RHB785 wrote:I wouldn't like to even hazard a guess what the insurance bill would be Adam let alone pay it. It's said that those early Mk. 1 Spits could be recognised even after they went out of front line service to training units when taking off and landing by the porpoising motion they set up as the driver pumped the u/c up or down with his right hand, the left hand being used to hold the stick and a natural movement being set up through the body.
Regards,
RHB.
I set up a great P.I.O on take off once in the Laser once. I hadn't latched the canopy properly or maybe caught the latch with my sleeve. Anyway, there I was climbing out of Moorabbin like a homesick angel and out of the corner of my right eye, I noticed the canopy start to move - UP! Holy S.IT I said to myself! Left hand on the stick, right hand trying desperately to close the canopy and latch it - didn't work -ARGH! OK, think Adam, right, hold stick between knees and use both hands to close a latch canopy. Managed to do this in what seemed like ages, but must have been a few seconds - all this time "porpoising" on climb out - "oh that's the ground ARGH, not good, oh blue sky - better.." and so on. It was one of those "hero to ZERO" moments and I could have easily lost the canopy and had to land in a "convertible" - been done by plenty of pilots in the past - quite embarrassing. I had only recently read about a guy flying a Laser and the canopy opened in flight. When he regained his composure (must have been a huge shock), he had 140+ mph wind blasting his face. Luckily he still had half his sunglasses, so could see out of one eye. The canopy had flipped open, shattered on the wing and bounced back into place - just without the Perspex any longer. That was the reason I bought a helmet!
I definitely made sure the latch was fully home on future flights!
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 5:33 pm
of the future owners! 
....nope it wasnt me 
