Firstly my apologies to Babs & co who heard the "expletive" as I took off Vertically. There was also a suggestion that I went slightly backwards! (I hadn't reached my take-off point!)
After that excitement it couldn't get worse-could it?
The air was smooth but strong, I could feel something different with the Atos & as I turned over the White Horse all hell broke loose! The glider vibrated violently with the control frame shaking!
I kept her straight & level in the 25mph+ breeze & looked around to see what was wrong. Nothing appeared broken or loose. Tail & winglets were still attached but there was vibration through the glider. This eased below 25mph but was violent above! Due to the increasing wind strength I was flying at 30mph & decided to alter my normal landing approach ie set up at 200ft over the northern end & glide in.
I was expecting something to break & life to become very interesting so the approach was low & fast. The plan almost worked until I was about to touch down in the bumpy air & I got dumped the last 4ft. The left upright needs repairing but hey I was on the ground & safe!
The cause of the vibration:- The nose cone had come loose from the top surface & was flapping. This disrupted the airflow over the tail! ( which was trying to compensate & keeping the pitch control within tolerances)
So lesson learnt:- My pre-flights always include checking the nose cone, now I will use superglue!
Stay safe & have fun
Wayne
Atos VR
After that excitement it couldn't get worse-could it?
The air was smooth but strong, I could feel something different with the Atos & as I turned over the White Horse all hell broke loose! The glider vibrated violently with the control frame shaking!
I kept her straight & level in the 25mph+ breeze & looked around to see what was wrong. Nothing appeared broken or loose. Tail & winglets were still attached but there was vibration through the glider. This eased below 25mph but was violent above! Due to the increasing wind strength I was flying at 30mph & decided to alter my normal landing approach ie set up at 200ft over the northern end & glide in.
I was expecting something to break & life to become very interesting so the approach was low & fast. The plan almost worked until I was about to touch down in the bumpy air & I got dumped the last 4ft. The left upright needs repairing but hey I was on the ground & safe!
The cause of the vibration:- The nose cone had come loose from the top surface & was flapping. This disrupted the airflow over the tail! ( which was trying to compensate & keeping the pitch control within tolerances)
So lesson learnt:- My pre-flights always include checking the nose cone, now I will use superglue!
Stay safe & have fun
Wayne
Atos VR
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