ZU-DVE (and ZS-WUO) (and ZEE) Flight Log

[gertcoetzee]

http://www.mapmytracks.com/explore/activity/807274

http://www.mapmytracks.com/explore/activity/807280

Almost there!

[Grumpy]

Well done Gert. Huge achievement.

[gertcoetzee]

On Monday I flew my 1000th hour with my friend Steffen. As I was approaching the 1000th hour, I decided that once I've reached that milestone, I am going to upgrade. During the first week of January I am doing my conversion for the upgrade, with the Zee currently reaching completion.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgrk8Mhp ... I-BP2D6cUQ

[kloot piloot]

1000

1000 op die klok en in die kop ! Min mense kan dit sê !

Woopeeeeeee ! Well done Gert !

[gerhard rossouw KR2]

Fantastiese prestasie Gert!

[gertcoetzee]

Now got the ZEE, the conversion, the licence, looking for the lift.

[gertcoetzee]

http://youtu.be/DkKpy339UnE

a Flip with the Zee (the white rocks on the side are at 10m intervals)

[gertcoetzee]

Been some time since I posted something here. I still fly, though not that often. Currently I have ZS-WUO at Morningstar, and ZU-DVE at Aurora (near Piketberg), and have recently done my MPL renewal with Johan van Wyk. I also started to fly the ZEE, a motorised hang glider two years ago. The Zee is basically a micro microlight, all up weight less than 150kg in my case. The wing is a tandem hang glider wing, the enjin the same as a powered paragliders' and the cart is manufactured by Johan Anderson.

Flying is the same as a microlight, ground handling in the slightest wind terrible.

This past weekend I flew at Aurora, and did some 5 landings before I noticed rain coming in. I decided to land and "taxi" to my hangar as soon as possible, but was not able to make progress against the gustfront. I decided to commit to a landing, and really landed as if I was flying a gyro - with no roll! (see video below) Then I tried to taxi, but stuggled against the wind, and decided to drop the wing before the real wind hit me. In the process I could not dislodge the wing, and when I could, I collapsed it on the boom of the cart, snapping that.

I now need a new axis (bent it) and new boom, but I think of stronger steel than used before. Anyone in Cape Town area who can assist me? I will make up for the increased weight by losing weight.

I have posted a couple of videos in a dropbox, if anyone cares to look and comment:

Videos are
M1 - a compilation of the landings and bad landing - over 500M though
last landing - the last landing into wind and
how to break - showing me struggling and snapping
also a google track (from mapmytracks) and rtf explaining M1


See http://www.mapmytracks.com/explore/acti ... ef=Default



https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

[Tumbleweed]

Always enjoy your posts but cant' open any videos.

[kloot piloot]

Gert
Very nice ! Is that the WW Falcon 3 wing?

Can't you get some 6068 or 7075 tubing from Solowings or Jenya for the boom and sleeve it? It should be a lot stronger, because that break in the clip just looked too easy.

[gertcoetzee]

That is a Wills Wing Falcon tandem wing.

I've discussed with Johan, and hopefully he will manufacture me something stronger. He is adamant that the existing configuration is fine, and that it is a "operator" fault, which I accept. I just feel it should have some buffer for operator fault.

In a discussion, Johan says two things which I have taken to heart. (1) I am rounding out too early, which exposed me (with the very lightweight set-up) to gusts and wind gradients. (2) when rigging, and de-rigging, the wing must be kept in a neutral position, if it is too positive, the wing will blow over (which was my fear) and if it is too negative the downward force will be too much (which is what happened).

Is there anyone in Cape area who can help with manufacturing of stronger components?