Started a spare parts list

[Marty_d]

I reckon you'd be better off using something similar to this rather than weighing down the edges.

(Not recommending this particular system, it's just the first that came up on Google)

https://groundgrabba.com.au/pages/commercial-ground-anchors?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=RC-GG-Lead-Gen-Search-Commercial-Ground-Anchors-Generic&utm_id=22934205014&utm_term=commercial ground anchors&tw_source=google&tw_adid=784190180111&tw_campaign=22934205014&tw_kwdid=kwd-2435452255622&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22934205014&gbraid=0AAAAA-KJzmABs7pU0jp3ftInPHb3WKSZO&gclid=CjwKCAjwqazPBhALEiwAOuXqdFIDoFT0ER1rxR4Q3pMIuO2LimWltLkVsBBvk2047LpJivUsHVkxyhoC3FIQAvD_BwE

[T510]

4 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

How big is the structure?

 

I am just going through the process of replacing my tarp - highest quote so far for 9 x 11 m HD tarp, eyelets every 0.5m, delivered +GST is $1,200.

 

 

It's a 15mx12m Allshelter. Will fit a 172 just. Australian made. It runs canvas loops along the bottom of the cover with nb40 steel tubes through them with slots for ratchet straps every 1.5m. The support frame is staked to the ground with 2m star pickets on alternate angles and has 4 x 205L drums full of concrete on the base plates to hold it down. 

 

There is a few on our airfield, the Australian made ones seem to get a couple more years life than the Chinese ones but cost 4 -5 times the price. 

 

Edited April 24 by T510

[T510]

1 hour ago, Moneybox said:

Any structure not sufficiently anchored could cause more damage than a bit hail. Our cyclone last month came through at 130kts. We'd anchored the Zenith with sandbags out at the airport but we lost the Sportstar and its shelter.

Winds don't even need to be that strong. We had one blow over on our airfield because the owner hadn't staked it properly, winds where ~60kmh. Lucky it was empty at the time and didn't hit anyone else's aircraft or hangars.

[Moneybox]

2 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

130 Knots / 150 mph / 241 kph - no matter how you express it, that is a gale of a wind.

 

When you say "..we lost the Sportstar and its shelter." what exactly do you mean? Written off?

 

Not many temporary structures will stand up to the above wind.

• Our prevailing winds are from the WSW. 
• My  structure is in the lea of a large vegetative planting and is oriented with open ends north/ south.
• There are 14 very heavy (two men to lift) concrete anchors that will hold/tension the tarp.
• The  hollow "foot" of each hoop is over a short star picket that has been hammered into the ground. 
• My aircraft, will be secured within the structure,  to 3 star pickets, driven deep into the ground, at  45 degrees or better, to the tie down pints.

My hope is that being open each end and secured as above, the structure will have less wind resistance than a fully/partially closed structure. This combined with some flexibility will prevent the whole thing blowing away/lifting. 

 

I do not have access to a more solid/permanent structure.

 

In my 30 years associated with The Oaks, we have had one destructive wind event & several hail storms. 

As far as I know the hail cause no damage to the various (composite) Jabs parked in the open - I don't think there were any metal skinned aircraft in the open (as mine currently is).

The wind storm was more destructive than the hail, damaging one or more poorly secured aircraft and flattening some makeshift structures.😈

Yes Skippy, after my hazardous flight back from Northam in the Zenith we saw the cyclone had altered track so we filled sandbags and strapped the Zenith firmly to the ground. The Sportstar was back at home just covered by shade shade cloth and a tarpaulin. It wore through and snapped the light rope holding both wings and left the scene. It took on Tonka (the 12T CAT Loader) and whatever else it hit I don't know but it ended up parked with the back of the LH wing wrapped around a small tree about 100m from where it started out. The left wing is totally destroyed, the right wing has about 1m of the end badly damaged, the in-flight adjustable prop lost one blade, the Rotax is pushed sideways damaging the firewall, mounting and exhaust and there are a couple of small holes in the fuselage. 

