Reply-To: <ed@testelectronics.com>
Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
From: "Ed Armstrong" <ed@testelectronics.com>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Re: LNC2: Hard Landing Experience
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 16:32:51 -0700
Message-ID: <000001c030b6$e9aca200$0100a8c0@Design>
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In-Reply-To: <20001007044235.AAA2384@ns1.olsusa.com>
Disposition-Notification-To: "Ed Armstrong" <ed@testelectronics.com>
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Kernville almost killed me too. I went in there worshipping the almighty
pilot gods that fly in and out of there. They told me the best way to fly
into Kernville, and the way the locals do it is before 9am or after 5pm. For
you guys that don't know, Kernville is a little airport in the middle of a
small narrow valley next to a small lake surrounded by mountains and cliffs
that are almost 10,000 feet high. The wind whips through this place
unpredictably as can be. I went in there in my Aerobatic Beechcraft
Sundowner around noon. The wind was 15 knots straight down runway 35.
Doesn't sound bad, right? I came over the mountains at 12,000 feet and
spiraled down over the lake, a nice big open area. When I got to about 6,000
feet all hell broke loose. I could barely control the plane. I was pitched
almost 90degrees a few times. At times I hit updrafts and couldn't descend,
then I would hit the downdrafts and drop like a rock. All the gyroscopic
instruments were bouncing around illegibly. Even the airspeed indicator was
illegible at times, that is how rough it was. Just as I was thinking I
should abort, it would get smooth, but then it would get rough again. I had
to fly over the airport and down this narrow valley surrounded by high
mountains and cliffs which generated all kinds of whirlwinds. Then I had to
turn around 180 degrees in this narrow valley without getting close to the
mountain sides because the whirlwinds are more powerful the closer you get
to these huge cliffs. I did it though, I turned around and landed, no flaps
and 90 knots, floated down the runway, it is a long runway. The air was nice
and smooth for me once I got over the runway. I was just lucky that there
wasn't any major turbulence over the runway when I was there. I was really
scared, my arms were sore, It was a better workout than lifting weights. I
waited until after 5:00pm to leave, While I was waiting in the airport
restaurant, a tourist came in wanting to get the wind speed for an accident
report. The wind had ripped his kayak off the top of his car and smashed it
into another car. It is unbelievable all this with just 15 knots wind speed,
it tells you that the mountains just concentrate and amplify the winds at
random points.  Leaving after 5:00pm was still a wild ride. I flew out over
the lake and spiraled up from there. It took about 45 minutes just to get to
12,000 feet. I was wishing I had my 360 done then. At times the updrafts
were pushing me up at 2500 ft/min when I typically only get about 500
ft/min. But then I would get into the downdrafts that would pull me down at
1000ft/min. In my opinion, the downdrafts were more prevalent than the
updrafts. Just had to try to stay in the updrafts. Kernville is a beautiful
place that is well known for whitewater rafting and kayaking. Last year is
when I went there. At that time they were selling cabins up high on the
mountain sides overlooking the lake with astounding views for under $40K. I
was thinking about getting one, but then I realized that I have to spend all
my free time working on my 360. Maybe in a few years. I'm only about 10%
into my project so I can't say too much, but it just seems to me, since you
have built one, it will not take nearly as long or as much work for you to
build another one. Don't feel bad about wrecking in Kernville, I think it is
by far the hardest airport in California. Pilots beware, in my opinion,
anyone who doesn't wreck between 9am and 5pm is just lucky.

Regards,
Ed Armstrong
Watsonville CA.


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