Pilot Handling Guide

Transcription

1 Pilot Handling Guide Puchacz SZD-50-3 VH- GRI + WQX These notes are a conversion guide only and not a substitute for the Manufacturer s Flight Manual. General notes on conversions.2 Basic overview.2 External features.2 Limitations.2 Cockpit features.3 Trim Ballast.3 Dual pilot loading.4 Daily inspection notes.5 Glider accessories and Storage.7 Flight characteristics.8 Controls.8 Aerotow.8 Thermalling.8 Cruising.8 Stalling.8 Spinning.9 Circuit and landing.9 Aerobatics.9 Pilot responsibilities.9 Supplementary Notes (Puch Care).10

2 2 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 General notes on conversions 1. Your conversion to a new type must be authorized by an instructor who has flown the aircraft type. 2. He/she must outline the important features of the aircraft. 3. You should not do your first conversion in crosswind or gusty conditions. 4. Spend some time getting comfortable with the cockpit layout. 5. Get someone to lower the tail to show the takeoff and landing nose attitudes. Basic Overview The Puchacz SZD-50-3 is a 16.67m unflapped sailplane constructed of fibreglass manufactured by PZL Bielsko. The aircraft is a perfect two seater for pilot training. External Features Airbrakes Conventional type with upper and lower surfaces Flaps Not fitted Wings 16.67m Undercarrige Fixed Tailplane Cruciform Limitations V ne Max permitted speed 116 knots V a Max manoeurvring speed 81 knots Vra Max rough air 86 knots V t Max aerotow speed 81 knots V w Max winch / autotow speed 59 knots Max airbrake operation speed 116 knots Min cockpit weight, including parachute (solo pilot) VH-WQX 70 kg VH-GRI 69 kg Max cockpit weight, including parachute (solo pilot) 110 kg

3 3 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 Cockpit Features Canopy and Jettison Trim Ballast Instruments Control Column Ventilation Trim Wheel Brake Tow Rope Release Airbrake Lever Rudder Pedal Adjustment Battery Pull left red lever back to unlock canopy. To jettison pull open right lever as well and push canopy up. At no stage must the canopy itself or clear view side window be held to lift or close canopy. Only hold levers or canopy frame when opening or closing canopy. Always close and lock lever when leaving or ground handling glider. In front cockpit on both sides of instrument panel Radio Becker AR4201 Vario Borgelt B40 Flarm Yes NAV N/A Standard type Silver knob on top of instrument panel Left side Black knob on left side Conventional yellow knob Blue handle on left side Brown handle in front of control column Between rear pilot s feet Trim Ballast The Puchacz has provision for two ballast weights. One weight is equal to 8kg pilot weight with ONE PILOT ONLY sitting in the front seat. Weights are held on by screwing in each ballast block to a threaded hole either side of the instrument panel underneath the front pilot s feet. There is a specific shaped weight for each side. Follow placard limits for dual pilot loading. WQX GRI Min Pilot weight (1 Pilot) Max Pilot weight (1 Pilot) For Pilot and chute 62-69kg For Pilot and chute 54-61kg Min Pilot weight (1 Pilot) Max Pilot weight (1 Pilot) For Pilot and chute 61-68kg For Pilot and chute 53-60kg 70 kg 110 kg 1 weight 2 weights 69 kg 110 kg 1 weight 2 weights

4 4 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 Dual Pilot Loading VH-WQX VH-GRI

5 5 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 In addition to the daily inspection routine: Daily Inspection Notes Tyre Pressures: Main Wheel: 43 psi Tail Wheel: 20 psi Nose Wheel : 20 psi To check the tyre pressure or pump up the front wheel the side hatch must be removed by unscrewing the side hatch to reveal the tyre valve. The main wheel has an access hole for the tyre valve. To line the valve up with the access hole the glider must be pushed until the valve is visible through the access hole. Check condition of the strap holding the canopy open. Always check TE probe, Pitot tube and Static Ports for blockages from wasp nests. With one person holding one control column, check the other control column for free play between the two. Undo the control stick boot, and examine the stick for cracks or signs of fatigue where the control stick meets the mounting block. Report any cracking, and do not fly if found. Check the Canopy locking pins for canopy jettisoning are fully home and the locking wire is in good order. Check the rudder turnbuckles in the rear cockpit next to the rear pilot s legs and make sure they are straight and in good condition. These can get knocked and bent causing them to start stress fractures. Check around the nose wheel for signs of stress cracks. This can indicated signs of the nose wheel taking heavy hits on a ground roll. Check both elevator halves for free play between each other Check both elevator trim tabs for free play between each other and make sure the wire push rod controlling them is in good order. Check the main wheel bungees. The bungees are the only suspension system for the main wheel. Open the centre inspection panel behind the rear seat. Check for signs of damage. If the bungees are worn/stretched it will be shown by the fact that the retaining shaft has moved forward in the quadrant. The gap between the front of the quadrant and the shaft should be about 30 mm minimum. New bungees will pull the shaft fully back and as the bungee stretches the shaft will slowly move forward. If you don t know about this, ask someone to show you. Another clue that the bungees may be worm or stretched is having a look at the main wheel. The axle should easily clear the wheel fairing. Check control rods in rear cockpit running along both sides to make sure they are both straight. It is possible for a pilot in the rear seat to accidently step on these rods and bend them.

