Engine Failure Demonstration

To show ultralight pilots the unique engine-out characteristics, I simulate engine failure above our airpark neighborhood. Roughly speaking, the aircraft assumes the glide angle of a falling manhole cover. To retain enough energy to flare, an approach speed of between 150% and 200% Vso is needed. Due to the high lift, high drag airfoil and light airframe, a very low flare is executed.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Ultralight
• flying
• flight
• LSA
• Rotax
• engine-failure

[RICARDOALAYZA]

Way to land, never use those engines for landing, just dive into the runway and forget about the rest

[andyshangar]

@RICARDOALAYZA

A kernel of wisdom there. Practice your engine-out landings, UL crowd. It's more valuable than you might think.

[andyshangar]

This is an Aventura UL, a one-seater. After flying steadily for a year to gain confidence in water ops, I sold it and bought a basic SeaRey. Now, six years later, I've got it on the market, planning to build the amazing new SeaRey LSX. I've heard good things about the Titan, best of luck with your project!

[TheRooster602]

Thank you. This is very instructive.

[andyshangar]

You're welcome, R. Here in our aviation community, we just demonstrated the lesser downside of not planning for the engine-loss eventuality: one of our finest pilots wrecked his Kitfox Super Sport powered by a Rotec radial. New to the design, he was flying more conservative, dragged in patterns. Each plane has a moving circle of landing zones underneath -- the flying boats' are very small -- and he hadn't figured out the Kitfox's yet. The result: landing short of the airport, hitting a tree.

[OzParkPilot]

What plane is this ? Thanks for posting. Im building a Titan !

[andyshangar]

The Germans have the right idea.

We kill UL drivers at an alarming rate.

We have 3,600 feet of paved surface serving 132 households. An eagle scout build as his civic service project a landing pad for air ambulance choppers. We have pilot-controlled lighting and visual approach slope indicators, too.

A new airstrip is coming in, a mile to the east.

Both are imbedded in a sprawling 4,500 acre private community with 65 miles of streets. I love the place!!

[andyshangar]

That's one of the best ideas I've heard in awhile.

How 'bout it, UL flying boat drivers*? Can you find a friend to do a simultaneous shoot from the ground?

BTW folks, info is still trickling in, RE Captain Thornburgh. Apparently, it was some kind of freak accident, an unintended night takeoff after the throttle stuck during maintenance... Truth is really stranger than fiction.

(*I have a SeaRey now, it has more conventional engine-out characteristics)

[MetaView7]

good vid

thanks for posting it

wish you had a camera person on the ground as well

[waszak1977]

Great Video! Just got off the phone with Jon Thornburgh.....he was just transfered from the ICU to a regular post op ward! Im worried about him! I cant believe how many people criticize your manuever! You weren't to fast you DIDN'T flare to late. UURGG!! Comments from U-tube pilots drive me nuts! I own a Quicksilver MXII and will be practicing this with my instructer (Rick'; We're here in Alaska) in his Challenger II, Jon hooked us up! hmm~ they dont know Jon, they probably dont really fly UL's