Night solo XC?

A question to the group. Do you normally fly many night solo cross
country flights? I have been going out to the local airport every couple
months to do some night flying, but it's usually solo just around the patch
to get night current so I can carry a passenger at night. The few times that
I have done cross countries at night, I either have a passenger (usually
pilot rated too) or an instructor (during training a few years ago).

I was going to do a short night XC a couple weeks ago and took off, got
about 10 miles out and didn't 'feel' right so I returned to the pattern. It
was probably just me, but it seemed like some strange noises from the plane
that I don't notice during day flight. If I have a passenger, I'm not as
concerned about flying XC at night. All of my night flights have been when
there is close to a full moon so visibility isn't a factor.

-Greg B.

Hi Greg

There are only 3 times that planes make strange noises -
Over mountains,
Over water,
And at night.

I fly night approx every 2 weeks which gives me full moon and no moon.
If I take off at night I only fly areas that I know.
Lately I have been trying a different tack - I live in a valley
surrounded by lots of ranges of mountains.
Lately I have been flying out and timing my return leg so that I am over
my highest peak as night falls- and then returning home. It's great
experience - and I've heard the engine make lots of noises that I didn't
even know it could make!
Two weeks ago I took off from a Valley airport and couldn't see a thing
- so I circled and climbed until I could see lights in the direction I
wanted to go - and then departed. If you fly for light you won't hit
anything - except the light! How dumb is that ? There's a little tip
that Machado won't tell you

Tony

In article 0joad.218088$MQ5.166822@attbi_s52,
"G. Burkhart" wrote:

A question to the group. Do you normally fly many night solo cross
country flights? I have been going out to the local airport every couple
months to do some night flying, but it's usually solo just around the patch
to get night current so I can carry a passenger at night. The few times that
I have done cross countries at night, I either have a passenger (usually
pilot rated too) or an instructor (during training a few years ago).

I was going to do a short night XC a couple weeks ago and took off, got
about 10 miles out and didn't 'feel' right so I returned to the pattern. It
was probably just me, but it seemed like some strange noises from the plane
that I don't notice during day flight. If I have a passenger, I'm not as
concerned about flying XC at night. All of my night flights have been when
there is close to a full moon so visibility isn't a factor.

-Greg B.




--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 05:14:36 GMT, tony roberts
wrote in nospam-C33CC8.22180410102004@shawnews::

If you fly for light you won't hit
anything - except the light! How dumb is that ? There's a little tip
that Machado won't tell you

Too bad JFK, Jr hadn't heard that. On hazy, moonless nights
instrument rating skills are useful.

Too bad JFK, Jr hadn't heard that. On hazy, moonless nights
instrument rating skills are useful.

Roger that - and I use mine every time I fly at night.
If what I heard is true though, JFK was clocked descending at 5000 fpm.
It would have taken more than instrument skills to recover that - sounds
as though he lost his empennage to me.
And it was at very least the third time that he had been discovered
flying IMC without the required training.
It's a tough lesson - learning that you are not invincible.
Or - was his aircraft sabotaged?
Both explanations are highly probable . . .
Which is it . . .
the plot thickens . . .

And who is next . . .???

Tony
--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night

"tony roberts" wrote

JFK was clocked descending at 5000 fpm.
It would have taken more than instrument skills to recover that - sounds
as though he lost his empennage to me.

Tony

Fishing, or do you believe that, and why?
--
Jim in NC

Elvis is Alive!!!!!
or not


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"tony roberts" wrote

JFK was clocked descending at 5000 fpm.
It would have taken more than instrument skills to recover that - sounds
as though he lost his empennage to me.

Tony

Fishing, or do you believe that, and why?
--
Jim in NC

Elvis is Alive!!!!!
or not


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.774 / Virus Database: 521 - Release Date: 10/8/2004

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 04:06:37 GMT, tony roberts
wrote in nospam-B9EC32.21100711102004@shawnews::

Too bad JFK, Jr hadn't heard that. On hazy, moonless nights
instrument rating skills are useful.

