Janet

My Opinion on Ditching a trike in water- Very Likely Deadly!!: Revision

Last updated by XC Triker

Categories: Tech, Equipment, Training / Learning to Fly a Trike, Safety

This is my opinion only, after having thought about it for some time:

I was chatting here with a student pilot, who was showing a link where he flies at-  Lots of big lakes nearby.

 

Hey, I checked out your google map, nice place to flyWatch out for flying over water.  Hey, since you're a newby, I thought I'd warn you about flying low over water-- BAD idea.  You would think it's probably safer to ditch ("water crash landing") in a trike than an enclosed airplane, but a trike is an absolute death trap in water:

First, the bar will slam into your chest, probably rendering you incapacitated.  Then the heavy rear of the trike will sink first, while the wing floats a little, keeping the bar pressed hard against your chest pinning you into the seat.  The wires, training bars behind your shoulder now, helmet/cables, belts, etc will help trap you, and the wing will be over your head.  No air pocket will be trapped in the cabin to give you a bit of time.
 
Also, you do not want any automatic (self inflating) life vest is bad as well because it will prevent you from being able to swim down and out from under the wing.  I have an immersion suit (I got when we flew the San Juans in Puget Sound near you, and a manually inflating life vest.
 
If I ever have to ditch in water, my plan is to steer as close to a boat or land as possible, then blow the BRS chute at the last 500 feet or so,, then extract myself with feet over the side so I can jump in at last moment. 

That is not an easy task either-- FAA studies show it is difficult to judge what height to jump, but I'm sure that not getting free first will be much worse.

Student: San Juans are beautiful in the summer.......I guess you would have to fly high enough so that you could glide to a terra firma spot to put down
Me: Yes. In fact, I made an Excel spreadsheet that automatically calculates your "safe" altitude to make any crossing.  I need to get those up here to share.  I'm hoping that @Knussear will give me a hand on that.
 
Student: Woa look at you go......are you a bit of a computer wiz?
Me: No, it's not hard.   I realized a while ago, that Excel is easier than a calculator.
On a calculator you have to enter the calculations every time, correctly, over and over.
 
Just figure out the math (like you would for a calculator)  and do it once in excel and it's there for you forever smile
Student: Sez you. Ive tried that stuff and found it a little frustrating
Me: nah.   Here's a typical formula   "=A1 * 5"  Multiplies cell A1 by 5.   Simple!
simple math, simple formulas.  I thought it was going to be hard as well, but it's not.  With some practice you can do some cool stuff.  Just like walking, put one cell / formula in front of the other, just like a calculator, but easier.