Landing on Grass - Beechcraft Sundowner

[@YTRFStinger]

Thanks a lot, I´ve enjoyed also to comprove what face is along your smoth voice, hehe. You´ve the oportunity of real flying as pilot, congrats! You seem to be a very reasonnable person in attitude, something I appreciate and know how to do things. thnks.

[@iflycentral]

Happy you enjoyed it. : )

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks, I enjoyed that. I miss that type of flying, so I'm living vicariously through this channel. I though that was a good pattern entry and landing on the grass strip. For what it's worth, in the airline world we do have additives to our approach speed for gusting conditions. Boeing has published guidance on this, but the old rule of thumb is "Five knots for mom and the kids". So, in airline terms, you did the right thing there. I am also starting to like the Sundowner more and more. It looks comfy, quiet, and the high wing loading has some advantages as you pointed out. It seems to be an under rated airplane as compared with a 172.

[@iflycentral]

Yes. It's more to my liking compared to a 172. Better crosswind component, more responsive, better visibility, and stronger. Only places the 172 beats it is takeoff, and landing performance, and useful load. That is down to the semi symmetrical airfoil of the Sundowner, compared to the high lift foil of the Cesnna.

[@The25Fantome]

Ouah those graphics are amazing ! What game / settings ? (Nobody made the joke .. someone had to do it)

[@TheAirplaneDriver]

Nice video. I like how you try to make the connection between sim flying and real world flying. You are a great spokesman/mentor for GA and are sure to bring some of the sim guys out to the airport for flight training. Good job! For gusty landings, suggest adding 1/2 the gust factor to your final approach speed and stay on a standard glide slope. I’m sure you have already heard that as that is the “standard” as published in the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook and what you should hear on flight reviews. So, if your final approach speed is say 60 kts and the wind is gusting 10 knots, fly final at 65 Kts. Flying a high approach can cause a problem on a short field especially if you are not adept or comfortable with slips. For takeoff just fly Vy. I fly off grass almost all the time....but then I have a 73 year old tailwheel airplane which is happiest on grass. 😀 I couldn’t see the building in the video but based on your description it probably is a gas digester in a waste water treatment plant.

[@iflycentral]

Thanks for the reply. I just so happen to work in the water industry, and the only problem I have with it being a gas digester is the high. This thing is very tall in addition to being quite wide. I've never seen any structure on a WWTP much higher than the tallest pines in the area. This thing is at least twice the height of trees in the area, and there is already an active and sizable WWTP just on the other side of the nearby airport.

[@TheAirplaneDriver]

I Fly Central - I expect you are right. I can’t see it all that clearly on my iPad but if it is that thing in the clearing off your wingtip it looks a lot taller and narrower than a regular digester. Egg shaped digesters can be really tall but that is not what that thing is. Maybe a storage tank for bourbon? It’s in NC not Kentucky, I know, but close 😂

[@iflycentral]

@@TheAirplaneDriver Lets hope! ;P

[@patrikstrandquist1875]

Great video. I am serously thinking of getting my own PPL. So i really like this GA videos from you. As for that building. Looks like a silo of some sort, a domed top indicates that it might be pressurized. Natrual gas or something maby. Keep up the good work.

[@iflycentral]

That's it. Natural gas. I found out that's what it is not too long ago. Here's to your success in pursuit of you PPL.

[@jschmalzel1787]

Really great landing, hope to see some more Beechcraft!

[@iflycentral]

Hope to put out more, as I get time to go fly.

[@mansuraidol4406]

I believe that you have an O-360 Lycoming and noticed that you did not appear to have a "red zone" of non-operation; somewhere between 1,400-1,800 RPM. We had a Bellanca Scout on Edo 2000's with an O-360; it must have been a variant of the engine design and It had this "red zone". This specific engine was "detuned" to 168 HP (lower compression) in order to run on car gas (boat gas at any marina that is convenient). You don't want to be "locked down" to purchasing aviation fuel at the seaplane base. It was a good performer on floats; two (2) negatives though, fabric and ride side entry only. This limits your docking options. Okay, enough of this; your Sundowner looks nice, I know you are justifiably proud. Enjoyed the show! BTW, I'm finally making it into multiplayer on IL2; I managed to survive my first 2-3 sorties but maybe that is because I can't find anybody?

[@iflycentral]

What kind of prop were you running on that Scout? That red zone would more likely be for the prop than the engine. Running a Sensenich propeller on my Sundowner, but another option was a McCauley, and I understand that it could have some issues at some RPMs.

