Jump to content

Student Pilot

Members
  • Posts

    1,491
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    13

Everything posted by Student Pilot

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. I bought a flight computer when I started flying. Used it for study and com subjects. Used it for ground speed checks when I first started flying for a living then stuck it in a draw. In the last 46 years I have never felt the need for such a device. GPS have made things so much easier since they appeared. I am a simple person, I like the KISS principle with the emphasis on the last S with me.
  5. A concept used by the Ligeti Stratos
  6. Still no cause of the accident. Why so long? With the data recorders being sent to America you would think there would be some indications of what caused the accident? The naive cynic in me thinks there could be political interference in this investigation. If it's proven to be Boings fault it would be disastrous or possibly the end. With massive repercussions and the known corruption of the American leadership a coverup seems to be one reason why there has been no reasons for the disastrous accident yet.
  7. The PIC was an ex F18/ Lear pilot, he would have known the possible hypoxia outcomes. The aircraft had been operated for years with pressurisation problems. Flick me a PM if you want to know any details about this companies modus operandi.
  8. They had been operating pressurised aircraft for at least ten years, Aero Commanders and Citations. The full final report has history and detail of company operations.
  9. There seem no consequences for continually flouting regulations and workplace law, the way whistleblowers are treated in this country doesn't help the issue. There is a real fear (justified or not) of making complaints of law breeches and disregard being turned against the whistleblower/reporter. If there are consequences they are delayed, deferred or diffused. Appears the longer a prosecution can go the more the waters are muddied the more chance of justice not being served. Is that just a revenue raiser for the defence? Seems contrary to truth. Truth is a casualty in trials with obfuscation and duration seemingly being priorities.
  10. The company has changed hands since, will the previous owner/management personal still be liable?
  11. There some information around on the net about earlier problems with quality control and workplace pressure. There was an exposé a few years ago with whistle blowers and the treatment they got from Boing. One of the complaints/problems was machining swath not cleaned before electrical harnesses and wiring were installed. There was a batch of aircraft directly affected, most of those went to Air India. One of the whistle blowers was found dead a few days into giving evidence into a senate inquiry I think it was. This is very serious, why have we not heard more of this?
  12. There has been comment about the ram air turbine being extended, that usually only happens with multiple failures of systems. In the original video the noise of the RAT (sounds like a Harvard prop on take off) is heard. I have also seen mention of possible software failure. With so many 787's flying you would think they will work out pretty quickly why this accident happened.
  13. I call inbound (usually 10 mile, 160kts) then joining the circuit crosswind/downwind/base or straight in whichever leg suits depending on active runway and direction inbound. If there's traffic then slot in or modify the circuit joining to fit with other traffic.
  14. The Italians I think it was produced them with a C20 or there a-bouts. SM something? I remember an airshow/flyin at Scone quite a few years ago where Col Pay put one through its paces. It was stressed for aeros and Col turned it inside out followed by taxing in and backing into the park area. There is a standard Bird dog doing the rounds in Vic/SA on powerline work with a lidar strapped to the side. Looked a nice clean example.
  15. Still a couple of Resurgum aircraft around the New England area, that was the design the Rouseabout was based on. They were powered with the Koing 4 cyl two stroke radial.
  16. Good story. Days of heading off with just a mag compass.
  17. I think he had a broken back, leg and pelvis?
  18. There is talk on the net of after market blades causing problems. This machine was fitted with non Bell blades which have been proven to cause issues with balance/harmonics. Another dodgy FAA approval? The whole roof of the helicopter was torn off with the complete gearbox and mounts. Mast bump has been ruled out.
  19. So much better than nautical miles, statute miles, furlongs, chains, rods, cubits and yards
  20. I used to goen stroll through Marshals hangar when I got to visit Bankstown (father and uncle used to work for Air Ag at Hangar 17, I worked for Tom at a much later date) as a kid, Spitfire x2, 109, KI 43 and all sorts of machinery. There was a ground trainer with small wings on it I thought would have been great. In those days a kid could walk through a hangar and nobody would bat an eye.
  21. CAC had plans for an AG conversion of Winjeels when they left service. They proposed PT6 power and a forward cockpit with the hopper over the wing behind the pilot. Never got passed the planning stage, I have seen a drawing, it looked workable.
  22. I think the Disney one was based on a 402 Air Tractor
×
×
  • Create New...