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"Now we are cooking"
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| It has been just a couple of times when the wind has been as mild as
it was today. Only 1m/s (~2.2mph) so practically nothing at all compared
to some operations. Temperature was about freezing point, some places below
and some abobe, but no wind. |
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| I started carefully to my first outing of the day. Still managed to
do 180 and face the willows on riverbank. With the help of others i could
turn the bow away and throttle up river. I listened to every sound from
the drive system and didn't go that far at all in the beginning. Everything
seemed to work OK so i headed upstream to get speed up. Finally lamprey
traps had been removed and i hadn't run over them is i accidentally did
last time. I made a turn and headed back this time i took the "veggy" route
just because the fun of it. Engine worked perfectly and hovercrafting was
again fun. I got back to hoverport straight ashore this time with perfect
landing without additional help from others. We checked the coolant level
and it was OK, so back to testing. I opened inspection hatch i had put
earlier in the fan bay forward wall. It's placed just where radiator is
located inside the fan bay. Idea is to use heat from radiotor to warm cabin
without complicated additional parts. |
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| Second outing started as it always should. I went upstream for 500m
(0.3mls) using "veggy" route and got back (using "veggy" route). I got
little carried away when passing the hoverport and had way too much speed
and almost hit the neighbours sauna building while doing desperate manoeuvering
in tight turns downstream from hoverport. I had to take it easier and while
going slowly downstream i checked the cabin to see if it has warmed up
any. What i noticed was thick steam all over the cabin. It was warmer than
outside, but also damp. I didn't know at first what it was, so i shut down
the engine but soon realized that this is not a good way to warm the interior
of the hovercraft. I guess when i pick up speed there isn't so much spray
forced through radiotor into the cabin, but when running under hump speed
could be unpleasent for the passengers. I put the hatch back on and headed
back to hoverport. |
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| None of crew was interested in taking a ride allthough sun was actually
shining and there was no wind at all. Still i wanted to go for a last spin
for the day. Two succesful take-off's in a row and headed for familiar
route around the closest islands in the area. At the bay there was thick
fog closing in, but i wanted to try out something i haven't dare to try
yet: I crossed a small rocky island on my way and actually there was nothing
to it. Time to get back before sun sets down. Again i managed to park the
craft in place without much of additional help from others and now my hovercraft
is ready for next operation. |