Microlighters

http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/ ... 9/8685.pdf

Hey guys . The CAA report on last years tragedy. Well done to them. Very thorough. Maybe a wake up call to all of us once again.

Very sad

Be extra careful of wires in Namibie.
They are using DC current, this means that there is only one wire and very difficult to see.

Very sad. Have been on long cross country flights many times when the guys fly at below tree top height. This might be fun, but you are sticking your neck out seriously if a small telephone line happens to get in the way.

For me, I prefer to fly that height that I know will keep me clear of any obstacles should I not see them.

Accident investigation is not about pointing fingers, but about learning from the mistakes others made. I hope all the low flyers out there might learn from this.

Agreed FO. We have had this conversation so often in the past. Low flying over terrain you do not know like the palm of your hand. Even if you do , when last were you there? If no obstacles ... what about an engine out and not sufficient hight above ground and therefore time to do a successful calculated forced landing as Len did this weekend?
Low flying over chicken coops , game , bird sancturies , nature reserves , fisherman , CROWDS etc. Its a huge big NO NO ! We tend to think we are impressing people on the ground watching us zip by at low level but forget that we are most probably pissing them off ! Hence the many complaints againts gyros and microlights. If you are planning any manoeuvre outside safe piloting and you have the slightest doubt as to the outcome ... don't do it. When in doubt , CUT IT OUT!
So after this CAA report , the chapter on Filipes accident is closed for me. It does not have to be brought up again. We take note and measure ourselves , our egos , our airmanship , our attitudes and the limits we set on our personal capabilities and piloting skills against lessons learnt. Amen.

t-bird wrote:Very sad

Be extra careful of wires in Namibie.
They are using DC current, this means that there is only one wire and very difficult to see.

Hi T-bird

Although this will not make any differenc to the the report whatsoever, the so called powerlines is not a power line but an open wire telephone line traditionally used for the old nommer asseblief Telkom exchanges and it uses 2 wires but due to the fact that Telkom does not do maintenance on this lines anymore the other wire was probably stolen or broken of at that stage, the copper wire is only about 4mm thick and almost invisible from an aircraft.

I've seen numerous blick aeries taking part in the PTAR at Tempe that had prop strikes with these type of Telkom lines due to low flying during the race because they are basically invisible from an aircraft! Myself once had a close shave with one one of these when taking of with a trike from a gravel raod where one of these lines was crossing the road!

Negative Kalahari

They use DC lines in Namibie. It is cheaper and more effective than AC.
This was confirmed by the locals and the lines and post were quite new.
This was 3 weeks ago.

t-bird wrote:Negative Kalahari

They use DC lines in Namibie. It is cheaper and more effective than AC.
This was confirmed by the locals and the lines and post were quite new.
This was 3 weeks ago.

I do not understand, why would a DC line be a single line?

How can DC be more efficient? It is not easy to step up a DC voltage for a long run, high voltage low amps work better for long runs as the resistive losses are less. Generating DC power is more difficult as you need permanent magnets in your generators.

Nampower most definitely do not generate or distribute DC power in Namibia. Long distance lines in Namibia are 220 KV and 134 KV AC lines.

Hi Rudix

We are high jacking the thread.

Per wikkelpedia

A high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance distribution, HVDC systems are less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses. For shorter distances, the higher cost of DC conversion equipment compared to an AC system may be warranted where other benefits of direct current links are useful.

Apparently they use the earth as a negative.

There is also high tension wires that are DC current running through Botswana and Zambia

t-bird wrote:Hi Rudix

We are high jacking the thread.

Per wikkelpedia

A high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance distribution, HVDC systems are less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses. For shorter distances, the higher cost of DC conversion equipment compared to an AC system may be warranted where other benefits of direct current links are useful.

Apparently they use the earth as a negative.

There is also high tension wires that are DC current running through Botswana and Zambia

Yes, but that is not what Nampower is using !! Go look on their web page, they are busy upgrading their 66KV AC network to 134 and 220KV AC. Why I got involved here is that I have family working for Nampower....

HVDC is not used in many places in the world (only around 2% world wide), the DC conversion equipment is hellishly expensive....

Anyway, they still don't run just a single wire, just multiple of the same polarity.

Anyway, lets not hijack the thread

PS, ok, had a look, I see there is a 350 KV DC line running, or planned, from Zambia running along the Caprivi ultimately terminating in Gerus! Looks like Naminia is more pro-active that good old RSA....

Ruacana and Windhoek generate AC, the import line from Zambia will be DC then.

There are single strain AC line in the rural areas, splinting the 3 phase, to diff farm houses, mostly private lines supplied from Nampower.

The report mentions some extensive Fire damage and refers to a probable heavy fuel load. Now I for one am horrified of getting burnt in any form as I carry the scars on my legs from a Petrol Experiment when I were much younger. There were many other places I wanted to be than just being a Survivor of burn wounds at the time. Without suggesting in any form that the outcome from this mentioned and tragic accident could have been influenced by what I want to share, it is the pictures of the fire damage like shown in the report that really hits home for me. Some of us might have posted information on this before..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HdkC1sjyOo

If someone else like me freak out for a lighter hovering over a jerry can, this is not for you.... but I have stuffed my tank with it and hope never to prove the concept...

Centu Gyro

I have stuffed my tank with it and hope never to prove the concept...

IIRC there was a thread talking about this stuff some time ago - quick question: What happens to your fuel guage readings? Does this stuff stop the float arm in the fuel tank from being able to function?

OK... found the old thread here http://microlighters.co.za/viewtopic.ph ... 415f89cd25 perhaps we should take this fire discussion back there...

Hi everyone,
Getting back to the original thread. Yes it is great to fly low etc but when the Sh.t hits the fan, then we all feel sorry about it and take serious vows never to do it again. I was chatting to Flynote yesterday about this particular accident and was painted a picture of what he actually saw (he was there). I will openly admit to anyone that I used to fly low and pick mielies!!!
At the memorial service for Filipe, I vowed never again. It is never worth it, especially when you see his family and friends grieving.
Do we need more accidents like this before we learn a lesson? Let us all learn from this and fly at respectable heights and try and prevent the terrible aftermath that can be associated with this form of flying.