Dash in the Dash.

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

I got up the stones to take the Dash-8 from JF's Screen shot contest up for another spin. I have some AIs in Air Hauler making good money with this bird, but my last attempts to fly this thing were exciting to say the least:

 

Probably the power settings...I swore I would read the manual soon and give it another whack. Well...I did the later anyhow.

 

 

 

I started at Area-51 Nevada, and spent a good half hour flipping switches till I had most of the annunciator lights out, and once airborn managed to get the rest out.

I was so surprised that I got off the ground without flipping it, that I forgot to take any take off shots. We swiftly got air born after babying the power and prop settings forward...no crazy vertical take off occurred and we Dashed quickly up to 8,000 feet at which point I started learning how to use the Autopilot...then the Cabin heat and Pressurization systems,...and viola...all the annunciator lights are out.

 

Dashing along with a clean annunciator...woot.

 

Once up and set and flying pretty...time for a screen shot finally....by which I mean most of the way across California

 

And another approaching Catalina Island, which the map said we were heading roughly towards anyhow...so...there we go. Gear down, flaps at first position slowing to 115 for approach.

 

Runway ahead, full? flaps (not sure if I had them all the way down yet at this point) and slowing to 100kt my planned touchdown speed as the listed stall of 75knots seems crazy slow and I'll have to work my way down there....not today...I want to survive this landing

 

I found her to be Quite "Floaty" on landing, and flying as well, and came in way off center as a result of being unfamiliar with it's derp derp control reactions...oops...it was a greaser though

 

And then I accidentally feathered the props too much at the end of the runway and killed the engines...doh. Usually the Mixture lever does that in most aircraft, not the prop lever. Doh.

 

 

Thanks for flying along in the chase plane...I don't blame you for not riding along with me...I wouldn't have unless I had to.

But I feel like I might risk taking on some cargo soon in this baby...she sure does cover ground fast...or I take a long time finding switches...not sure.

[hifly 925]

Yo Matt, had a few 'upsets' when I first got this beast but now under control and enjoying it albeit still a bit frisky on landing. 120kts seems to be optimum landing speed for me to keep her stable, don't cut the power until on the deck and then pull the throttles right back for reverse props and when stopped, throttles centred to idle.

 

Think about it, it takes two to fly this ac RW so we should give ourselves a pat on the back for flying them solo.  

[Corsaire31 419]

Nice flip on first pic ! Hope there was nothing fragile on board...

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

Thanks for the encouragement Geoff, I will def try that higher landing speed...ya...75 sounded like suicide to me. Of course the throttle quadrant is marked clearly that the reverser is on the throttle...live, read, and learn Except manual...never read manuals. lol.

 

Just me Loic...no worries.

[hifly 925]

Thanks for the encouragement Geoff, I will def try that higher landing speed...ya...75 sounded like suicide to me. Of course the throttle quadrant is marked clearly that the reverser is on the throttle...live, read, and learn Except manual...never read manuals. lol.

 

Just me Loic...no worries.

 

Have to admit that a quick glance at the tutorial in the manual is enough for me and then learn as you go along. At gawd knows how many pages in the manual I'd forget what I'd read 2 pages back and they often confuse more than enlighten.

 

Have mentioned this before but I've noticed the animated pilots putting their hands to the sides of their heads in a 'Oh no, what have we/he done wrong now/' gesture. Usually because I've forgotten to switch on the anti icing or something else. They're probably muttering RTFM.

 

Aha! Just checked the manual and for the tutorial it says 130 kts for landing although I saw a RW landing tutorial here I believe and they landed at 120. Load factors obviously.

 

Because of its' challenges it is one of my favourite aircraft. :thum:  

 

[brett 2,314]

Ha, great fun, thanks for the shots and glad I was in the chase plane.   Keep on it, it's a fantastic aircraft once you get the hang of it.

 

Just to note, the passengers are complaining about the temperature in the cabin and the toilets aren't flushing correctly, Bleeds to Norm once in the air. 

[SEATAC 400]

Nice flip on first pic ! Hope there was nothing fragile on board...

You mean besides people?

[Corsaire31 419]

 

Nice flip on first pic ! Hope there was nothing fragile on board...

You mean besides people?

 

I know Capt Coffee, he is a true cargo pilot, he would never bother with transporting people... 

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

 

 

Nice flip on first pic ! Hope there was nothing fragile on board...

You mean besides people?

 

I know Capt Coffee, he is a true cargo pilot, he would never bother with transporting people... 

 

 

Absolutely right...the seat which usually contains 170lbs of cargo unless i'm deadheading back to base.

 

 

Ha, great fun, thanks for the shots and glad I was in the chase plane.   Keep on it, it's a fantastic aircraft once you get the hang of it.

 

Just to note, the passengers are complaining about the temperature in the cabin and the toilets aren't flushing correctly, Bleeds to Norm once in the air. 

 Any stowaways were dead by the time that shot was taken...we were at 16,000ft for about 35 minutes before I figured out the cabin pressurization system...which is just in the safe zone as you can see.

 

If it were not for my Lukla forged nearly Sherpa lungs I would Surely have perished myself

 

 

-Col Coffee McBragg.

[dodgy-alan 1,587]

That aircraft can be a reall challenge at first. I tend to use Southampton Airport  or London City, both of which have their quirks. LCY being in  anoise restriction area so an almost Khe-San approach is needed to avoid waking the neighbours. Take off from there sends you right toward the skyscrapers at Canary Wharf! Southampton is reasonably ok from the North but from the south you have the very busy M27 right across the bottom of the runway. Not only can you NOT land short but also on hot days the concrete of the motorway can throw up some hair thermal lumps right before touchdown! ( watching them from a car on the M27 can be startling if you're not expecting it! It always gives me a chuckle when a big aircraft suddenly appears from over the old Ford Transit factory and scares the crap out of motorists as they are so close. Lots of brake lights suddenly go on!)