ChiefPilot
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2013
- Messages
- 168
- Display Name
Display name:
ChiefPilot
I've had the itch to do some acro for the last several days - I usually am able to go at least once or twice a week but the weather has been pretty sour for longer than that. Thinking there must be a way around the issue, came up with a plan and threw it up for comments in another thread and talked with several people whom I trust & respect. Not hearing any downsides to it, I set about the plan.
The first step was verifying that the weather would be acceptable for what I wanted to do. That meant no ice in the clouds and relatively low (<5000ft) tops. Today satisfied those conditions - freezing level was about 8000' and tops were between 4000 and 5000 according to fresh PIREPS.
The second step was figuring out how to tell ATC what exactly I wanted to do. This was pretty easy and they fully approved - I simply filed a flight plan from KSGS to DOKTR, which is a fix near the airspace I usually use for acro. This was important; non-compliance with 91.303 wasn't something I wanted to get in trouble for. I added a 30 minute delay at DOKTR ("DOKTR/D0+30" in the routing) and added comments that I'd like VFR-on-top for some maneuvering 5 miles west of the airway. Filed it and away we went.
First change was that ATC offered a closer alternative via a block - a huge block, actually: MSP 090-180 radial, DME 20-40nm, block 4000-7000. A quick check of my in-beta-test app "AcroBox" (screenshots below) showed me that I could legally fly acro and stay in that block so I accepted the change and away I went. ATC wanted to know how much time I needed and to simply call them when ready to come back.
Loops, rolls, split-S, immelmann, 1/2 vertical roll, and more made the 30 minutes go by very quickly. This was the fix I needed. I also wanted to verify sustained turn radius and turn rate for some ... uh ... comparisons with potential jousting partners. Anyway...
I called ATC and asked for the RNAV GPS 34 back into KSGS and they gave it to me. Approach went without complications and I put the plane away even more impressed by the RV - most of the planes I've seen at an IAC meet would not be able to handle this mission.
On top, en-route to the aerobatic box:
Verifying that the area I'd be flying in was away from airways and not over anything/anyone i.e. FAR 91.303 compliant (iOS sim screenshots):
Between PRESS and ZIQPO on the RNAV 34 approach into KSGS. Hand-flown all the way.
BTW, if anyone is interested in my AcroBox app, it will be available on the app store for iPhone/iPad/etc. in the not-too-distant future free of charge and free of ads. It helps find, layout, and fly an IAC-compliant box by showing the box plus a buffer on aerial, VFR, and IFR charts. It can also act as a virtual "boundary judge" if you hook your phone/tablet into the aircraft audio system, telling you when you've entered/exited the lateral boundaries of the box and in what direction ("Box exit, north west"). I wrote it for myself but maybe others might find it useful.
The first step was verifying that the weather would be acceptable for what I wanted to do. That meant no ice in the clouds and relatively low (<5000ft) tops. Today satisfied those conditions - freezing level was about 8000' and tops were between 4000 and 5000 according to fresh PIREPS.
The second step was figuring out how to tell ATC what exactly I wanted to do. This was pretty easy and they fully approved - I simply filed a flight plan from KSGS to DOKTR, which is a fix near the airspace I usually use for acro. This was important; non-compliance with 91.303 wasn't something I wanted to get in trouble for. I added a 30 minute delay at DOKTR ("DOKTR/D0+30" in the routing) and added comments that I'd like VFR-on-top for some maneuvering 5 miles west of the airway. Filed it and away we went.
First change was that ATC offered a closer alternative via a block - a huge block, actually: MSP 090-180 radial, DME 20-40nm, block 4000-7000. A quick check of my in-beta-test app "AcroBox" (screenshots below) showed me that I could legally fly acro and stay in that block so I accepted the change and away I went. ATC wanted to know how much time I needed and to simply call them when ready to come back.
Loops, rolls, split-S, immelmann, 1/2 vertical roll, and more made the 30 minutes go by very quickly. This was the fix I needed. I also wanted to verify sustained turn radius and turn rate for some ... uh ... comparisons with potential jousting partners. Anyway...
I called ATC and asked for the RNAV GPS 34 back into KSGS and they gave it to me. Approach went without complications and I put the plane away even more impressed by the RV - most of the planes I've seen at an IAC meet would not be able to handle this mission.
On top, en-route to the aerobatic box:
Verifying that the area I'd be flying in was away from airways and not over anything/anyone i.e. FAR 91.303 compliant (iOS sim screenshots):
Between PRESS and ZIQPO on the RNAV 34 approach into KSGS. Hand-flown all the way.
BTW, if anyone is interested in my AcroBox app, it will be available on the app store for iPhone/iPad/etc. in the not-too-distant future free of charge and free of ads. It helps find, layout, and fly an IAC-compliant box by showing the box plus a buffer on aerial, VFR, and IFR charts. It can also act as a virtual "boundary judge" if you hook your phone/tablet into the aircraft audio system, telling you when you've entered/exited the lateral boundaries of the box and in what direction ("Box exit, north west"). I wrote it for myself but maybe others might find it useful.
![brian]](/community/data/avatars/m/21/21096.jpg?1456258959){kind=avatar}