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Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav...and a Weather Watcher... 8-)...!

Fozzer wrote on Aug 11^th, 2010 at 7:48am:

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav...and a Weather Watcher... 8-)...!

Cumulus Granitus - associated with extremely lousy flying conditions.

AFAIK, the most common form of CFIT occurs on approaches  departures, and missed approaches, not so much in cruise flight, so extra altitude isn't much help there. The cause is usually a combination of increased work load, "get-there-itis" and pilot or equipment error. Double-check the nav and autopilot settings, make sure the plane is doing what you want it to do, and whenever possible, know where you are by dead reckoning.

This type of flying requires intimate knowledge of the terrain.  Often you're dependent on vertical visiblity and are following a ground feature, such as in their case perhaps a creek.  When that no longer becomes an option, the old one eighty is called for.  Many times one direction of turn is good - the other isn't.

Height:

My problem/error in the Sim, is having lots of fun flying at low level (500-1000 Feet AGL) in Mountainous regions, admiring the scenery all around me.
Should the weather suddenly deteriorate without warning, limiting visibility, etc, all directions, or I suffer an engine, etc, malfunction, I don't have sufficient height to get out of trouble, one way or another!

(I suspect Steve Fossett ran into this problem in the Sierra Nevada Mountains).

The glory of "Invincibility" in the Sim...which unfortunately doesn't exist in real life!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav...and nine lives?... ::).... ;)...!

Fozzer wrote on Aug 12^th, 2010 at 7:58am:

Height: My problem/error in the Sim, is having lots of fun flying at low level (500-1000 Feet AGL) in Mountainous regions, admiring the scenery all around me. Should the weather suddenly deteriorate without warning, limiting visibility, etc, all directions, or I suffer an engine, etc, malfunction, I don't have sufficient height to get out of trouble, one way or another! (I suspect Steve Fossett ran into this problem in the Sierra Nevada Mountains). The glory of "Invincibility" in the Sim...which unfortunately doesn't exist in real life! Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav...and nine lives?... ::).... ;)...!

Paul, I get the impression that regardless of simulator or real life, you'd still prefer to be down close to the trees so you could see what was going on.

olderndirt wrote on Aug 12^th, 2010 at 8:50pm:

Fozzer wrote on Aug 12th, 2010 at 7:58am: Height: My problem/error in the Sim, is having lots of fun flying at low level (500-1000 Feet AGL) in Mountainous regions, admiring the scenery all around me. Should the weather suddenly deteriorate without warning, limiting visibility, etc, all directions, or I suffer an engine, etc, malfunction, I don't have sufficient height to get out of trouble, one way or another! (I suspect Steve Fossett ran into this problem in the Sierra Nevada Mountains). The glory of "Invincibility" in the Sim...which unfortunately doesn't exist in real life! Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav...and nine lives?... ::).... ;)...! Paul, I get the impression that regardless of simulator or real life, you'd still prefer to be down close to the trees so you could see what was going on.

Its an quite education as to what goes on secretly amongst the seclusion of trees, especially in heavily populated areas!.... :-*...!

Balloonists are treated to the sound effects, as well.... :o...!

Paul... ;D... ;D... ;D...!

Fozzer wrote on Aug 12^th, 2010 at 7:58am:

Height: My problem/error in the Sim, is having lots of fun flying at low level (500-1000 Feet AGL) in Mountainous regions, admiring the scenery all around me. Should the weather suddenly deteriorate without warning, limiting visibility, etc, all directions, or I suffer an engine, etc, malfunction, I don't have sufficient height to get out of trouble, one way or another! (I suspect Steve Fossett ran into this problem in the Sierra Nevada Mountains). The glory of "Invincibility" in the Sim...which unfortunately doesn't exist in real life! Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav...and nine lives?... ::).... ;)...!

I believe the pervailing theory on Fossett's crash was he may have gotten caught in a mountain wave that swept him into the side of the hill.  Winds were reported to be fairly strong in that area, and conditions would have been ripe to create such a phenomenom.

Birds and bees lurk beneath the trees doing heaven knows what!