beeing pulled by a perky Husky sounds like it might make keeping your balance on inlines even harder. Wrist fractures are very common inline-associated injuries, so wrist protectors are a good idea. It might pay also to try to practise making a roll, Judo-style during a fall and resist the "outstretched-hand"-reflex. The outstretched hand works at walking speeds, but not at inline speeds which are closer to bicycle tempo. At least if you use ski-poles.

The RF 5b is alas still a project so the question is hypothetical. I think my foldable bike would fit in the rear seat, but maybe you need to remove the aft stick. Foldable bikes are a science of it's own and I'm sure you've already looked into that, Ray

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

P.S. Side note- looks like "Image Shack" upgraded or something which changed the size of all the pictures in this thread. I'll try to resize later so you don't have to scroll for the text (at least those still on 15 inch screens..) D.S.

[Edit by Jorgen on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 @ 04:39 AM]

Antti
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Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2012 @ 05:04 AM  

Nothing to do with Fourniers, but I used to have two whippets a few years ago. Then I had this clever idea of going roller skating with the younger one. You know, they run twice as fast as one can skate at maximum. Would be a nice little jog for her. We went down the way as she suddenly stopped. The leash kind of got into wheels and I fell immediately. I had wrist and knee protectors as well as shorts. So I had a palm-sized injury in my shank with skin peeled off looking precisely like Africa. The puppy of course got terribly frightened and run away. But as a clever one she used the crosswalk and didn't get hit by a car. I got her after a few minutes, but boy did I need lots of beer that night...

May she rest in peace with her sister.

--------------------
***** RF4D OH-370 - RF4D OH-371 - RF4D OH-373 - RF5 0H-386 *****

Jorgen
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Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2012 @ 02:58 PM  

Great story Antti,
I have a soft spot for Whippets eversince I spent some time with a couple of them. They sure know how to accelerate- and evidently also how to deccelerate! I guess we can conclude that inlines and dogs don't mix very well.

As I said I don't do inlines much, I guess I'm afraid I'll hurt myself. Since braking is difficult I do it on clean, paved paths without steep downhill sections and good visibility without too much traffic. We do have some suitable bicycle paths around here. Since I am an enthusiastic skater on ice in the winter I find the technique is very similar and a lot of fun. Even though it was about 26 degrees Celsius this Sunday (for you Californians, that's considered very hot in Sweden) the speed is high enough to cool you- at least partly. To my AME, Lars credit I have to confess he actually drove passed me offering me a ride. To which I replied: "-Are you crazy? That would spoil the whole thing!!!" He answered: "-Alright, but I perscribe a dip in my Pool when you arrive!"

You have to take your perscribed medication, right?

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

Bob Grimstead
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Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2012 @ 02:01 PM  

Hi Guys,

Regrettably, I can no longer use my in-line rollerblades, dog or no dog.

Because I took their wheels and put them on my outrigger legs! ;-)

Yours, a very unfit Bob

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Flying and displaying Fournier RF4Ds VH-HDO and G-AWGN, building replica RF6B G-RFGB and custodian of RF6B prototype F-BPXV

jb92563
Second Lieutenant

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Location: Lake Elsinore, CA, USA
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Posted Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 01:19 PM  

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob Grimstead

Hi Guys,

Regrettably, I can no longer use my in-line rollerblades, dog or no dog.

Because I took their wheels and put them on my outrigger legs! ;-)

Yours, a very unfit Bob

Haaaa.......good one Bob.

But since the inlines have 4 wheels each the trick is to take the middle one from each first

I knew I kept my roller blades for some good reason. I keep rescuing them from the garage sale boxes.

--------------------
Ray
RF4D #4057 N-1771 Rectimo 1400cc
http://picasaweb.google.com/jb92563/FournierRF4D
http://www.touringmotorgliders.org

Antti
Corporal

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Location: Finland
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Posted Monday, September 3, 2012 @ 01:49 AM  

Hey guys, they sell the wheels separately. Just pick yours:

http://www.skates.com/roller-skate-wheels-s/78.htm

No excuse for not skating anymore

[Edit by Antti on Monday, September 3, 2012 @ 01:50 AM]

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***** RF4D OH-370 - RF4D OH-371 - RF4D OH-373 - RF5 0H-386 *****

Jorgen
Captain

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Location: Lund, Sweden
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Posted Tuesday, August 20, 2013 @ 04:44 PM  

Hello again Fournieteers,
thought I'd report more experience with Fourninline-commuting. In Sweden we have to do annual medical check-ups for PPL, so it was time for me to go to my AME Lars again last Sunday. The forecast was so-so with a predicted coldfront passage, but the VFR forecast said visibility more than 5 km and ceiling 1000-1500 ft so I thought I’d give it a go. After a refreshing bicycle ride to the strip in an intermittent light drizzle I took off just as the front moved in.

Ceiling was about 1500 ft QFE, so around 1000 ft ground but I had a brisk tailwind and I only flew through some light drizzle- my track was straight between the showers surrounding me.

Around “ESFA” airstrip the weather cleared some as I joined a long left downwind, the strip can be seen behind the "float-on-wire" fuel indicator.

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 @ 04:44 PM]

Jorgen
Captain

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Location: Lund, Sweden
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Posted Tuesday, August 20, 2013 @ 04:49 PM  


After assembly of the skipoles I made good progress during the three miles to town, a light drizzle only helped cool me off and the roads were not too slippery. Skipoles are very helpful: better speed, better balance (especially on uneven stretches of pavement/gravel) and better power going uphill. The check-up itself at Lars place was thoroughly enjoyable as usual, no healthquirks were noted and Lars recent Cessna Aerobat-acquisition dominated our discussion topics.

When I skated back to the airfield I was chased by a snarling, aggressive dog with fangs out. Again the skipoles proved very helpful- a good whack on the side sent the hound yelping back to the house before he could sink his teeth in me and without me having to pause. I didn't have the camera out during the intermezzo and even so I wouldn't have posted the evidence on the internet... Who knows, maybe I saved that dogs life with a Pavlovian de-conditioning so he won’t chase vehicles on the road again?

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

[Edit by Jorgen on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 @ 04:50 PM]

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