 

The Rotax still runs ok but is out of life, I've been advised to check the crank but I doubt it was stressed, the tail wing, rudder and landing gear are undamaged and the canopy is undamaged but overall it too expensive to fix. I asked Evektor if I could buy a set of wings with wing tanks but they reckon they would have to be custom built. I don't know why when the following year and from then on the wing tanks were a standard fitting. 

 

My L2 said it can be fixed but you have to weigh up the cost and the final value after it's repaired. It still has an out of life engine, standard gauge pack and a single 65L tank. I'll never repair it but the Zenith might end up with a 912ULS.

[skippydiesel]

11 hours ago, Moneybox said:

My L2 said it can be fixed but you have to weigh up the cost and the final value after it's repaired. It still has an out of life engine, standard gauge pack and a single 65L tank. I'll never repair it but the Zenith might end up with a 912ULS.

Sorry to hear of the Sportstar's demise.

 

This won't help the Sportstat - Once again, the cost advantage, of a kit/home built, over a factory build, is demonstrated. Its quite likly the Sportstar could be rebuilt but only by expensive, suitably qualified persons, making it uneconomical do so, a "write-off". The home built can be repaired by an amateur for the cost of the materials, which can also be sourced from the lowest cost, suitable supplier.😈

[Moneybox]

4 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Sorry to hear of the Sportstar's demise.

 

This won't help the Sportstat - Once again, the cost advantage, of a kit/home built, over a factory build, is demonstrated. Its quite likly the Sportstar could be rebuilt but only by expensive, suitably qualified persons, making it uneconomical do so, a "write-off". The home built can be repaired by an amateur for the cost of the materials, which can also be sourced from the lowest cost, suitable supplier.😈

The last thing bought was a good example of that. The throttle cable cost $1480 and they didn't even supply the original as ordered. I returned it but all legally purchased parts are the same, over priced and long lead times with every purchase. However the build quality of the Sportstar was superb when compared to the home built I purchased. That's not to say all are equal, I've seen some beautiful home built planes but the factory built is built to a standard design and quality.

Edited April 25 by Moneybox

[skippydiesel]

"....factory built is built to a standard design and quality."

That what you hope & pay for.

Ufortunatly there have been instancess where factory quality was wanting.😈

[BurnieM]

But normally factory built is consistent.

ie problems on factory built aircraft tend to be minor and similar.

 

Enjoy the Zenith.

 

[skippydiesel]

15 hours ago, BurnieM said:

But normally factory built is consistent.

ie problems on factory built aircraft tend to be minor and similar.

 

Enjoy the Zenith.

 

Fair comment but what of home built?

 

Sure homebuilt have the potential to include concerning quality and divergence from plans, however this should be weighed against the creative expression of the builder, much cheaper construction cost (labour not usually being included), on going lower operating cost and genuine improvements on the origional design (eg Robin Austin Sonerai projects  x 2).

 

I am not in a position to make an all of fleet judgement on homebuilt quality but would point out that there is little negative criticism being express in this and other Forums.

I am on my second homebuilt aircraft. I sold my first at about 20+ years & 950 hrs of reliable, safe operation.  My second - the pre purchase engineers report, commented the construction standard exceeded factory quality. 

 

It seems likly that the "consistency"  of factory builds, while true, is overblown😈

[danny_galaga]

One pleasing aspect when my plane was finally inspected by the lame is that he found very few things I had to revisit. He told me he's seen more problems with some factory built aircraft. I was quite chuffed about that 😊

[Moneybox]

I've lost confidence in lithium batteries since we lost the Hyundai when the LifePO4 battery blew up and destroyed it. Since then I've kept my eyes open for other options.

 

 

Today I got these two cranking batteries for our Isuzu bus. They pump out 750CCA and weigh in at 7kg each.

 

 

No lithium and no acid. These are a little big for my plane but Sodium-Ion may be a great alternative if you're looking for a powerful light weight battery for your plane. I'm replacing two 28kg batteries with two 7kg batteries with theoretically the same CCA output. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Moneybox