| Equipment Requirements
If this is going to be a Internationally Sanctioned Event,
the FAI’s definition of qualified "Ultralights", "Microlights" and "VLA’s"
(very light aircraft), is going to have to be trashed out and accepted before
serious planning can get under way. Has such a craft been defined yet with
certainty?
What max empty weight, max all up weight and max fuel capacity
are my first questions. Starting from there other solutions can be worked
out.
Here are some of my personal specifications of what I would
call a doable craft:
- In the engine department: RELIABILITY, RELIABILITY, RELIABILITY!
- Two seats ( one to carry the gear, spares or fuel)
- Steady min 60 kt TAS (mile a minute) at economy cruise
power setting. Tails, you win heads you lose (the wind I mean). Expect a
tail wind of 20+ kts in spring going east, at low level.
- Min no wind range of 350 nm (650 km) to dry tanks
- Wing loading to accommodate "continuous light to occasional
moderate gusts"
What? Did you expect to fly only in the calm?
- Basic pressure instrumentation for VFR flight, one gyro
instrument for emergency IF.
- Navigation gear: GPS, SATCOM phone. (Don’t forget the
whiskey compass!)
- Communication gear: two VHF radio coms min. Forget about
requiring HF.
- Lots of spare batteries: sponsors to provide free supply!
- Transponder if it can be accommodated in the craft.
- ELB and survival gear for all types of terrain.
Weight, Weight, Weight, what shall we do to meet those pesky
requirements.
November 1, 2001 Captain Sivaraman (see country contacts)
|
Participating
aircraft need to comply with the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA)
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