Pipistrel Virus SW crossing the Alps via Simplon HD 1080p

[@andresmondolo4299]

Dear Filip, I own a Virus in Argentina, I added a sponge material covering the pipes over my head. That saved my ideas several times ;).

[@filiplowette7003]

Thanks for the suggestion, Andres. I am 1m92cm tall, so I don’t have much room for extra softening material. But I will try to find something! Happy landings!

[@andresmondolo4299]

@@filiplowette7003 I am 1m83 and fit quite tight, for sure you have no extra room to add cushion. By the way, about flaps in circuit, what are you setting for initial, base and final ? Speeds ? Thanks !!

[@filiplowette7003]

@@andresmondolo4299 Lucky for you that you are not very tall ;) My flap settings obviously related to our short field (currently 399m). So here is what I learned from others and from my own experience. Reduce speed at the latest 2 min before arriving in the vicinity of the airfield: 3500 RPM, prop fully fine, RPM will go up, increase pitch and trim for 125kmh and set RPM accordingly (mostly around 4100RPM = 125kmh). Enter the circuit and middle of downwind remain at 125kmh. At the latest in base: flaps 1 and 115 to 110kmh and trim. Right after turning final: flaps 2 and trim for 100kmh max (usually 90 is better). As you will know, letting the stick move forward even a tiny little bit will result in speed increase immediately. In strong turbulence or strong cross wind, I avoid using flaps 2 so I keep enough aileron activity foor sudden corrections. In strong head winds that are nicely in the runway axis, I set flaps 1 (and even 0 if more that 40kmh). On longer runways I use the same speed in final, just out of habit. Does this correspond with what you do?

[@andresmondolo4299]

@@filiplowette7003 Hi Filip, thank you for the class !. I have a very wide and long runway at SAZY, San Martin de los Andes, Argentina, but I like to land as it is short and small. I am comfortable entering circuit at 80kt, then 70kt and Flap1 on DW, slowering to 60kt and turn base, reduce to 55kt on base and set Fp2, keep in between 51 and 53kt, turn final and keep 50kt up to the flare. I am new, have just 30 hrs on the plane, that is why I prefer not to change anything on final. I Know is better to Flap2 in final, will try it next week. Have a nice weekend !

[@dualinput601]

What was the wind in the mountains causing turbulence?

[@filiplowette7003]

Hello Sebastien, it was a westerly wind and if I remember correctly is was about 30-40kmh. So overhead Simplon the wind was coming from the higher mountains on right with downdrafts and updrafts alternating quickly. It was the logical combination of wind, terrain and cumulus clouds that made the crossing bumpy. The superb stabilisation of the camera makes the passage seem much smoother than it was. Does that answer your question?

[@dualinput601]

@@filiplowette7003 Yes thanks Filip. I'm planning a crossing but very wary of turbulent conditions

[@filiplowette7003]

For a first time crossing I recommend what others recommended me: choose a GAFOR VFR route with a low mountain pass such as Brenner (see my other videos for the northbound and southbound Brenner route) and pick a calm early morning. There are many days where there is much less wind in the mountains than in the plains. I took three times three days mountain flying courses before I felt comfortable trying a crossing on my own. Good luck!

[@andresmondolo4299]

Hello Filip, me again from Argentina. Can you share the range and settings for a long cruise trip ? Thanks

[@filiplowette7003]

F-JTRW has a Rotax 912 UL 80hp engine and 160 liters long range tanks (it made a trip around the world in 2012-13; check Wings for Science for videos). Your engine is probably a 912 ULS 100hp. Your engine manual is the best source for settings. Two examples of settings flying to Norway last week: 5000ft, 23in MAP, 5000RPM 11.5 lph and 226kph TAS. And: FL90, 19.7in MAP, 4800RPM 12lph and 207kph TAS. I will post videos about this Norway trip in the coming weeks. Now about range: this obviously depends on your engine settings and available fuel. You will see that in this configuration there is easily 10 hours endurance and 2000km range. But I’m not planning to sit still for so long ;) Happy landings!

[@andresmondolo4299]

@@filiplowette7003 Hi Filip, thank you for sharing! I think your engine is more fuel efficient than mine, your numbers are much better. I will try installing the wheel covers and remove the insta360 from the wing, I think it will help. Today I can not go for a leg longer than 900 km.

[@ontdekjeeigenfrequentie2694]

@@andresmondolo4299 "I think your engine is more fuel efficient than mine, your numbers are much better." That is probably just the difference between the 100hp (faster and consumes more) and the 80hp (slower and lower consumption). That is why the first owners chose the 80hp for very long legs on their round the world adventure. But I think you should be able to finetune your settings to have min. 1000km.

[@andresmondolo4299]

@@ontdekjeeigenfrequentie2694 Hi Ontdek, thank you for your answer. Do you have a Virus ? I am trying to get some information to try to find the correct settings for a long trip. Rds, JAM

[@ontdekjeeigenfrequentie2694]

@@andresmondolo4299 Hi Andres, the answer is in the title of the video ;)

[@joedeleon1189]

Guess you could use a helmet, huh? Nice video!... :>0

[@joedeleon1189]

By the way, just a question: Why did you select a trike instead of the more classic arrangement? I would guess with the trike you have more drag, don't you? Just curious... not trying to second-guess you, or anything.

[@filiplowette7003]

@@joedeleon1189 thanks for the compliment. I have always flown nose wheel planes and don’t have a tail wheel endorsement. So, it’s mainly power of habit ;) Yes it does have a bit more drag, but it’s 5km/h at the most.

[@joedeleon1189]

@@filiplowette7003 Cool! Thanks...

[@s51ta]

nice video :) Though 467kph max speed seems much over VNE I doubt PISI SW would survive that (250KN++) :) (I believe 267KPH max speed is the correct number). Regards

[@ontdekjeeigenfrequentie2694]

How right you are! And so well spotted ;) This is SkyDemon's automated log summary. Sometimes GPS info is erratic. The Virus VNE is 300km. At the indicated speed, I would not have been there to share the video ;) Thanks for the reaction! Enjoy more videos on my channel.

[@flexairz]

Your hip belt is way too loose.. tighten that first then the shoulder harness.

[@filiplowette7003]

Thanks. I wish i had more of a belly to keep the hip belt in place ;)