AMS Flight - Certified Composite Glider and Aircraft Manufacturer

Report by Oliver Dyer-Bennet, USA

After licensing the latest Carat, CA027, at Minden, it was up in the thin, high dessert Nevada air, to check out the systems. After a couple of local test hops and a little contest tweaking of the Carat, its varios and the GPS computer, things were looking good.

A run to the White mountains, Silver Springs and back to Minden was warranted. On the return run north we had company, SUN, a DG-400M/17. We team flew a stretch of some 80 miles together and had a ball in the good lift conditions. This flight was just over 500 km and we knew the Carat was ready to stretch its wings.

Tuesday was to be the start of the 750 km attempt in the Carat. We let a few markers, Joe, Mitch, Bob, Tupper, etc., start about an hour ahead of George and Ollie.

After a Minden remote start a course change was made, one of many that day. A run down the Sierra Nevada mountains, rather than the traditional Mt. Patterson direction. This ended up saving about an hour in time. With the boys ahead giving us good information over the radio the course line became the Sierras, Lee Vinning, Glass Mtn. on to the White mountains at White Mtn., with a turn south to Bishop and Lone Pine remote. At Lone Pine a turn was made north with a run up the Whites, to Boundary Peak remote with a cruise speed of 125 mph / 201 km/h TAS.

Headed towards the north end of the White mountains, at 17,800 ft. / 5.420 m a decision had to be made. Jump off the end of the Whites and continue north, or turn again south, and do one more lap race on the Whites as the sun was moving lower to the west...........

...........Approaching the north end at Boundary Peak, and looking at a shear drop off of 10,000 ft. / 3.050 m to the valley floor, it was time for the decision. Either head towards home or once again turn away from home and head south......

The decision was made, left rudder and aileron, a quick 180 degree turn to the left, and we were again headed south, committed to one more lap on the Whites. The day was drawing down, but the Whites were still working well. Running between 15,000 to 17,800 ft., and cruising between 110 / 130 mph TAS, 180 / 210 km/h TAS, Bishop remote was quickly achieved and now it was a mad dash back up the Whites to the north end. Jumping off the Whites a little north of Boundary Peak, a course line was laid for Minden. Up ahead were small storm cells and a gently dying day. Cruising between 60 to 70 knots, IAS, 110 to 130 km/h IAS and dolphin flying as much as possible, we gently floated the Carat east of Potato Peak and used the west side of the Sweetwater range to good advantage.

Finally...., Minden was achieved. 750 kilometers / 466 s. miles at an average speed of 75.38 mph / 121,3 km/h.

The Carat had indeed stretched its wings and performed admirably, with its longest flight yet.

Oliver Dyer-Bennet