Thinking Skills Dragons

Wannabe a warbird pilot?

Today’s thought is about aeroplanes. Actually, I’m ashamed to say this is true for me for most days. How about you?

If you are looking for a seriously fun warbird – consider a Nanchang CJ-6A Dragon.

The Chinese Air Force Nanchang CJ-6A trainer is the PLAAF’s basic and intermediate trainer. We import it after complete overhaul in China. You now have the possibility of owning and flying this robust and spirited fully aerobatic ex-military all-rounder.

This is an ideal warbird for South Africans. The Dragon has tandem seating and a radial engine. Because it burns only 60 litres of avgas an hour it is obviously more affordable to acquire and operate than, say, a Harvard.
pic: Franz Dely/Aviation Dimension.com

More importantly, it has a tricycle undercarriage, which means it’s as easy to land as a Cherokee 235.

Climb aboard and adjust the seat height and rudder pedals. The rudder pedals have a knob between them a bit like the Impala. View is commanding - except forward and down - just like a Harvard.

Press the start button and a hiss of compressed air precedes the prop turning (the “wrong” way!) After the usual checks the fun starts. Taxiing takes some getting used to.

On the active we open throttle and with a touch of left brake we start to roll. Nose wheel up at about 45 kts and fly her off at 70. Just like a Harvard except for the need for left rudder on takeoff and climb out.

Aerobatics: a dream. Endless loops and rolls without height loss. Perfect control harmony - nice and light and very responsive - a bit like a Chippy. Radial engine grumbles away in the most reassuring manner.

Slippery. She is, after all, a jet transition trainer. Speed tends to stay up on downwind so you have to plan the approach. ASI calibrated in kph gives approach numbers like a serious jet: base 150, finals 140, numbers 130 and touchdown at 120. Easy to land!

So lets strap in and go fly aerobatics for half an hour on Saturday morning! It makes a change from teaching the Mind Mapping and memory skills I learned from Tony Buzan. Turbo Reading, Power Learning and Creative Problem Solving are great – but this is recreation!

For more info: Dr. Richard Broome at (011) 483 0685 or email at think@icon.co.za

Websites:
More about the South African Dragons: http://www.thinkingskills.co.za/Dragons/Default.htm

The Australian connection: http://www.lampa.com.au/

An American perspective: http://www.yakity.com/default.asp

How to learn new material quickly and easily and solve problems creatively:
http://www.ThinkingSkills.co.za or
http://thinkingskillscoza.blogspot.com