A surprise encounter with a Dragonfly
While filling in a couple of hours in Greymouth (West coast of New Zealand) before dropping off the hire car and catching the Trans Alpine train to Christchurch, I happened to find myself driving past the airport. This is a theme that seems to repeat itself when I am on holidays.
I spotted something that looked vaguely like a trike base or a stick insect on wheels.
Had to stop and find out more. Ian was in the process of setting up his Dragonfly, I didn't need to introduce myself, Ian was happy to share his experience with me, trike pilot or not. (Dr Ian DAVIDSON-WATTS, Environmental Services Manager, Grey District Council)
He said the Dragonfly is very sensitive to any turbulence and he chooses his days carefully. On some occasions having almost setup the Dragonfly, the wind picks up and he just has to give it away.
Not today though, not a breath of wind. It took Ian about 50 minutes to assemble the wing and prepare his trike for flight. From the outside it seemed quite fiddly and some brute strength was required in a couple of instances. The big advantage is that the base will fold up enough so that it will fit into the back of a medium sized SUV, wing on top and away you go.
While watching Ian I thought I heard the sound of a rotax two stroke engine. Sure enough he was expecting Drew from Hokitika. Drew Howat is a microlight instructor and the airport manager at Hokitika. Drew did the certification flight for Ian's Dragonfly, they believe that it was probably the first Dragonfly in NZ. Drew was flying up to meet Ian and they were then going to fly back to Hokitika together, about 40 kilometers along a very scenic coastal route.
Drew was flying a Pegasus 65 Hp two stroke. He was going to visit some friend from the air as they traveled back down the coast. The Pegasu cruises at nearly 50 knots and the Dragonfly 30 knots, Drew was going to have to do some circle work along the way.
The day was overcast, about 16 degrees, not a breath of wind. Ian took off directly to the south Drew followed a few minutes later - did a couple of low passes for the camera and was away.
How good it would have been to fire up 2473 and join them in the flight down the coast.
PS
May and June are the best flying months (cool) in this part of NZ (west coast), Drew suggested that it might be a good idea to ship some trikes over and have a fly around his part of NZ. Not as many trikes as a percentage on the registrar as Australia.
At the northern end of the runway at Greymouth is the Grey river valley. And at certain times there is a very vicious wind that flows down the valley and is called “the barber” Many pilots have had a close shave here!
c/- Drew Howat, P O Box 135, Hokitika, Westland - Ph (03) 755 7820
Recreational Aircraft Association of NZ
I spotted something that looked vaguely like a trike base or a stick insect on wheels.
Had to stop and find out more. Ian was in the process of setting up his Dragonfly, I didn't need to introduce myself, Ian was happy to share his experience with me, trike pilot or not. (Dr Ian DAVIDSON-WATTS, Environmental Services Manager, Grey District Council)
He said the Dragonfly is very sensitive to any turbulence and he chooses his days carefully. On some occasions having almost setup the Dragonfly, the wind picks up and he just has to give it away.
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| This is my idea of how a wind sock should look! |
While watching Ian I thought I heard the sound of a rotax two stroke engine. Sure enough he was expecting Drew from Hokitika. Drew Howat is a microlight instructor and the airport manager at Hokitika. Drew did the certification flight for Ian's Dragonfly, they believe that it was probably the first Dragonfly in NZ. Drew was flying up to meet Ian and they were then going to fly back to Hokitika together, about 40 kilometers along a very scenic coastal route.
Drew was flying a Pegasus 65 Hp two stroke. He was going to visit some friend from the air as they traveled back down the coast. The Pegasu cruises at nearly 50 knots and the Dragonfly 30 knots, Drew was going to have to do some circle work along the way.
The day was overcast, about 16 degrees, not a breath of wind. Ian took off directly to the south Drew followed a few minutes later - did a couple of low passes for the camera and was away.
How good it would have been to fire up 2473 and join them in the flight down the coast.
May and June are the best flying months (cool) in this part of NZ (west coast), Drew suggested that it might be a good idea to ship some trikes over and have a fly around his part of NZ. Not as many trikes as a percentage on the registrar as Australia.
At the northern end of the runway at Greymouth is the Grey river valley. And at certain times there is a very vicious wind that flows down the valley and is called “the barber” Many pilots have had a close shave here!
| West Coast Microlight Club | |
Recreational Aircraft Association of NZ
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