Roger that - and I use mine every time I fly at night.
If what I heard is true though, JFK was clocked descending at 5000 fpm.
It would have taken more than instrument skills to recover that

Ostensibly, the rapid rate of descent was the result of a grave yard
spiral. Perhaps instrument skills would have kept him from entering
it in the first place.

- sounds as though he lost his empennage to me.

You do possess remarkable powers of deduction. I don't recall that
being mentioned in the NTSB report. Upon what do you base that
opinion?

And it was at very least the third time that he had been discovered
flying IMC without the required training.

That is also a new bit of news. Discovered by whom? Given that most
of his flight hours were accumulated with an instructor next to him,
it may have been true, but not a violation. Where did you hear that?

It's a tough lesson - learning that you are not invincible.
Or

Nursing a broken leg from an ultralight crash should have given him a
clue.

- was his aircraft sabotaged?

Doubtful. He just didn't fly the flight he had planned due to delays
caused by automobile traffic and his sister-in-law. That can happen
to any pilot. Had he departed earlier, there might have been a more
visible horizon.

Both explanations are highly probable . . .

None of the speculative causes you present are plausible nor necessary
to explain the loss of control, IMO.

Maritime weather can change a lot in 10 minute; his WX briefing was
over two hours old by the time he finally departed.

Which is it . . .

Likely, it was a loss of visual ground reference combined with
inexperience...

the plot thickens . . .

And who is next . . .???

With your powers of clairvoyance, you should be able to provide an
answer to that question. :-)

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 04:06:37 GMT, tony roberts
wrote in nospam-B9EC32.21100711102004@shawnews::

Too bad JFK, Jr hadn't heard that. On hazy, moonless nights
instrument rating skills are useful.

Roger that - and I use mine every time I fly at night.
If what I heard is true though, JFK was clocked descending at 5000 fpm.
It would have taken more than instrument skills to recover that

Ostensibly, the rapid rate of descent was the result of a grave yard
spiral. Perhaps instrument skills would have kept him from entering
it in the first place.

- sounds as though he lost his empennage to me.

You do possess remarkable powers of deduction. I don't recall that
being mentioned in the NTSB report. Upon what do you base that
opinion?

And it was at very least the third time that he had been discovered
flying IMC without the required training.

That is also a new bit of news. Discovered by whom? Given that most
of his flight hours were accumulated with an instructor next to him,
it may have been true, but not a violation. Where did you hear that?

It's a tough lesson - learning that you are not invincible.
Or

Nursing a broken leg from an ultralight crash should have given him a
clue.

- was his aircraft sabotaged?

Doubtful. He just didn't fly the flight he had planned due to delays
caused by automobile traffic and his sister-in-law. That can happen
to any pilot. Had he departed earlier, there might have been a more
visible horizon.

Both explanations are highly probable . . .

None of the speculative causes you present are plausible nor necessary
to explain the loss of control, IMO.

Maritime weather can change a lot in 10 minute; his WX briefing was
over two hours old by the time he finally departed.

Which is it . . .

Likely, it was a loss of visual ground reference combined with
inexperience...

the plot thickens . . .

And who is next . . .???

With your powers of clairvoyance, you should be able to provide an
answer to that question. :-)

Too bad JFK, Jr hadn't heard that. On hazy, moonless nights
instrument rating skills are useful.

Roger that - and I use mine every time I fly at night.
If what I heard is true though, JFK was clocked descending at 5000 fpm.
It would have taken more than instrument skills to recover that - sounds
as though he lost his empennage to me.
And it was at very least the third time that he had been discovered
flying IMC without the required training.
It's a tough lesson - learning that you are not invincible.
Or - was his aircraft sabotaged?
Both explanations are highly probable . . .
Which is it . . .
the plot thickens . . .

And who is next . . .???

Tony
--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 05:14:36 GMT, tony roberts
wrote in nospam-C33CC8.22180410102004@shawnews::

If you fly for light you won't hit
anything - except the light! How dumb is that ? There's a little tip
that Machado won't tell you

Too bad JFK, Jr hadn't heard that. On hazy, moonless nights
instrument rating skills are useful.