Hi! Just to clarify a couple of points since my previous posting:
Re. Messsage from Hans Danielsen many thanks for your input re. climb out
technique.
I absolutely agree with you about flaps up and speed etc! I was trying
to set an example of a worse case but entirely possible scenario of an engine
failure at (say) 500 feet, low speed, nose high, flaps down a very poor
position
to be in from which recovery would be demanding. I should have emphasised
that my own take off technique is not this! Im a flaps up ASAP person! If
the engine does fail I certainly dont want them down if it can be avoided. Hold
the plane down a bit, get some speed, get the flaps up. Near the ground,
speed is good! How low to put them up is entirely up to you and what you feel
comfortable with just dont scrape the belly! I retract them slowly and
progressively
no noticable sink then! Even with a good climb out technique still
dont be tempted to turn back! You are simply in a much better position to
land safely ahead somewhere!
Re. Message from Rick Stockton I was interested to read your posting you have
obviously thought about this a great deal. I have no doubt that you are highly
experienced and practised at this manoeuvre and that you and all your highly
trained students will have a slightly better chance than many on the roulette
wheel of turning back and may get away with it. My concern is though what
about the rest of us. I feel people will read this and think sounds good thats
me sorted for EFATOs. I really worry that ordinary people (like me and most
of us) would be killed attempting this so I urge again LAND AHEAD ITS ALWAYS
SAFER THAT WAY. I suspect that many, equally experienced and competent pilots
in the past (including tragically one very recently) have probably had their
own theories that they can turn back, but when faced with the situation for
real have become victims to what is historically a highly dangerous manoeuvre.
I will pray for your continued success.
Just a final word about EFATOs Im not a great lover of that period between lift
off and when I know I can safely glide to a landing site/ strip/ GOOD field.
For me its a bit like flying over water! Fortunately the engine doesnt know
its there and this period neednt last too long. I always try to minimise this
time by not climbing straight ahead but turning if necessary, soon after take
off and positioning so that reasonably soon I can reach a safe landing area by
gliding. (As an example, when I take off from my home strip on one end, a 45
degree right turn and within seconds Im within gliding range of a disused
military
field with good runways thats nice!) If I have an engine failure after
take off at any time up to that point when I decide I can glide safely (without
dangerous manoeuvring!) to a landing site, I just accept that I will have
to make the best of a landing somewhere in front of me. Simple!
Thats it from me now on the subject. Stay safe!
Regards, Jon
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