Flying video moved to www.plasticpilot.net

Dear reader,

given its succes, and to make things easier to manage, but also easier to read for you, this blog has been moved to www.plasticpilot.net

I'm sorry if this cause any inconvenience to you, but hope to see you there soon !

PlasticPilot

Buochs in a DA40 TDI

This is a video showing an approach via the Brunig Pass, a landing, take-off and air-view of Buochs (LSZC) airport. This airport is the place where all Pilatus aircrafts are built ! It was historically a military airport, and became usable for civilians a few years ago.

The approach is easy as the runway is long, but the surrounding moutains make it a bit different.

Helicopter taxiing on ground

Usually helicopters get airborne directly from their pads, but sometimes not. So they have to taxi, just as planes. Some have to to that flying at very low level, and some like the Doplhin can actually taxi being powered by their rotor.

Swiss airfields series 2 - Les Eplatures - Zurich - Geneva

This video shows landings in Les Eplatures (LSGC), Zurich (LSZH) and Geneva (LSGG), flying with a DA40 TDI, a C172, and a C172 TDI.

Swiss airfields series 1 - Sion - Gruyere - Lausanne in a DA40 TDI

This is the first of a multi-airfield series. It contains a take-off from Sion (LSGS), a take-off from Gruyere (LSGT), and two landings in Lausanne (LSGL), all in a DA40 TDI.

Sion is in the Rhone Valley, it's a bit narrow, but very easy. Taking-off from Gruyere is a bit touchy, as it is a grass runway of less than 800 meters, with quite high obstructions. Observe the acceleration while flying in ground effect.

Lausanne's runway 18 is not so exactly easy as well, because of the power lines on short final, and the downslope, but it is concrete... nevertheless go-arounds are quite frequent.

DA40 landing in Sion (LSGS)

This movie has been taken from the cockpit of a DA40 TDI flying into Sion airport (LSGS) in the Rhone Valley. On short final, one can see the net used to stop military jets. Obviously the net is down on this movie !

Samedan in a DA40 TDI

The airport of Samedan (LSZS) is the highest airport in europe (altiports excluded). It is in a valley in eastern Switzerland, and its altitude is 5'600 ft !

The two movies in this post show a landing and take-off there, with a DA40 TDI, three persons on board. Look how looooong the take-off roll is !
Landing




Take-off

Landing filmed from above !

This video shows an Aer Lingus (Ireland) airliner landing. The interesting thing is the angle, as it is filmed from above. It has been made on a VFR flight lading in Geneva, while overflying the airport to join right-hand circuit for runway 23 grass.

The framing is not so good, but hey, it's not so easy to film an aircraft on a different trajectory, from the side, with a high zoom factor.

Courchevel in a Cessna 172

Courchevel is a well known french altiport, requiring a site qualification. Given how steep the runway is, and that there is no go-arroud option.

When no AFIS is present to give QNH to pilot, the procedure is to fly at the height of a teleski station, which is at 7'200 ft, and set the altimeter at this time.

The take-off is really easy given the slope, despite being even more impressive than the take-off.

Touch and go on Geneva main runway

This is a video of a touch and go on Geneva main runway 23, which is 4 kilometers long... using an AS202 Bravo basic trainer. You will understand what long final means ;-)

Thanks to tower who gave me a very early line-up this day... and allowed a touch and go on main runway.

IFR in IMC in a Cessna 172

Many VFR pilots are tempted to fly through a cloud, to see how it looks like. Resisting this temptation is vital, to avoid spatial disorientation and collision. If you want to see how it is, have a look at this video. It has been made while flying under IFR... see how quick the plane approaches the cloud !