Body Flying in a Wind Tunnel
The event started in true BWPA fashion with a magnificent pub lunch at the Queens Hotel. The bangers and mash seemed to be the speciality of the house and was welcome after sampling the delights of the M1.
After lunch we headed in convoy to Bodyflight where, after climbing stairs to the third floor (who said no heights were involved), we checked in at reception and each signed the usual disclaimer concerning injury, insanity etc. While waiting for everyone to fill in the forms, we were able to watch the video of one of the display teams practice session which was fascinating to see how fast they changed formation and in such a small space!
Our instructor for the day, Jay, then took us into a briefing room where he explained the afternoon’s itinerary. He then left us watching an information video and was bemused on return to find us howling with laughter, we had just got to the bit in the film where we were to assume this “challenging” body position, then relax and smile! Some of us were then invited to practice this body position on what looked like an elongated bar stool to much encouraging applause. We then had to learn hand signals for bend legs, straighten legs, arch back, head up and relax as the
wind tunnel is very noisy and we would be wearing earplugs.
After moving to the kitting area we were issued with flight suits, helmets, goggles and earplugs. Our names were displayed on a screen so we could get into our flying order, and after a quick kit inspection we filed into the tunnel to await our turn.
The actual flying was just like the real thing but without the initial feeling of acceleration as you leave the aircraft. Staying on station in the tunnel was quite difficult and I spent some time flying into the sides of the tunnel until our trusty instructor grabbed a leg to pull me back into the middle.
Each flight was 1 minute and 15 seconds which flashed by, just as you think you’ve got the hang of it, it’s time to leave the tunnel. We all had 2 flights each after which Jay then showed us how it should be done with a short freestyle display including shooting vertically to the top of the tunnel (which is certainly something you can’t do having jumped out of an aircraft!)
We then peeled our kit off and retired to the café for a much needed cup of tea. Exhausted but with a feeling of achievement, most of us agreed we just have to do this again sometime!
Romney Foord, one of our Free Trial Flight competition winners, tells all…
First of all, I have to own up to the fact that this was not my first air experience! I have been involved with aviation for quite a few years but have never got my act together to do anything about getting my PPL and I thought that by undertaking a "proper" lesson, the instructor could at least assess if I had any potential or just wasting my time!
Back to my prize - I didn't think for one moment that I had won so patience not being my strongest point, I enrolled for a few lessons at a local flying school so that they could tell me if my flying was pants or if it
was worth me trying to qualify, so I had just started my PPL when the prize was announced - yippee I thought - more flying and in something different.
At present I am learning on a Robin DR400 so he aircraft I was offered for my prize by the FlyingHut a DA40, all singing, all dancing version - it had only one thing in common with what I am used to - a stick and wings! I was sitting in the cockpit like someone who had escaped from an institution - mouth open - wow, oh really and so on!! Everything is so modern in comparison to my training aircraft - in fact it was not unlike the Star Ship Enterprise. No power checks on this baby, the computers sort all that out, no mags, no carb heat, no mixture button, electric flaps, variable prop, but that automatic too - and she runs on A1 Jet Fuel - very economical - she can go from Shoreham to France and back for about a tenner! My biggest problem was the fact I could not taxi her - front wheel is a castor and even with the peddles brought right up close, my feet were too small to be able to hit the brakes at the top of the peddles and keep my heels on the floor - even with the best will in the world it was not possible - you hum it (instructor operating steering with sensible size feet) and I'll play it (me doing the twiddley bits) The Sat Nav was awesome as was the auto pilot (she flew it much better than me) the power took some getting used to, flying by percentage power rather than RPM, the throttle was so sensitive that it just needed the gentlest touch when making adjustments. I took off from Shoreham, it was pretty windy but luckily just within limits for the aircraft, had to make sure I didn't get too near clouds - icing reported at 2000ft, not good on a fibreglass airframe. We tracked along the coast to Seaford - found my house - made myself known to him indoors and then continued back along the cliffs to Eastbourne. We also put the DA40 through her paces - she pulls G when encouraged! She was very comfortable to fly, even plush grey leather bucket seats. I would say the DA40 is a positive and responsive aircraft and once you get used to all the modern gadgetry, even electronic reminders to do FREDA checks and what I thought was a stall warner is in fact an annoying bleeper to tell you that you have gained or lost height, even when you were intending to!