6 6 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 Remove hatch to access front tyre valve Main wheel valve access hole Pitot Static Ports T.E. Probe Check for fatigue or stress cracks in control column Check free-play between elevator halves Check trim tab push rods Check front AND back turnbuckles Check canopy jettison locking pin and lock wire

7 7 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 Access hatch for main wheel suspension Bungees Retaining Shaft Quadrant The axle should easily clear the fairing These worn bungees were removed far too late and could have damaged the aircraft and injured the pilot. Don t fly with worn bungees Wear marks from pilot s feet Check control rods on both sides for any bends / deformations

8 8 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 Glider Accessories and Storage GRI and WQX have a canopy cover. The cover must be installed when the glider is not in use and make sure to attach the straps underneath also. When the glider is being flown store the cover in the baggage compartment behind the pilots head in the cockpit. Care must taken to ensure cover is kept clean as any dirt will scratch the canopy when cover is installed. Always store the glider with the canopy cover on, close side windows and airbrakes unlocked to reduce wear on the over-centre lock. Place some protective carpet and a wing weight on the lowered wingtip and tail to prevent the glider shifting in windy conditions. Flight Characteristics Controls: Controls are light to the feel and are reasonably responsive. The airbrakes are very effective. Aerotow: Set trim forward. Raise the nose and balance on main wheel when airspeed is gained ready for takeoff. Themalling: Recommended thermalling speed is knots. Cruising: The Puchacz has a 30:1 glide ratio with best LD at about 50 knots. Stalling: The Puchacz stalls in a conventional manner with a tendency to drop a wing. Recovery is progressive forward movement of the stick until flying speed is returned. Stall speed is knots. Stall speed (brakes open) is about 4 knots higher. Spinning: Apart from having slightly increased nose down in attitude the Puchacz has typical spin characteristics and recovers easily with the standard spin recovery technique. The rudder forces required to stop rotation are high.

9 9 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 Circuit and Landing: Use approach speed of 47 knots (no wind) minimum cockpit load 57knots (no wind) maximum cockpit load (The standard approach speed with no wind for training flights at DDSC is 57knots) Setup finals approach for half airbrake Roll control is adequate for ground roll On ground roll when below stall speed, hold tail wheel on the ground by applying back stick. This will help with directional control and help to prevent the gliders nose wheel getting damaged on rough runway patches. Aerobatics Approved Manoeuvres: Stalls, Spins, Loops, Stall Turns, Chandelles, Lazy Eights Pilot responsibilities Understand how to DI the glider Understand how to operate the glider (including limitations) Enjoy your flight in the Puchacz SZD-50-3

10 10 Puchacz Pilot handling guide July 09 Supplementary Notes - Puchacz Care Cleaning Please vacuum out the cockpits daily. The dust and mud gets into the ballast screw holes and around the rudder adjustment, other fittings and bearings, and this will increase wear. Rudder adjustment The front seat rudder adjustment needs to be operated with care. If the adjustment is pushed hard forward, it goes past the last adjustment point and jams hard. When tall people are adjusting the rudders, ensure they engage the pin in the last hole and don t push the pedals beyond that point. If this happens you have to place your left hand around the cross member tube at the base of the rudder pedals and give it a persuading wriggle and pull towards you until the pin locates in the first hole most (most forward hole). The rudder pedal assembly can get dirty and dry from dirt, it is a good idea to wipe this tube that the rudder pedals slide along and use some vasoline to lubricate this tube. Tyre pressures A bit of trivia: 1 bar = 13 psi (approx) 7kpa = 1 psi (approx) The nose wheel must be checked by pushing in hard with your thumb at the centre of the tread not the side wall of the tyre. If you can push the centre of the tyre in at all it needs to be pumped up. The reason why this method is used because the side walls are very thick and if you press the side wall you may think it has pressure in the tyre. The nose wheel does a lot of work. Main tyre wheel well clogging The main wheel has a mudguard cover over the top of the tyre that has a close tolerance between the guard and the tyre. When the aircraft is operated on muddy ground, the gap between the top of the tyre and the mudguard clogs up and severely hinders rotation of the main wheel. Please do not operate the Puch s on muddy ground unless you want to spend hours at the end of the day s flying cleaning it out with the high pressure hose. Suspension Bungees The main wheel bungees must be inspected on every DI. The bungees are the only suspension system for the main wheel. Open the centre inspection panel behind the rear seat. If the bungees are worn/stretched it will be shown by the fact that the retaining shaft has moved forward in the quadrant. The gap between the front of the quadrant and the shaft should be about 30 mm minimum. If you don t know about this, ask someone to show you. Canopies Our Puch s have already got quite badly scratched canopies due to lack of correct washing and rubbing the dust off without water. To correctly clean canopies, use a clean chamois or sponge, and squeeze copious amounts of water over the canopy to wash off the dust without rubbing. Once the majority of the dirt is off, use a clean chamois to wash off remaining dirt and dry. Mr Sheen can be used with a clean cotton cloth. Sometimes, static builds up after this procedure and wiping the canopy with a damp chamois can eliminate this.