MONTH 11 LESSON - In flight refuellingEntered by: ArolosBoD Date: 2005-01-14 Relevant to: Arolos Summary: B'lin lifted a green tagged firestone sack "Now, firestone sack tossing…" he raised his eyebrows at the groan "...is about to move up a level. We are going to try some 'in-flight refueling' as it were. Sometimes a couple of riders will be nominated to return and get sacks of firestone for the wing and bring them back mid fall. You can see the advantages - fewer gaps in the wing to cover and for less time. However this strategy relies on being able to transfer the firestone mid air, and that is going to require throwing and catching and NOT dropping. There are two ways to do this, one from the side and one from above. In the side... the one bringing the firestone must fly close, as close as possible without fouling wings, so you have your lifemates furl their wings and you throw while the other rider catches. Now this is good for experienced riders as it is fast...but the odds are you will get hit by a load of rocks rather frequently. The second way has to be done from above involves stringing a rope through the loops on the sacks like so...and then flying above and dangling the loose end of the rope down to the other rider. When they have got hold of it, do not just DROP the sack as this has a nasty habit off swinging and giving another poor rider below you a concussion... simply keep hold of your end and send the sack sliding down the rope on it's loop to the receiving rider. And you thought those loops were just for hooking the sack on the harness didn't you?" B'lin smiled. "Sounds complicated but is actually fast and easy once you have the hang of it. So...take a sack for each colour, and we will all try refueling and being refueled until we are happy with the whole thing." And so saying, he took them aloft. All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright© Anne McCaffrey 1967,2005, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern® is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. |