It's not smart, but it can be fun. I've done things because they were fun and afterwards realized they were not smart, in fact, pretty ****ing stupid. Hes not scud running because there's not any scud, he's just flying very low. Probably about 5' I would guess, and the problem with being really really low and scud running (besides the fact that scud running is inherently stupid in most cases) is that visibility is usually limited too. Hence why scud running at 5' is a bad idea. Or really any scud running.
straightforward stupidity.
hopefully he was alone on the airplane and the structure and people clearances were met.
If a pilot wants to get a thrill while risking HIS LIFE and NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE OR PROPERTY then to each his own.
This is precisely why I decided to own my own airplane instead of renting one.. This appears to be a possible rental? http://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N8447W
Why? What do you think is happening to this plane that affects it any more than you flying your plane at 5000'?
Why? Because people treat rented property different than if it were their own.. Mr.Top Gun might do things at altitude that may stress the airframe? I'm a collision tech in the automotive industry.. I repair rentals quite often. Rental homes, cars, boats and I'm sure airplanes take a beating.
The registration is expired. Maybe he killed it http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=8447W
The registration is expired. Maybe he killed it http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=8447W
What do you see that stresses anything? When you spend hours everyday flying along and maneuvering 3' off the deck spraying crap, this is normal flying without having to worry about about your chemical application system.
While you perceive this as "Top Gun" type flying, it really is nothing of the sort. He was not doing anything with the plane that was remotely abrupt. If you understand the limitations and how to compensate for them, there is nothing particularly dangerous or abusive to the aircraft in that video.
I think the biggest risk here is hitting something on the ground that is not seen until it's too late.
He's free to decide to do this, and yes, it does look fun, it's just not a choice I would make.
I never said anything in this video was stressing the airplane.. It's what he does and doesn't post that might concern me..
Where is it going to hide? even when a plow is hidden in the crop, if I am not in the crop, I will not hit the plow. If the plow is not hidden in the crop, I see the plow long before I hit it.
Most of the rivers I have seen have wires strung across them somewhere.
Most fields I spray have wires at the end, if yo see sky under them, you clear. He'd be under most all lines. Besides, in country like that you are in more danger of lines at 100' than 3'.
About 3 miles east of the airport, the airplane impacted a 20-foot-high power line, which resulted in the vertical stabilizer separating from the top of the fuselage and the airplane becoming uncontrollable until it impacted terrain. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A parallel set of high-tension power lines with large support poles was located about 1/2 mile east of the impacted power line. As the pilot flew the airplane at a low altitude eastbound, the high-tension power lines likely visually aligned (that is, came within the same line of sight) with the impacted power line. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot was focused on the more prominent high-tension power lines and did not observe the impacted power line.
It's the ones you don't see that you hit. My dad and grandpa clipped a couple in there 70 years combined of crop dusting. Got pretty luck each time. Never did they hit a line they knew was there.
About a year ago a guy in his early 20s took his girlfriend up in a local rental Arrow. He was doing a bunch of low passes over farm fields. They hit a powerline and two fatalities was a result.
NTSB probable cause:
The crop dusters that live an entire career don't go on the deck around fields until they've very carefully located all the lines. Most people playing crop duster don't put any thought towards it and just start buzzing **** figuring they'll see them and well they pay the price.
Why is there an assumption the pilot filming this was not aware of the wires and other obstructions on the route? What is see in this thread is somebody scared of something they don't fully understand and are seeking validation for their fear. The person flying in the video demonstrated nothing but competence.
Are there some precautions to take when preparing to do this? Yes, they are well known precautions, why is there an assumption they weren't taken?
There isn't in my mind. Quite frankly I could careless what the hell that guy does above that river. Provided he doesn't clip me when I'm fishing.
Exactly, personally I like traveling at low levels and get waved at as I pass farms below the top of their silo. It's one of the primary reasons I like traveling in twins. With the 310 I would have to be in some high mountains to not be able to abide by the 'safe landing' stipulation since it could keep flying on one pretty damn well.
It's really nothing about balls or a death wish or adrenaline, it's the view I like. You see a lot of detail down low, and at 165kts, you see a lot of it.
I don't mind flying that low in the Flybaby at 80 knots but at 165 knots I want to be above 2,000 AGL. My eyes are too old for that down low ****. I just don't find it relaxing at all to be at cell phone antenna altitude when I'm traveling the length of a football field every second.
It's not smart, but it can be fun. I've done things because they were fun and afterwards realized they were not smart, in fact, pretty ****ing stupid. Hes not scud running because there's not any scud, he's just flying very low. Probably about 5' I would guess, and the problem with being really really low and scud running (besides the fact that scud running is inherently stupid in most cases) is that visibility is usually limited too. Hence why scud running at 5' is a bad idea. Or really any scud running.