Well, last night I washed down the helicopter with a pressure washer,
did the same with the nurse rig, headed for my LZ which is co-located
at the plant/company I am spraying for. Its about 100 yards from the
30' travel trailer I stay in for the season. We changed the oil for the
50hr, I greased it and did a close inspection, headed for the trailer
to do the paperwork for the day. Took a shower and had time enough to
fry some spuds, sausage, and a couple eggs for dinner. read for a
little, called my wife and chatted for a while, then went to bed about
9. The agronomist I work with called about 845 to give me todays
schedule and it was only 350 acres. then he gave me the bad news that a
few days ago I got some herbicide drift into some 2" corn and killed
aobut 15 acres. Don't know how much that is gonna cost me yet but it
will wipe out my year end safety bonus of 1500!
Up early today, headed over to do the herbicide work on the same field
where I had drifted from, saw the burned corn and it looked terrible.
The sprinkler pivot was on which stopped me cold anyway, but the wind
was not favorable either so we headed for a couple of 1/4 section
pivots which amounts to 250 acres of planted potatoes. Did fungicide on
them which is not terribly critical for drift like herbicide or
pesticide. About half way thru the job, the wind began gusting 10mph
which is the outer limit for us. I was about to shut down when the wind
slacked off and I elected to continue. I had already done the side of
the fields where possible drift could have spotted cars or buildings.
It dries white and just little speckles but it looks like crap. So, we
got the job finished and headed back to top off the nurse rig with
water, avgas, and diesel. While at the airport the wind kicked into
high gear and is now blowing 20. WX is forecast to blow the next couple
days which means I'll be all backed up again and have at least one or
two of those 12 hour flying days next week.
If you use your hand, or a model, picture flying along at 55-60mph and
6-10' above the field....perhaps 100' before you reach the end of the
field you make a pullup and reversal to drop back into the field. I
counted it out while doing several turns today and about the time I
count 1000 3 I am already about halfway turned back into the field (90
degrees) and starting the descent. I'm guessing that I hit the top of
the turn at about 75-100' depending on any obstructions like wires,
trees, buildings, antennas, etc. By the time I hit 1000 6-7 I have the
spray on again, level at spray altitude and doing 55-60. The turns are
not made using the pedals like many think. It is more like a
coordinated half of a Lazy 8. Under good conditions I can make the
turns with my feet on the floor just using throttle and cyclic with the
collective being used a little bit. Sometimes I make the turn like
maybe 10' above wires??
Generally though I like more room. I'm getting more cautious in my old
age. BTW, I'll be 70 next year.
Any specific questions would help cuz I don't always remember what it
was like when I first got started and what I found of interest. I've
been licensed in 15-16 countries, and have worked in I think 20.
I'm glad I posted the first tidbits and generated so much action.
Haven't seen it this active in years!! It seemed to be dying down about
5 years ago and is now coming back up.
Cheers Y'all
Rocky - Ol Shy & Bashful
ps: I did mention I was a Marine DI back in the late 50's? MCRD San
Diego