{"id":9062,"date":"2014-06-28T09:33:58","date_gmt":"2014-06-28T16:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=9062"},"modified":"2014-06-28T09:33:58","modified_gmt":"2014-06-28T16:33:58","slug":"irena-raymond-flying-sunseeker-duo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/irena-raymond-flying-sunseeker-duo\/","title":{"rendered":"Irena Raymond on Flying the Sunseeker Duo"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few days after posting the entry on the Raymond\u2019s first cross country flight in their new solar-powered Sunseeker Duo, your editor received followups from Irena and Eric.\u00a0 First, Irena shares her impressions of what sounds like a beautiful flight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur XC flight with Duo was a great experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, because I don’t like too many surprises, I tried to prepare myself as best as possible for this expedition. I was studying the aeronautical chart to get more familiar with the Italian airspace and possible restrictions, looking also at the terrain and possible out landings (just in case. of course).<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then the day of our flight was coming, bringing us a clear, sunny morning. At the noon time, there was not much thermal activity at our area, but far in the mountains we saw towering cumulus. And the GO decision was done.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything went smoothly; with the help of the motor we reached first soarable hills. We have been thermalling for a while and then we decided to go above the clouds. The words cannot express the beauty of the view when flying in between and above the clouds.\u00a0 It is like being in a sweet dream.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was flying almost half of the time and I am becoming used to a long wing span. Before, I was flying mostly the DA20 and 15 meter wing span gliders, now Duo requires being much stronger on the rudder, in the turbulent conditions also on the stick. I enjoy thermalling with Duo, it allows\u00a0me to fly very slowly: I was able to fly it at only 30 mph and this makes it very efficient for climbing.<\/p>\n

\"Propeller<\/a>

Propeller turning quietly, Sunseeker Duo on trip from Veghora to Pavullo, Italy<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIn spite of the long wing span, it was easy to store the Duo in the Pavullo Aeroclub\u2019s hangar because we folded the wings. I never really liked assembling\u00a0and disassembling gliders because the wings are so heavy, especially for a woman. Duo, with so light wings is excellent so that. I can easily help Eric with [this task].<\/p>\n

\u201cNext morning we faced a surprise – strong NW wind (that means the strong headwind all the way back to our home base).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe takeoff was really scary to me because of the rotors behind a hill. Later on we climbed again above the clouds and we even experienced the convergence. Eric has a lot of experience with that, for me it was the first time to fly in the convergence: unbelievably smooth, like flying in wave lift.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A happy Irena having completed the first ever dual solar cross-country flight<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt was surprisingly easy to come back to Voghera and I was happy to make very smooth landing. I am proud getting more and more experiences with not just flying the Duo, but also with takeoffs and landings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric had a concern with the photos your editor had chosen for the entry, and made a helpful suggestion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it would be better if you used at least one picture with the prop turning, such as the one in front of the clouds.\u00a0 Otherwise I get more criticism that this is \u2018just a glider, and not even a good one\u2019, which I hear all the time.\u00a0 We have plenty of stock\u00a0photos of the plane taking off, but I hear people\u00a0believing that it gets towed up by another plane, which is not true.\u00a0 It does not have a tow hook.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to focus on the power side, which is important, The DUO is taking off with passengers up to 85 kg (187 pounds) and climbing at a good steep angle on 15 kW (20.1 horsepower) motor power.\u00a0The climb rate is between 1.5 to 2 meters per second. \u00a0It has also taken off and climbed with only 5 kW (6.7 hp) \u2013 also with a passenger, but not much climb rate.\u00a0 Altitude does not\u00a0degrade the climb rate, at least not at 13,000 feet: we have not explored higher yet in the DUO.” \u00a0Readers can see the previously included video of the Duo performing quite capably here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Seeing<\/a>

Seeing an alpine glacier at an altitude Eric enjoys. His canopy opens, allowing him to hold camera out in the slipstream<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIn the single seat SUNSEEKER, it climbs just the same at 22,000 ft, and we expect the DUO to be similar.\u00a0 The key factor is being efficient enough to slowly climb on the direct solar power.\u00a0 Then with patience you can get very high.\u00a0 Getting permission to be up there is another factor, and air traffic controllers expect you to transition out of their airspace, so they\u00a0do not need to keep keeping track of you.\u00a0 Since I often appear stationary to them compared to a jet, a\u00a0typical question is; \u2018What are your intentions?\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Over<\/a>

Over the Cordilleras of central Spain – not Piper Cub low and not jumbo jet high<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhile you can see really far from high altitude, something majestic like the Alps starts to\u00a0look like just some rocks and snow from 22,000 ft.\u00a0 I prefer to be at altitudes where I can see the details on the ground.\u00a0 Erosion patterns in Spain, the cracks in glaciers, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n

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