23.12.2013: Visiting Oshkosh this summer I saw several companies selling desktop aircraft models. One of them , Factory Direct Models, even had a SportCruiser model on display. They had different styles of models, with or without transparent windows and interior, and they explained to me that they make them to exactly replicate a customers specific aircraft. I decided that this would be an excellent present for Rolf, my co-builder, who made my project possible, so I ordered two of them (one for me too, of course).
Some weeks later I received detailed instructions on what information I should supply about the actual aircraft, including a 3D view, a detailed list of pictures as well as specifications of the panel, the antennas on the plane, the colours used and details of the paint scheme. I supplied all of that through a special website, which is very simple to use.
Some weeks later I received a number of pictures of the interior, such as the one below, for approval. It’s amazing they even added the two silvery protections bars in the centre console. which I installed to protect the radio buttons from being hit by the knees, as well as the side pockets.
Once I had approved the pictures it took some more weeks until I received pictures of the finished model, such as the ones below, again for approval.
I had some minor comments, such as the missing fuel caps on the wings, the missing transponder antenna, the wrongly sized pitot tube (mine differs from the standard one installed by the factory) as well as the too small call sign on the underside of the wing. They immediately corrected them and then re-sent pictures for final approval. Once I had done that (on the 16th December) they shipped the models with UPS express to make sure that they arrive for Christmas, which they did.
To be honest, the models are just amazing. They are definitely more than worth the price. It’s unbelievable with which detail the have been manufactured, the colours exactly match the ones of the original, many of the decals are there and the interior is also just like the one of my plane.
This is definitely something I’d recommend to anyone who is looking for a model of whichever plane he built.
31.12.2013: It’s been a busy December at work, and poor weather most of the month, so no time to go flying. For today however the weather forecast predicted nice weather, so we prepared to go flying. And indeed the nice weather arrived, but only barely. I live a few km north of the airfield, and we had thick fog the whole day, but the webcam at the airfield confirmed nice weather there.
We took off shortly after lunch, and a look back confirmed that every place North of Lommis (arrow) was still covered in fog.
Towards thee mountains however the weather was just perfect, blue sky and nearly unlimited visibility. We had a ground temperature of 0oC, but then the temperature rose to around 9oC at 3’500 ft. At 9’000 ft it was 0oC again, and -4oC at 12’000 ft, quite unexpected temperatures.
We first flew to the Churfirsten mountains…
…to check out skiing conditions. There were quite some skiers on the slopes, but very little snow outside the prepared slopes.
We then continued toward the higher mountains,…
…past the Walensee.
Thanks to the sun (and to a very limited extend the cabin heat) we felt nicely warm, but the thick jackets helped too.
South of Glarus we passed the construction site of a new hydroelectric power plant, with one of the new dams under construction visible on the picture below. This new plant will mostly be used to store energy during times when excess power is available by pumping water up to the new reservoir, to then be able to produce peak power when needed. Such power plants are needed due to the increasing percentage of power being produced by solar and wind plants, which can’t follow demand curves.
Below another dam of a system of multiple reservoirs.
We then continued towards the Tödi, with 3’614 m or 11’850 ft the highest peak in that area. We flew around it at 12’000 ft, about the maximum altitude I feel comfortable to fly at for extended periods. The SportCruiser would however easily fly higher, especially at such low temperatures. I’m always amazed how well it climes even at such altitudes. According to my flight testing the operational ceiling altitude is 15’000 ft, but I have the impression it would go even higher.
We then flew towards the glacier north of the Tödi, on which many traces revealed intensive glacier flying activity.
Most traces were near the Planur-Hut, at nearly 3’000 m the highest mountaineering hut in the area. We even observed ski equipped planes taking off from the glacier. I have to check whether it is possible to install skis on my SportCruiser…
As we were lacking skis we continued back towards Lommis….
…passing Mollis airfield, which was already in the shadow at 3 in the afternoon….
…and the Säntis with it’s impressive radio antenna (123 m tall).
Towards Lommis we noticed that the fog was still where it was when we left, and the airfield still clear of fog. There would have been be several diversion airfields in case the fog would have moved in on the airfield.
Approaching Lommis we saw an Airbus A330 of Emirates passing not too far above us, a reminder that we are not too far away from Zurich airport with it’s airspace restrictions. The TMA of Zurich goes down to 4’500 ft just over Lommis airfield (which is at 1’539 ft AMSL), and down to 3’500 ft only 4 miles to the west. The CTR of Zurich it’s less than 10 miles away. That requires a clear descent planning when coming back form the mountains, where we can fly VFR unrestricted up to FL 130 when the military is flying and FL150 when they aren’t.
When driving home we noticed that the fog over our home was still there, we were definitely lucky with the weather today.
