A Few more Fletchers

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

I started out crop dusting in this around the Fairfield, Nut Tree Airport area...bombing around the fields trying to dust them...not easy, it has Quirks to get used to. It's a bit harder to fly than the Alabeo crop duster I already have...but an amazing hauler with the load it can carry.

 

Practicing crosswind landings at Nut Tree...Travis AFB. I find it is a slow slipper, I bet it won't handle a Very stiff xwind easily.

 

And I ended my first Crop Work day in the Fletcher at a ranch field by Turbulent Designs, (part of the Angwin - 2o3 package): Pope Valley - 05CL Perfect little ranch strip to operate something like this out of. I have to stay mindful of that lump of construction mess over the runway though, It's probably a mistake in the scenery judging from how one of the static aircraft is part buried in it, but I'm not going to complain because it is a very real hazard and a lot of fun when I forget about it. BOUNCE!!!

 

A really terrific freeware this bird, and Huge Thanks to DodgyAlan for sharing the link for it in the other Longcloud thread.

 

Cheers.

Coff.

Edited January 28, 2017 by Captain Coffee

[J G 927]

Nice pics Matt

[dodgy-alan 1,587]

Great Pics Matt, Glad you're enjoying the aircraft, it really is delightful. as has been remarked elsewhere, it is better than many payware offerings.                             

[dodgy-alan 1,587]

PS, don't forget to bring some jump leads and a starter pack when you go back i the morning, you left your lights on when you parked! 

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

Nah...that was just taken as I was shutting down. I always at LEAST kill the Master Battery switch before logging off. 

Good eye though  

 

[brett 2,310]

Looks right at home on that ranch, might also work very well on those mountain bush strips you are so fond of. Thanks for the views.

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

Quoting myself:   "Practicing crosswind landings at Nut Tree...Travis AFB. I find it is a slow slipper, I bet it won't handle a Very stiff xwind easily. "

 

 

I kind of lost that bet with myself. I had no troubles in 16kt crosswinds out at Ocean Ridge, Gualala, Ca. last night. I shot dozens of Xwinds up to 24kts perpendicular to the field (those were kinda hard ). It has a Very Strong Rudder action. Figuring that out made crop dusting easier too, it is *possible* to Flat Turn this thing almost right around a building at the end of a field and get right back onto another row...I say "possible" because it is also very easy to flat spin it into the ground figuring out how to do it. .

 

 

 

I also messed with the Smoke System...my Crop Duster addon uses the smoke not water ballast for it's "I know you are dusting now" system.

So I used the Alabeo Pa34 Pawnee smoke system section as a guide to upgrading the Fletchers...I think it looks better with the several streams of smoke.

 

 

 

Stock Smoke system to compare with:

 

Water Ballast System to Compare:

 

 

Edited January 28, 2017 by Captain Coffee

[dolf8857 640]

Some really nice shots these Matt!

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

Thanks Dolf, and all.

If you don't got it...give it a literal whirl. This is a blast to whip and flip around. The high lift wings, dihedral outer wing sections, and strong rudder make this a very interesting thing to fly...and as Alan mentioned in his post !Mind the weight when full! ...its far more sluggish on the first couple of passes  

[brett 2,310]

Water ballast looks pretty cool as does the Pawnee's. I remember there being an old crop dusting mission for FSX that's was excellent to fly, you really had to get in the zone to make those accurate passes. Good work on the testing Matt.