[@mansuraidol4406]

@@iflycentral My memory is not perfect but I'm about 90% confident that it was a McCauley. It was also a seaplane propeller (less pitch). Still, a good performer but it would have been a little sweeter with constant speed propeller.

[@skidzholeshot1316]

looks like an old earth mound fortification that is been covered over,there are massive circles you can see that have been there along time,and some sort of trench line bottom left,something from civil war maebe?

[@iflycentral]

This is what causes the circles: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWbEnYxpZpaXZ6M

[@skidzholeshot1316]

THERE are alot of massive circles on this land,nice flight.

[@iflycentral]

Must be all the UFO activity... Just kidding. :P Those are caused by above ground irrigation systems. They are long pipes on wheels with sprayer heads that pivot around a central fulcrum.

[@corvus9490]

Exciting thing to do in simulator: We're hunting jets in P51! Exciting thing to do irl: We're landing on a grass runway!

[@iflycentral]

Real world risks are always going to carry more weight than digital ones. Can't afford to screw up IRL. ; )

[@flythething193]

Nicely done and with the colour markings in the still as well. Makes the video more enjoyable. I wish you had a fixed camera between the seats up high too. If you use that in the future and also have a hand held for say the instrument view don´t be shy to show the whole landing approach from both even if it repeats itself in two sequences. The camera work on the last paved landing is especially good. I understand you were more or less gliding from a steeper approach on the grass field. Looks like 75-80 kt on short final and touchdown at 50, so the Sundowner seems to lose speed effectively if you want to.

[@iflycentral]

I will see about getting a camera into that position. Have thought about it, but think your comment gives me the push to do it. Yes. The Sundowner bleeds speed nicely with just a little bit of a slip. Even easier with a strong head wind like that.

[@CompleteWalkaround]

Hey, Interesting video. How do you like the Sundowner?

[@iflycentral]

Love it. I've since upgraded some of the avionics. Went with a GNX 375 navigator ADS-b in, and out. Went with a GI 275 for engine monitoring to replace the existing, ageing engine instruments. If I can coordinate with the guy that is supose to repaint her; I will try to get that done this year. Also looking to get the micro VG STC after that. Only thing I've seen so far I don't like is how hot she gets on climb out after takeoff. The CHTs can get up to around 430°F+ if you don't watch it. Redline is 500°F and I don't really like going past 400. Runs cool enough in cruise though. I have taken her up to 10,500 once on a hot summer day. Took a while to get there, but the controls where still responsive, and the plane was stable. Over all; really satisfied with my acquisition.

[@tincannavy3188]

AV gas is less than 3.60 at kbow in Florida if you want to stop by lol

[@iflycentral]

One place across the border in SC that has it for 3.08. I should have gone there! :D Might put KBOW in my plans next time I get that far south.

[@tincannavy3188]

I Fly Central you should it’s a nice friendly class D airport right next to Lakeland where Sun n fun is held

[@phil73805]

You're flying again and I'm still locked down! You lucky lucky sod. Three weeks since you flew? Cry me a river! :) I got my PPL on grass so it's no biggy for me. I did powerslide a PA-28 on a very wet grass runway once, so there's that... :) Fly safe dude

[@keithhoward9238]

Great video

[@iflycentral]

Thanks.

[@randyallen2771]

Are you glad you didn't have to do that with a Bf 109? Do you have a USGS map of the area? It might show what was at that spot.

[@DirkLarien]

Nice landings. I wonder were you always flying sims left handed ? Or did you have to adjust to left handed PIC flying ?

[@iflycentral]

I fly right handed in fighters in sims, and left hand IRL. Also flew left hand with a control yoke back in the old Rise of Flight days of this channel.

[@1tuanblackGXY]

Watch someone one KZbin do touch and go on EWR-LGA-JFK one by one the same day since sky’s are almost empty. Hope to see u in the sky’s on IL-2

[@iflycentral]

Touch and go's at JFK? Now that is something right there!

[@wangzunzhi]

How do you like sundown compare with Cherokee 180? Does it really burn a lot of fuel? Thank you. I’m thinking buying one. Please help

[@iflycentral]

Sundowner is a little more maneuverable, but slower than the Cherokee. The Cherokee has a better useful load, but the Sundowner is more comfortable for the pilot with lots of elbow room, and two doors. Been a long time since I last was in a Cherokee, so I can't speek to the noise difference. If you lean properly; at 2300 rpm you will burn just shy of 10 gph for about 110 knots indicated (altitude dependant of course). I'd recomend you download the POH off the internet for both, and compare the performance that way.