RV-12 Blogger by David Valcik

Thursday, October 2, 2014

RV12 formation practice

Today Mark and I scheduled a formation practice session. Scott was the safety pilot in Marks plane. We were a flight of 2 RV12s. After about an hour of class review we started our flight briefing. I was the lead or #1 ship. The sortie was to be about 45 minutes long. Practicing very basic maneuvers; starting with an interval take-off, joins, breaks, strong left and right, cross unders, and trail.

We set a hard deck of 2000 with no more 30* bank and 15* pitch. Our speed was 90 kts for this practice session, which seems to be a good speed for a 4 ship element.

Short 5 min video shot from inside the cockpit and the GoPro on the wing tip, unfortunately I put the camera on the left side and most of the maneuvers were on the right. (Still got some good footage)

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Nice fall weekend - 3 RV12’s to Cherry Ridge N30

3 RV12’s to Cherry Ridge for breakfast. Brent C flew to KPTW to join Mark B and me for 3 ship loose flight. Brent finished his plane in Jan and is heading to the paint shop very soon. He is picking the design and from the sample drawings it will be a beautiful bird.
YouTube video by Brent C

Brent landing @ KPTW to join up with N470MB and N25DV below.

We all took off around 9:15 heading north. Our flight plan would take us east of Allentown heading to Cherry Ridge. On our way back we chose to take a western track of Allentown. The colors in the trees were brighter the further East of Allentown. My guess the will hit the best colors next weekend.

Mike S - co pilot in N25DV

He got some stick time to prepare for the flight of their RV12 in a few months.

Mark's and My APRS tracks

Brent's new bird in the air

Mark B and I in a little formation for part of the trip

@ Cherry Ridge

On the back to KPTW

Great Day of flying - I will post a few pics from Mark's and Brent camera later today

Photos from Brent camera

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Flight to celebrate the life of a pilot friend

We flew over to Cross keys NJ for a get-together to celebrate the life of a pilot friend of ours. Mark and I met up in the air over his airport and flew underneath the Philly class B space. Flight altitude was 1600 ft just under the 2000 ft floor for the first ring. Nice day to fly, a short 25 min trip by air versus a 1:20 drive.

Delaware river - Philly off of the left wing (above) and Wilmington off of the right wing (below)

Parked at Cross Keys, NJ

Mark's and my track

We met up with another pilot and then went to the house. On our way out we flew in loose trail over the house and then headed back. I chose to drop down to 1200 ft and fly under the 1500 ft ring in PHIL class b space, this even shorted the trip cutting the corner.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Why we fly....

There are many reasons I and others fly, just a few of mine -

the freedom of leaving the earth
the focus on the task of flying with the feeling there is nothing else going on in the world except the focus on flying
very rewarding feeling to know as a pilot you are in a very small club and even smaller number of pilot builders
my favorite is sharing the passion of flying with people and other pilots.

It is always a privilege to share flight with young adult through programs like young eagles. I like to believe you will occasionally inspire a future pilot. Another way I enjoy flight is to share the flight with a student pilot or a new pilot and that's what brings me to write today’s blog.

I know Rich through a pilot’s web forum and have shared ideas and thoughts about flying. He was just finishing his pilot training and about to take his check-ride. Last fall I invited him to join me on a flight to a local fly-in. the flight was a short 45 min trip. The flight was good, he got a little stick time with the RV12. Rich was ready for his check ride and demonstrated that he would not have any problems with the test standards. We causally discussed the exam and standards for the sport pilot license.

Today I received an email from Rich. He is a proud owner of a Sport Cruiser similar to the pictures below.

Rich’s email below;

Hi Dave,

I just purchased a 2011 SportCruiser… 225 hours… absolutely mint.

Very unique opportunity!

Dave, I wanted to say thank you again for that flight with you.

It really made an impression on me:

first time to a small local fly-in and experience of PA by air

** But mostly how you were so meticulous about your aircraft and the way you use it.

Everything was highly organized and precise.

Seriously… I've flown with quite a few people… many very good pilots and owners…

but there was just something that impressed me about the way you did it…

… the little details at your fingertips. Like the checklist and tunes on the 796 etc.

… but not just that… it kind of carried over to everything. It was a MINDSET.

It was like "Ahhhh… so this is how you do it right when you have your own plane."

Hope you are doing well in a happy marriage, new job & flying.

See you at a fly-in!!

best,

- R

I am almost as happy as he is with his new baby. One more pilot with a beautiful plane to continue sharing the passion of flight.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Air to Air photos of my friends planes on the way to Breakfast in my Rv12

I flew to breakfast, Sky Manor (N40), with a few friends. Peg couldn't go due to home work (Yuk), so Al was co-pilot. We met up with Mark and Nora in the air over Pottstown @ 2500 feet. We had prearranged to fly formation and shoot some pics of Marks’ very nice RV9. The workmanship on this bird is unbelievable. I also talked to Joe at the hanger before leaving and also planned on a few formation photos of his nice T34 in route. A little harder for him to slow down enough for my Slow Plane! (LOL)

Great day for flying very clear, winds 8 kts from the north, 69 deg, and the view was unbelievable. We could see the Philly and NY skylines from the air.