Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:36 pm
#1859703
Very early in my flying experience in the 1990s, I attempted a take-off from Nuits-Saint-Georges with my then 65-hp Taylorcraft and fully loaded with two on board plus all the camping gear and full fuel. It was very hot and the grass was long; the wind was favouring a westerly take-off and there were big electricity pylons off the departure end.
At the half-way point we were still too slow, so I aborted (the first time I had ever felt the need to do so). We ended up waiting a few hours for the temperature to drop, and then took off the other way with a slight tailwind but with no tall obstacles in the way.
Lessons learned: don't rush density altitude; make a decision point early.
Roll forward 20 years, and I departed an airfield in the USA with a 9600' density altitude with no problem (but it was a lot longer and tarmac!) Both aircraft the same: 65hp Taylorcraft with no mixture control.
At the half-way point we were still too slow, so I aborted (the first time I had ever felt the need to do so). We ended up waiting a few hours for the temperature to drop, and then took off the other way with a slight tailwind but with no tall obstacles in the way.
Lessons learned: don't rush density altitude; make a decision point early.
Roll forward 20 years, and I departed an airfield in the USA with a 9600' density altitude with no problem (but it was a lot longer and tarmac!) Both aircraft the same: 65hp Taylorcraft with no mixture control.
Kittyhawk liked this