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Student Pilot

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Everything posted by Student Pilot

  1. Lower wing loading, shorter span, quicker roll rate (aileron configuration depending). Cabin looks roomy.
  2. Air Tractor 802 empty weight 3T, carries a 3 T load and has 1 T of fuel. A lot of AG aircraft can carry their own weight.
  3. The report stated the pilot almost certainly wasn't in the seat.
  4. A 3 hectare load? That's a lot of loads on a 1200 hectare block 😜 Yes the technology is possible to have a high capacity aircraft flying autonomously, even spray. In real life it's just not going to happen. There are so many variables to try and allow for that it's an immensely complex task. Drones are pushed as an answer where any person can do these involved and complicated jobs. The drone operator will have a wide chemical knowledge, calibration skills, expertise with working gps and programming, weather insight with regard to chemical application and associated drift problems. That's just scratching the surface, obviously an intimate understanding on computer programming and drone aerodynamics would be a pre requisite. How much an hour do you think such a person would be paid? $50? $100? What do you think an agricultural pilot is paid? The technology is here, there are capable machines available. The reality of drones replacing all flying industry tasks is a long way away. Please post where broad acre spraying (commercially viable) is done by drones.
  5. Drones have come a long way in the last few years but still can't compete broad acre application. A lot is claimed of drone productivity with all sorts of grand totals quoted. Most labeled (legal requirement) total volume spray application rates are way heavier than the figures that are quoted in application rates of drones. Normal aerial application rates are 30 to 40 litres total volume per hectare. The chemical is mixed with a carrier of water or oil, chem rates can be as little as ml/ha to 4 or 5 litres to the hectare with the rest of the volume made up of the carrier. A very expensive working drone load would be 40 litres. There are ones that carry more but are very very expensive. Most of the spray figures quoted are below the labelled total volume/hectare.
  6. That book that does the world records has a lot to answer for. There are great feats and records but it has now turned into a farce. The most hats worn at one time has as much relevance as first to fly a Cessna on a Tuesday wearing a purple flight suit.
  7. I liked those big T+B's they had in older aircraft like Tigers. Very sensitive, they used to fly IFR with just airspeed, T+B and an altimeter. Better than me......
  8. Seems the way of the world, looking at close to 100k for overhaul of most 6 cyl aircraft engines now.
  9. Used to use chain saw 2 stroke, upped the rate to 35/40 depending on plug chop from cruise. That's from a long time ago. Used in Robyn 440, Rotax's 447, 503 and 582. Memory could be unreliable 😄
  10. Originally for training, now for hire and reward. Big market in joy flights, something like 5 flying in England?
  11. There would be a Market if they were cheap enough but the price is something like 100k US. It is a pretty aircraft in the Miles Hawk sort of classic Deco style.
  12. When everything old is new again? Seems a lot of problems of this subject has solved many times over. Fadec is talked about in newer aircraft, the FW190 from a couple of years ago (80) had a single lever throttle/propellor. The mighty Constellation had a very complicated engineers panel that involved all sorts of trickery to delay detonation on the Wright compounds. Water injection was involved in a lot of WW2 aircraft to delay detonation at higher power settings. Even lean of peak is not a new thing with Lindberg teaching rookie pilots how to get more range from Pratt 2800's in Corsairs during the pacific battles.
  13. On a warm summers evening, somewhere in Cyprus
  14. Aircraft Nev, they are Aircraft not planes 😜 A few aeronauts I have known speak highly of the 727, that and the Dreamliner as the nicest aircraft to fly.
  15. There are some fellows who seem to think you must be challenged for everything you say Nev 😂 Don't know what their problem is, there's always something to learn in aviation. Maybe admitting they don't know everything would be a start? Don't let the hostility worry you, some of us are stilling willing to read your contributions and learn stuff. Stuff is good and aviation stuff even betterer, keep up the good work Nev 👍
  16. Seems different priorities these modern times. Now people have 3 TV's on the dash, cluttered with every conceivable bit of information including the buzzbar oxidation rate. As well as a blinged out full 3 axis auto pilot. Personally like steam gauges, fewer the better. I do like a GPS though, great bit of kit. Most homebuilders now spend three times more on avionics and instruments than a brand new 172 used to cost. GA going the way of the Dodo.
  17. There were maybe still is some concrete domes on the coast in England that were made to listen for incoming bombers
  18. In some circles yes, I have heard of it being done once or twice.
  19. "Tailwheel aircraft have less directional stability on the ground due to the location of the centre of gravity behind the main wheels. They are more susceptible to the effects of crosswind and the tail can have a tendency to swing sideways on the ground. They require more active input to maintain directional control and any yaw needs to be corrected immediately as it can quickly lead to a large swing and potential loss of control." Is this for school kids?
  20. I think Oz is more litigious than the US now
  21. Those figure will be contracting. With some dodgy operators (more than you think, GA as well as AG) not logging engine time reliability suffers. An engine that might be up for an overhaul at 3 to 4000 hours might have an actual working time on 10,000+ hours. So when that engine fails through componts being just plain worn out the engines reputation will suffer. The poor old R1340 P+W has suffered because of this with a terrible reputation for failures.
  22. Flying AG aircraft one doesn't "maximise the length of the takeoff roll". Every loaded take off is as soon as you can, as soon as the aircraft flys. Accelerate in ground effect and climb at your best rate which when loaded is eight tenths of buggar all. Whatever the aircraft it's usually loaded to its max capacity, full available power is used for every loaded takeoff, conditions and job dictating. 1700 HP is still not enough with an aircraft that weighs 3T empty (AT802) and carries 4T with fuel and load on a 35 degree day. One track, that pic is a 402, with an 802 usually try to keep spray speed below 125 IAS. Air Tractors come with a variety of powerplants starting at a dash 11 or 15 PT6 (550-600HP) in 402's through to 1700HP PT6 -67F in some 802's with all sorts in between. Don't see many Radial 3/401's around these days, pity.
  23. With the current price of P+W PT6-67F being close on 3 million US, Air Tractor are turning to an old solution of power plant. Air Tractor 803
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