cscotthendry

David: At the risk of hijacking Mikes thread ... How is your purchase coming along? Still on track?

Mike: We have had a few teething issues, so we haven't flown the new plane as much as we'd hoped to at this stage. One of the issues was a clunk in one of the main LG wheels. We eventually traced it to a loose wheel bearing due to the socket in the hub being slightly oversize. We put some bearing retaining Loctite on it and the noise seems to have gone, but we're not sure if it is a permanent fix. In any case, the dealer has arranged for a replacement wheel to be sent from the factory. There have been some other minor things to take care of, all of which take time to resolve, but nothing serious or major. Having said that, we are delighted with the build quality of the plane and the finish. We're also happy with the performance. It cruises around 110kt at 5,000 RPM and although it is a European design, it hasn't got the cooling issues that I feared. We are also very happy with the assistance we've been given by the dealership. They have firmly had our backs every step of the way from the time we ordered the plane, through the configuration process, shipping, delivery and more important post delivery. Most businesses are very helpful when they want your money. It's how they treat you AFTER they have your money that tells the real tale. We cannot speak highly enough of our treatment by Silent Wings and give them a plug whenever we can to repay some of their generosity.

You have to have passed RA-Aus L1 maintainer's course. And this only applies if you don't use the aircraft for commercial purposes like hire or training.

Mike: Congratulations and have many happy flying hours in your new Nynja. They are very snappy, predictable flyers. The plane is a credit to you and I hope to catch up with you at a fly in soon. Maybe Old Station?

I had a flight in a tiger moth at Wanaka. The pilot let me fly it when I told him I had pilot certificate. Loads of fun and very beautiful scenery there.

Short final at Great Keppel Island October 2014

DrZoos: Although I'm not having brake lockups, I have been chasing a clunking noise in one of my wheels. Yesterday, I discovered that when I swapped the wheels, the noise went with the wheel. It had nothing to do with the brakes at all. I further discovered that the outer bearing in the offending wheel will fall out of the hub when the wheel is laid down with the outside face down. From this I have deduced that the bearing is moving in the hub as the wheel is rotating and is causing the clunking noise. My first plan of action is to secure the bearing in the hub with some Loctite bearing retainer compound. If that doesn't work I will replace the wheel.

DUH! The test pilot obviously missed the elephant in the room. The F35 was never meant to be a viable anything, except profit generator for the military industrial complex. That's why the specification was open-ended and why governments everywhere are being pressured by the US government into buying these duds.

IMO it is the buyer's responsibility. Consider a scenario: the seller gets a condition report when they first advertise the plane, but for whatever reasons, it takes 12-18 months to get a buyer interested. What then? The condition report is so out of date it is meaningless as all the info about hours, maintenance, landings and even possible damage is likely incorrect. So when selling a plane, when/how often would you get the condition report updated, bearing in mind that it costs money every time you do it? On the other hand, the buyer and seller can agree on who pays for the condition report, but again IMO, if a buyer is not prepared to pay for a condition report, I'd wonder how serious they are. Edit: in fact I'd go so far as to say that if a buyer is not prepared to pay for a condition report, I'd regard them as a tyre kicker and treat them accordingly.

80: It only comes as a fully factory built airplane. We now have our Legend and you can see it here http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/legend.132266/page-5

Mike: It REALLY looks good! I miss my Nynja ... :-(

Thanks Bob. It feels good to be back at Watts Bridge. Mostly we enjoyed our stay at Caboolture and made several new friends over there, but Watts Bridge feels like home for me, flying-wise.

David: Soon mate, very soon.

Mark: Yes YCAB was closer to home. We returned to Watts for a number of reasons, cost was one. Let's just say that Watts Bridge is the best fit for us, in spite of the long drive.

P: Whether or not it is a scam, IMO, it is the buyer's responsibility and expense to get a condition report done. In your case, I really doubt that a scammer would know enough about buying an airplane to request a condition report and gauge calibration. And even if they did, what would be the point unless they directly benefitted from it. Selling an airplane or any other big ticket item is really stressful and there is always the danger of falling into catastrophisation. I did it when I sold my previous plane and drove myself nuts over it. Expect the buyer to constantly have his hand in your pocket (and he's not fishing for your nuts) so be prepared to give his hand a smack every time he tries it on. Be firm but gentile. Remember that it is the buyer's duty to try to get your plane for as little as he possibly can, and it is your duty to wring as many pfennigs out of him as possible, even if you have to hang him by his heels over a high precipice. If he's serious, he'll stick with you. If he's a tyre kicker, he'll soon be gone and out of your hair. The one's that are the biggest pains are the ones you want. They finagle and wheedle for a little bit more, but they hang in there. They're the serious players.

Legend of Kitty Hawk is now at her new home Watts Bridge Today we had perfect weather for the flight from Cessnock to Watts Bridge. We stopped over in Inverell to visit Vince and his Nynja. Thanks to Vince for his hospitality. And thanks to Greg, Ed, and Keith Rule at Cessnock and all the Cessnock crowd for extending the hand of friendship to us, but most especially to Garfly for all that he did to help us and documenting the arrival of our new baby.

Looks a bit like the remains of a DC3

Dan: I'm pleased you got a result. Also if what I added helped then that's good too.

Mike: Wow! I LIKE the blue and silver stripes! It really looks smart. Did you have much trouble putting them on?

I bought some items from them and it wasn't the most positive purchasing experience I've had. It's a legitimate business ... More like hobby than business, and that is how it is run, like a hobby. I did eventually get the stuff I ordered from them but it took a long time and a lot of chasing them to get the items. It was a nuisance having to pester them repeatedly to get them to follow up suppliers that hadn't supplied what I ordered. I got no confirmation of my order, no tracking info to tell of the progress of the order, and attempts at communication often failed to produce any response. Ian's wife supposedly is "minding the shop" while he's working away, but I got the impression that she does it under duress, and that is how it feels as a customer. Customer service: 1/10.

And you took the words right outta my mouth ... Make a great line for a song doncha think?

The monkey ... of course!

Mike: The third pic definitely looks like an engine run showing on the gauges! Did you go the full three minutes at full noise? I hated that part. It was like torturing my baby. But great to seee it looking very much airplane-ish now. As I write this, I am in Newcastle doing some familiarisation flying with my new baby. Hoping to fly it home next week if the weather co-operates. I might not be able to make your first flight. We have had a few delays with the Legend. Nothing major, just annoying small stuff from slow Customs, to flat battery and repairs to some minor shipping damage.

Marty: Thanks. Yes there are other industries in Canberra, but they are few and far between. I moved there from Brisvegas to take a job at a satellite tracking station (Honeysuckle Creek) and when NASA rationalised that out of existence, I went and did my computing degree and became a software engineer for Pr1me computers, the company that had the C3PO look-alike as a mascot. But even working in the private sector there, I ran into an inordinate number of d*ckheads whose only contribution to ANY discussion was "No, no, no you're wrong". I think that statement should be the Canberra motto. Anywhoo, when Pr1me were subjected to a hostile takeover, I moved back to Qld and sanity.

Had the misfortune to live there for 10 years. If they wanted to give the world an enema, that's where they'd stick the tube. That said, the two most rewarding jobs I ever had were there, neither of them in the PS.