Something you don't see everyday. Please don't criticize. Nor should you go out and try this. Just cool to see someone actually have the balls to try it. Have always wondered about the Zenith skiing and its fuselage as it curves up in front of the mains. The video is also pretty cool.

Please don't sit there when you see this and type about how dumb this is or its just a matter time bit. Or better yet, why? We all know it's not something you should really try in a nose wheel aircraft but I thought sharing the photo just because it's an awesome display of huge brass balls! That's all. Enjoy or don't

AKT


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That horizontal tail on the Zenith is definitely designed to generate a LOT of tail down force, which is working in one's favor in such an unstable condition. Glad it worked out for him.

This is an experienced poster, folks. He knows when the conditions in the forum call for high douchebag/uppity factor forecast, and has applied the necessary disclaimers.

The Zenith wing can maintain a ridiculously high angle of attack before stalling too. That helps for this kind of maneuver.

Sweet picture!


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Zzz wrote:This is an experienced poster, folks. He knows when the conditions in the forum call for high douchebag/uppity factor forecast, and has applied the necessary disclaimers.

Ok, that right there was funny just because it is so damn true.

Great post. Don't think I'll ever try that except maybe the first day after I remove the floats.

high douchebag/uppity factor forecast

Is this an accepted technical term.

Very cool!
I'd like to see the video.

Video

What kind of wing loading, pounds/hp, does this Zenith have? Great demonstration of precise control.

Wing loading is 9#
Power is 13.75
Useful is around 500#

aktahoe1 wrote:Something you don't see everyday. Please don't criticize. Nor should you go out and try this. Just cool to see someone actually have the balls to try it. Have always wondered about the Zenith skiing and its fuselage as it curves up in front of the mains. The video is also pretty cool.

Please don't sit there when you see this and type about how dumb this is or its just a matter time bit. Or better yet, why? We all know it's not something you should really try in a nose wheel aircraft but I thought sharing the photo just because it's an awesome display of huge brass balls! That's all. Enjoy or don't

AKT


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I won't say any of those things. I will say that I wouldn't try it myself--I'd undoubtedly dunk my airplane, and that would be very, very hard to explain to investigators from the FAA, NTSB, and my insurance company, and my family would undoubtedly have me committed.

Cary

Any chance you might post the video on Youtube or Vimeo? It's a great demonstration of precise control.

Haha, very cool. And why not!

That is awesome! Hows the guy get his balls in the plane?

Either balls like grapefruit, or somebody that REALLY knows their plane inside and out. My plane and I are on good speaking terms, but we don't know each other all that well. We surprise each other too often to try something like this. I envy their relationship.

Cary wrote:

aktahoe1 wrote:Something you don't see everyday. Please don't criticize. Nor should you go out and try this. Just cool to see someone actually have the balls to try it. Have always wondered about the Zenith skiing and its fuselage as it curves up in front of the mains. The video is also pretty cool.

Please don't sit there when you see this and type about how dumb this is or its just a matter time bit. Or better yet, why? We all know it's not something you should really try in a nose wheel aircraft but I thought sharing the photo just because it's an awesome display of huge brass balls! That's all. Enjoy or don't

AKT


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I won't say any of those things. I will say that I wouldn't try it myself--I'd undoubtedly dunk my airplane, and that would be very, very hard to explain to investigators from the FAA, NTSB, and my insurance company, and my family would undoubtedly have me committed.

Cary

Just could not help yourself!!!!!
As I could not myself!!

M6RV6 wrote:

Cary wrote:

aktahoe1 wrote:Something you don't see everyday. Please don't criticize. Nor should you go out and try this. Just cool to see someone actually have the balls to try it. Have always wondered about the Zenith skiing and its fuselage as it curves up in front of the mains. The video is also pretty cool.

Please don't sit there when you see this and type about how dumb this is or its just a matter time bit. Or better yet, why? We all know it's not something you should really try in a nose wheel aircraft but I thought sharing the photo just because it's an awesome display of huge brass balls! That's all. Enjoy or don't

AKT


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I won't say any of those things. I will say that I wouldn't try it myself--I'd undoubtedly dunk my airplane, and that would be very, very hard to explain to investigators from the FAA, NTSB, and my insurance company, and my family would undoubtedly have me committed.

Cary

Just could not help yourself!!!!!
As I could not myself!!

Actually, my intended finger-wagging was at me, i.e., "don't you dare trying something like that, Cary!" What others do with their airplanes is up to them, as long as they don't endanger others in the process. I'm always impressed by those whose skills far eclipse mine, who successfully ride the ragged edge of their airplanes' capabilities, who make the difficult look easy. I know that none of that actually comes easily but takes hours and hours of practice to develop those skills. I also know that although probably I could be a better pilot than I am, I could never develop that level of skill, as it's just not in me.

Cary

Cary wrote:I also know that although probably I could be a better pilot than I am, I could never develop that level of skill, as it's just not in me.

Cary

Not with that attitude you can't!

Just kidding Cary, it's important to know our personal limits. Just thought it'd be a funny interjection .

I think this really ties in with Kevin's "Please read and think" thread. We all want to get better and do rad stuff, but nobody sets out to screw up. Definitely for me I am so grateful to have an airplane that I try very hard to improve in safe ways. That said if you don't stretch yourself a bit you're probably not getting better.

I think the really scary thing about the internet is that we often have no concept of the experience and mileage of a poster unless we actually know them in real life. I am constantly amazed at the level of skill of some pilots that I meet, only to find out that they have thousands of hours, military training, etc. etc.

I would love to have the means to push harder, but I watched the slow flight cub crash and know that I don't want to bend my airplane, or myself. I push a lot harder in the mountains and on the water, but I have more miles in both environments. I'm a new pilot and I keep telling myself that. YMMV.