When we returned to Shoreham, I took the aircraft into the circuit and lined her up on finals at this point I handed her over to my instructor as he had warned me she is a bit of a minx to land - just a bit, glad he had her and not me.
Thanks BWPA and The Flying Hut for affording me the opportunity to fly this very nice, very modern aircraft and a very big thanks to Simon, my instructor for making it a really enjoyable flight - another one hits the Log Book.
The Chairwoman's Challenge Trophy By Rosemary Clemo
Why did you learn to fly? Was it, like me, for the aerial views - to experience and explore beautiful landscapes? If so, why not take part in the Chairwoman’s Challenge of 2007? This annual competition will help you to learn about interesting places, and will give you two hours flying over them. As an enthusiastic competitor, I hope through this article to encourage both experienced and new pilots to have a shot at the Challenge in 2007.
Between 2003 and 2006, I have entered, and thoroughly enjoyed, four Challenges. In 2003, as an
inexperienced and nervous pilot, I found planning the two-hour Challenge flight both difficult and daunting. The theme was “Food and Drink”. I work in Leicester, so I decided to investigate local cheeses, devising a route over farms and dairies that also included factories making crisps, pork pies, beer and pickles. But the route seemed haphazard. By moving it south-west, I could fly a “Cheese Triangle” from Gloucester to Gloucester (Double Gloucester) via Caerphilly and Cheddar. This proved a better framework for a route, and included a multitude of food-producing farms, vineyards, and orchards.
My route was now fixed. I had three sorts of planning to do. Firstly, I had to prepare as much of my flight plan as possible, and put it in my flight bag with relevant maps, ready for a day when conditions were right to fly. Secondly, I used libraries and the internet to gather as much information on the topic as possible. Finally, I had to prepare myself. In 2003, I lacked confidence. I had never flown into Gloucester nor visited much of the planned route. Before the Challenge, I flew solo to Gloucester to learn the circuit patterns and airport layout.
Again, in 2004, having planned a circular route from Nottingham to visit sites associated with Dolly Shepherd, the Victorian Balloonist, I flew there solo in preparation. I also flew the whole route from Coventry, as I was worried about making mistakes near East Midlands and Birmingham Airports. By 2005, I was becoming more confident, and I have flown the last two rallies without prior flying preparation
I have always flown with a passenger as navigator and photographer; either my husband, who is a pilot, or my daughter, who is not, and who conquered a real fear of flying to come with me. But you could fly solo, or with friends, or take someone who is impatient to find out what flying is like. A 15 year old friend is already demanding that I take her with me next time.
All four Challenges have been immensely enjoyable. There is the planning, using dark winter evenings to prepare a summer adventure, the floor covered in maps and guides. Then comes the execution, seeing familiar and new places from a different vantage point. And finally there is the writing-up, with a hectic three weeks spent putting together a log from notes and photos.
So why complete the Chairwoman’s Challenge? Because, as I hope I have shown, it is fun, and because it is a challenge. It engages you fully both intellectually and practically as you prepare, fly, and record your flight. However, the task is easy enough for any PPL or student pilot to take on, and short enough not to be overtiring or outrageously expensive. Completing a Challenge should give you confidence, and lead to further challenges as you progress in your career. Certainly, it has given me the confidence to fly further and to attempt more. In 2004, I flew solo return from Coventry to Roanne, Nuneaton’s twin town near Lyons. In 2006, I entered my flying club’s triangular long distance competition, flying solo Coventry - Shoreham - Exeter - Coventry, a distance nobody has yet beaten. And last July, the experience of the Chairwoman’s Challenge led a friend and me to complete the international 8-hours-plus “Dawn to Dusk” competition, the structure and rules of which mirror those of the Chairwoman’s Challenge, except that competitors choose their own themes. Ours was “The Life and works of Isambard Kingdom Brunel”, a theme that allowed us to fly from Coventry to Essex via Cornwall; giving a long day of flying over the most wonderful landscapes and structures, that was absolutely AMAZING!!!
So start planning YOUR Chairwoman’s Challenge of 2007. I shall be working to win again. Please work hard to beat me. I shall not mind at all if you do (well, not too much!!) because we will all have enjoyed ourselves, and improved our flying – and that is what the Chairwoman’s Challenge is all about.