Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: "Yonder's" first big road test (Read 3 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
"Yonder's" first big road test
Yahoo Message Number: 50779
Okay, maybe 900+ miles isn't a big test, but it was the biggest for Yonder so far, and the first for the new solar panels and added battery bank.

Last Tuesday morning, we headed south on 395, down the beautiful east side of the Sierras. We were caravaning with an SOB friend behind us, and Yonder was also towing a 35.5' glider trailer. The SOB's mission - - to watch for loose flying parts . . . and to duck!

Yonder's 4 new 80 watt solar panels were each attached with but 84 square inches of PL polyurethane construction adhesive, and nary a screw nor rivet to violate the much vauted LD, one-piece aluminum roof. Nothing came loose from Yonder or trailer. The SOB, unfortunately, was not so lucky and managed to lose an outside refrig access door, and with no one following to duck or retrieve.

While at the soaring convention, we had two days of overcast and pretty much continuous rain along with several partly cloudy days.
The solar panels had little difficulty keeping up with our light electrical demand. After the two wet days we were only down about 38 amp hours of the 450 AH total. Even while the rain fell, the solar panels were able to wring a few amps out of the wet skies.

Next comes the installation of the Prosine inverter/charger. We'll no longer have to start the generator just to run the microwave.

all the best,

bumper
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer

Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] "Yonder's" first big road test
Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 50782
Hi Bumper Verry interesting But did you get to soar with the eagles? Rozie only has one panel but has kept up in the past 15 days of solid overcast. However I like the idea of being able to run the microwave without the generator. Another very interesting file you put together is "Younder" is the yellow air plane hanging in the hanger a 7AC champ, gear didn't look like a J3 Cub. Anyway keep the shiney side up and the greasy side down, see you down the road.
Robert ..

===== Robert & Roberta, Rozie and the Horney Toad, SKP#702

  Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses.
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

 
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] "Yonder's" first big road test
Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 50789
Quote
Hi Bumper Verry interesting But did you get to soar with the eagles? Rozie only has one panel but has kept up in the past 15 days of solid overcast. However I like the idea of being able to run the microwave without the generator. Another very interesting file you put together is "Younder" is the yellow air plane hanging in the hanger a 7AC champ,
You got it, it's a restored 1946 Aeronca 7AC Champ, 65 hp, hand-prop to start, little sweetheart of a putt-putt plane.

No soaring on the trip, just took the glider to display on the convention floor for the US Schleicher dealer. One day though, one of my goals is to fly it at Torrey Pines - - wooo hoooo!(g).

Soaring with the eagles is more than just a catch phrase. When you approch raptors with a power plane, they fold their wings and dive away. But when approached with a glider, they don't seem to mind at all. They'll even join you in a thermal and sometimes fly just off your wing tip! Short story follows:
 A few years back, I was flying my Stemme S10-VT (75.5 foot wingspan) over Lake Berryessa, CA. Cloud base was low at 5,000 feet. I saw a large bird circling and moved in to join him. He gave a slight start when he noticed me, but continued circling as I drew closer, it was a young golden eagle as evidenced by a white patch on each underwing.

We flew wing tip to wing tip for perhaps five minutes. His head turned hard to the right watching me all the while. Mine was turned just as hard to the left, taking in the almost spiritual experience of my first flight with an eagle. I was quite impressed. I imagine he was too. I cannot help but think he went home and told his wife all about who he'd just flown formation with - - I know I did!

all the best,

bumper
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer