Keeping Endorsement Current

[Flying Trucker]

Goodly afternoon all...

Old girl is gone for the day and before I walk over to the marina to look at the Float and Seaplanes, the yachts and the young ladies in bikinis I can't afford I managed to get in a little simulated float training.

The Auster Aircraft is not only one of my favourite real aircraft to fly but also one of my favourite aircraft to use in FSX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylorcraft_Auster

FSX and Windows 7
FSWC...Flight Simulator Water Configurator set to Glassy Water
ORBX Weather Themes from FSX
Auster Aircraft T7 on Floats
Livery by Larry "Patchz" and available right here in the Simviation Downloads
Season is summer and the simulated flight started from Dawn until mid-morning
Location is Orillia "J4W", Ontario, Canada
Scenery is from Home of Flight Ontario and Freeware...take a look as there is lots there to use.

http://www.flightontario.com/

Cast off from dock in light rain...I am not sugar and will not melt...


Using shoreline for visual takeoff reference...


Wait five minutes and the weather changes...rain shower has passed...


Going to do some touch and goes on the water in that inlet just the other side of the red roofed hangars...


Lots of Flap but not a STOL Approach and Landing at this time...keeping in mind that we are keeping in touch with the Air Traffic Controller in the Airport Tower as we use and do not use the designated Water Runways all the time...all aircraft in the circuit need to be kept updated on where float, seaplanes and helicopters are operating or training...I have never had a problem operating off floats only in a Controlled Airspace and a good Controller can make things run real smooth for everyone...


Off the Step...Floats starting to settle...still enough power I don't use the Water Rudders...


Off again for another Water Touch and Go...



Comments and advice most welcome...

[Bass]

Again nice job, Doug
#1 What, no raindrops on screen and water
Serious, what is that on down left screen in #1 and #5?

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning Bass...

Not sure if it is the ORBX Theme in FSX or not which has something to do with the lack of raindrops.
You can hear the rain but it does not look all that realistic.

I am not sure what exactly you are referring to in those two pictures Bass.

Picture #1...the yellow knob at the bottom left of the instrument panel is a Petrol ON/OFF push/pull control found on many older aircraft.

Picture #5...the same yellow knob is present for Petrol
...bottom yellow knob should be for adjusting the aircraft Rudder Pedals to suit the aviator
...Rudder Pedal adjusting knobs are available to both aviators
...There is a yellow knob on the door near the bottom left...open and closes door

There is a round air vent showing on bottom left side of front windscreen in both shots.

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning Bass...

Just took another look as it will not let me edit the above post I posted again.

In Picture #5 and I do not think you see it all that well in Picture #1 is an Attitude Indicator, it shows Bank and Pitch. The long rod with a small ball on the bottom is just before the air vent in the bottom left of the windscreen attached to the aircraft frame. It moves freely.

Wonder how many folks here have ever used or seen one?

[Bass]

Good morning to you. (My watch is showing 1500 )
It must be the air vent i was talking about, and i for sure have never seen that rod before in any plane!
A very good day to you and the wife.

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning again Bass...it is 09:50 AM here.

The Auster was used as an Army Observation, Communication, Artillery Spotting and in some cases an Air Ambulance amongst many of it's military duties.
Have seen civilian Austers used for Glider Towing, sight seeing, photographic work and trainers at flying fields.

When the pilot has his eyes out of the cockpit looking for targets, etc. he only had to glance at that Attitude Indicator without searching his Instrument Panel and he knew exactly the Attitude of his aircraft.

Paul "Fozzer" flew the Auster while serving in the British Army (best days of his life I bet)... and I am sure he can enlighten the both of us on the Auster and this Attitude Indicator.