Author Topic: New paint job (Read 568 times)

crowMAW · « **on:** March 23, 2004, 06:40:58 PM »

OK...I have to show off a bit...I am so pleased with the results!

Fresh paint on this 30 year old ship makes it new again. Just back from its annual with weight & balance.

First flight with the new threads was Sunday...2000ft release, 1.75 hours total flight time, 6600ft max alt, 98 miles total travel.

Pilatus B4 PC11AF

LAWCobra · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2004, 06:42:09 PM »

Hey man your prop fell off:aok

ra · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2004, 06:47:43 PM »

Nice Pilatus, I fly one at my glider club. Ours really needs a paint job but we're too busy flying it to take it out of service long enough to paint it.

ra

Ripsnort · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2004, 06:57:03 PM »

Very nice! What did that paint job cost if I may ask?

Don't let Lepaul see this thread!

Eagler · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2004, 07:12:44 PM »

very nice

have been up in two in my life as passengers, once in 89 with my now 18 year old when he was 4. another time a few years later where i was able to reach thru little side window/vent and touch a rain cloud - very cool - you are lucky

moose · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2004, 12:02:53 AM »

gliders are IFR cert?

crowMAW · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2004, 06:58:33 AM »

Thanks guys...

Rip, the original cost for all white Imron was $2900. When it was done, I decided that it needed a bit more flair, so I added the stripe for $200. The annual with required control surface balance and then the weight & balance, plus having one Euro AD checked was $275.

Ra...where is your club? This was the worst winter soaring season I've ever seen down here, so I didn't feel bad not having it available for a month. Our club also has a Pilatus (they bought one after I bought mine). It is definitely a club favorite. The B4 is one of the best handling airplanes I've ever flown. The roll rate is fantastic...makes the average Cessna or Piper feel sluggish on the yoke even though it has a lot more wing to move.

Eagler, the Tampa Bay Soaring Society is an excellent club in your area (http://www.tbss.us/). If you already have your PPL, the transition cost is $400-$700 for most pilots (sometimes less). To get your PPL-G without having another rating would cost $1500-$2500 depending on how rapidly you learn.

Moose, mine is rated for cloud flying! It has a turn-bank gyro, which is all that is required for a sailplane. I know many who have artificial horizons for cloud flying though. Also, sailplanes can request an IFR waiver for Class A airspace...that is mostly out west though where wave flights can take you up well over 20k. But there are no ILS approaches for gliders.

Creamo · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2004, 07:02:53 AM »

The stripe was key. Very nice addition.

ra · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2004, 07:40:46 AM »

Crow,

My club operates in central Maryland and southern PA. Last season was the worst ever for us, too. The season before that was probably the 2nd worst. Between the incredibly lousy weather, post-911 airspace restrictions, high fuel prices, and a developer threatening to build $1 million houses off the end of one of our runways, our club is really stressing. This weekend will be our first official operation day of the year, and of course the forecast is calling for rain both days.

We do most of the restoration work on our own gliders and when we take a glider out of service to restore it, we have found that the project usually lasts years, not months. That's what happens when you rely on volunteer labor. We currently have a 2-33 which has been sitting in a workshop for over a year waiting to be covered, painted, and re-assembled.

Yeah, the B-4 handles great. It looks like your aileron gaps aren't taped. Tape will improve the roll rate even more, and probably reduce drag a bit.

ra

gofaster · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2004, 08:26:49 AM »

Needs a shark's mouth.

crowMAW · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2004, 09:05:01 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ra
My club operates in central Maryland and southern PA.

You fly at M-ASA? I love the club video!

http://m-asa.org/video/masaCABLE.wmv

You guys are lucky...that is a great operation with excellent lift potential.

Quote

Originally posted by ra
It looks like your aileron gaps aren't taped. Tape will improve the roll rate even more, and probably reduce drag a bit.

Yeah, I normally have the aileron, elevator and turtle deck gaps taped. I decided to take the pics clean, right after assembly.

Thanks Creamo...it did make a big difference. It was quite a site seeing the painter and I running out different patterns with painters masking tape until we came up with something that looked good. That is how it ended up being blue...the tape was blue.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2004, 09:13:30 AM »

How does taking the gliders up into the air operate?

crowMAW · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2004, 09:56:16 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
How does taking the gliders up into the air operate?

In the States we mostly use an aero tow...a power plane tows the glider up with a rope. All you do is stay on his six!

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2004, 10:04:11 AM »

A lot of gun sounds and MG sounds coming through the mike?

HavocTM · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2004, 10:27:59 AM »

Is that a 37mm cannon in the nose?

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Seriously though, 20K?! wow! Do you need oxygen for that?

Also, how long does an average glider flight last? I have heard it is the closest thing to growing wings.