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Taking Off
by
Konrad Mücke
Pilot of FP 404 UL One-Seater Biplane

Klick here to read the german translation

Pre-flight check. I walk around the aircraft. It looks sort of lost standing there on the gigantic airfield. A small bird. Biplane. Wingspan 5.5 meters. Almost too small to carry a man. And vulnerable, too. At least on the ground. I carefully touch its skin. - fabric cover. On a filigree wood structure. Skillfully arranged strips, rods, and plywood. Because of this, extremely rugged in the air. And that’s where he belongs, the FP 404. That is his world. And he takes me along. I show the way. He carries me. But first he has to prove that he will stay aloft. Propeller, undercarriage, wings; everything checks out fine. Fuel, coolant, oil; all containers full. The smallest detail counts. The sky forgives no mistakes.

Then I board the plane. Squeeze myself into the cockpit. A good feeling. Once seated, the aircraft fits like a second skin. More safety checks. Carefully working down the list. No negligence allowed. To fly means to be conscientious and that long before the bird has taken to the air. Now it’s time to close the hatch. Fasten seat belt. Plug in radio. Power on. The hands on the instruments twitch; first sign of life. Turn on the fuel. Then put on the headset. A look around. We are undisturbed. Choke. The first push on the start button. With a strong movement the propeller turns two, three times. Then silence again. The bird wants to be awakened. A second push. Four, five rotations, and the engine begins its powerful labor. The airstream from the propeller rushes over the cockpit. Retain speed with gas and choke. Radio on. "Info D-MOBL!" Only few words follow. "To Runway 23!"

Now the engine is running. Off we go. As if pulled by a string, we follow the yellow median line. First right, then left, and we are at runway stop 23. Ailerons and rudder free. Altimeter setting to ground level. Look in direction of approach."Ready to start". "Take off!" With full throttle onto the runway! The engine gains speed, the tail lifts. Steady now. We taxi with increasing speed 30, 40, 50 km/h. The vibrating and rumbling in the undercarriage ceases. We are free! This is our element. Faster and faster; 70, 80 km/h. Steadily we climb into the clear sky. Quickly we attain higher altitudes. At 3000 ft., I reduce the r.p.m. Engine and propeller are humming quietly. And then I am overcome by the same feeling that was probably experienced by Daedalus and Icarus. The world beneath you, as seen by the eyes of God. And your view completely unobstructed. Around you only the sky. Only heaven.

Translation by: Johanna Ashby / USA
(Wir danken dem Bücker-Museum Rangsdorf für die Bereitstellung der Fotos)

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