I had a share in a Pilatus B4 quite a while ago. The fuselage cowling, which covers where the wings join, was always tricky to seal up with tape and it could peel off and flap about in the breeze. It was incredibly loud when this happened but you got to recognise it in the end. The Pilatus wing also makes oil-canning noises when it flexes - which is sometimes a good indication that you've hit strong lift.
WQN used to belong to Southern Cross Gliding Club and was in a red, white and blue sun burst scheme back then. It was also used in a tv commercial flown by Bill Dinsmore. He put on many a fine aerobatic display in that Pilatus at many airshows.
@@davidhofman1972 how wonderful, I fly at the SCGC as well so I must ask around and see if anyone remembers it. I've seen people doing aerobatics in this plane and can't wait to do some myself. Thank you so much for the comment.
Altitude/success depends upon the launch that gets you into a thermal? Is there a percentage rate of good launches vrs bad ones? And if there is no thermal have you already got a plan to land close by? On the opposite side of the coin I'm guessing you could get a thermal that takes you out for hours? When this happens & you get to high altitude are you planning your flight to get you back to the airport that you originated from? I apologize for my questions but I'm behind the 8~ball here! peace & it does LQQK fun to me. peace
Its true that winch launching doesn't get you as high as aerotow but you still have plenty of height to explore a little, you can take your time looking for thermals near the runway and if you can't find one then you can land back there and try again. The rate of success depends on skill, luck and weather. Its great fun and thank you so much for your questions.
Yes Andy, the "winch" took me by surprise but many things in aircraft do.... lol, I have seen the towing from a small aircraft but I know little about how they map out where they'll be released(altitude) and where so that they might be able to plan for a landing sight? Perhaps right back at the starting point would be wise, if they can! I'm just seeing what you did turning in the tight radius, I was thinking you felt a thermal & did that to take it higher? Whatever you are doing it's serene / quiet without a motor running although my mind is saying that a small electric motor could be used for a short burst of energy kinda like a sailboat having a small motor. Not the same but it hit me. Thanks for the video
I had a share in a Pilatus B4 quite a while ago. The fuselage cowling, which covers where the wings join, was always tricky to seal up with tape and it could peel off and flap about in the breeze. It was incredibly loud when this happened but you got to recognise it in the end. The Pilatus wing also makes oil-canning noises when it flexes - which is sometimes a good indication that you've hit strong lift.
Yes that's exactly where the tape had come loose. I'll keep an ear out for the oil can noises from now on, thank you so much for your comment.
WQN used to belong to Southern Cross Gliding Club and was in a red, white and blue sun burst scheme back then. It was also used in a tv commercial flown by Bill Dinsmore. He put on many a fine aerobatic display in that Pilatus at many airshows.
@@davidhofman1972 how wonderful, I fly at the SCGC as well so I must ask around and see if anyone remembers it. I've seen people doing aerobatics in this plane and can't wait to do some myself. Thank you so much for the comment.
What's the cost of a winch launch generally? Ive only ever aerotowed.
Winch is really cheap compared to aerotow about 1/4 the price.
Altitude/success depends upon the launch that gets you into a thermal? Is there a percentage rate of good launches vrs bad
ones? And if there is no thermal have you already got a plan to land close by? On the opposite side of the coin I'm guessing
you could get a thermal that takes you out for hours? When this happens & you get to high altitude are you planning your
flight to get you back to the airport that you originated from? I apologize for my questions but I'm behind the 8~ball here!
peace & it does LQQK fun to me. peace
Its true that winch launching doesn't get you as high as aerotow but you still have plenty of height to explore a little, you can take your time looking for thermals near the runway and if you can't find one then you can land back there and try again. The rate of success depends on skill, luck and weather. Its great fun and thank you so much for your questions.
Yes Andy, the "winch" took me by surprise but many things in aircraft do.... lol, I have seen the towing from a small
aircraft but I know little about how they map out where they'll be released(altitude) and where so that they might be
able to plan for a landing sight? Perhaps right back at the starting point would be wise, if they can! I'm just seeing
what you did turning in the tight radius, I was thinking you felt a thermal & did that to take it higher? Whatever you
are doing it's serene / quiet without a motor running although my mind is saying that a small electric motor could
be used for a short burst of energy kinda like a sailboat having a small motor. Not the same but it hit me.
Thanks for the video