kgwilson

having a trim tab is an essential part of any airframe.  

 

No it isn't. I don't have any trim tabs just offset the engine by 4 degrees. Flies straight & level hands & feet off. I do have a full elevator (stabilator) trim wheel which allows minor changes to counteract COG changes with weight. i.e Full fuel in the fuselage tank.

If the 2nd engine (450 hrs) was new after May 2013 it will be a Gen 3 engine with the roller followers. Mine a 3300A was one of the first off the line in March 2013. If you are not sure just get the serial number & ring Jabiru & they will tell you.

The price is good. What is it's general condition, wear & tear, tyres doors, seats, flying surfaces hinges, cables etc? Has it had any prangs? Fibreglass is almost infinitely repairable but flaws will show up eventually. Go for a test flight & record all the Ts & Ps either by video of download from the system. A hot day will exacerbate any heating issues if there are any. A few circuits an extended climb at varying rates & speed, cruise high & low & extended descent should provide enough info for you to make a decision.

Try Airmate. It is a full navigation app and free. Has all maps & Ersa data, notams, weather etc. Same as Oz runways but no charge. website is http://airmate.aero

I have 3 fuel tanks. 100 litres in the fuselage & 35 in each wing. There are no gauges in the wing tanks. When I go long distance I use fuel out of the main tank till it is about 1/4 full. I then  pump fuel from the left tank to the main. It takes about 20 minutes to drain the tank & I see the fuel gauge going up. I know it is empty because the Facet pump is quite loud when it begins to pump air. I do not notice any difference in the handing characteristics of the aircraft at all. It will still fly straight & level on the same elevator trim. I have no rudder trim for reasons I have stated before. If I haven't landed by now for a comfort stop when the tank gets to 1/2 full on the gauge I will transfer the entire right hand tank into the main until the Facet starts to clatter again.

My experience would seem to be diametrically the opposite - more than happy with my 6 year old "SSB Power Sport XR Series, High Performance AGM Battery"  Part No RB16CL-B" motorcycle battery.

 

I agree. New in 2012, still going strong. I was given a 19 Ah Lion AGM battery that I was told was stuffed. I took the seals off & it looked pretty dry so I used a syringe to refill the cells with distilled water & replaced the seals then put it on charge with my smart charger which starts slow & pulse charges & after a day I had 12.5 volts back. I now have it in my hangar & it is charged from my solar panels in parallel with another couple of car batteries & I run lights & have an inverter connected for 240 volt stuff. It is not as good as new but now when fully charged it shows 13.3 volts.

Hi Turo - I am well aware of how our dysfunctional government is supposed to work. Thanks anyhow for the tutorial.

 

I do not think that a relatively small (population) country like Au, needs or benefit from a three tier government system. The only people who benefit are the public servants & politicians who are employed under this make work system. 

 

Historically there was merit in the creation of the Crown Colonies but this was a response to the "tyranny" of distance & slow communication of the era - all changed with technology. 

 

The existing system is extraordinarily costly, sluggish & inefficient - there is no logical argument to support three levels of Gov.

 

Potentially we, as a country, would be far better off (individually less tax) with a two tier system - expanded local,  subject to & overseen by a national Gov. is a far more streamlined model able to rapidly respond to changing circumstances, without the cumbersome & parochial State system.

 

Out with the States!!!

 

With our current system taking so long to get anything done with too many levels of Government, even when they commission a report on a subject, it can be buried in bureaucracy and sometimes forgotten so nothing happens. A current example of this is  former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty was tasked by the federal government to look at water and drought. He put an idea to government as early as September, proposing a national body to deal with disaster response.

Keelty wanted it modelled on the New Zealand Earthquake Commission, which joins up all levels of government, defence and private contractors to reduce response times when a crisis hits. Guess what, nothing has happened.

Tiny amount of right rudder when applying full power then none. Landing is rudder both ways to steer depending on crosswind etc..

True. My assumption is that you can flick switch or whatever so that it does not automatically inflate after going into the water with a Auto/manual model. If that is the case it could be switched to auto when you are in your leaky tinny or manual when you are flying your never fail aircraft.

The $59.00 one is manual only They sell the manual/auto one for $89.00

I need to trim a little nose up when I fill the main fuel tank (100 litres or 72 kg) which is between me and the engine so part of it forward of CofG. I weigh 75 kgs & I don't notice any difference when I have a passenger even my mate Dave who weighs 115 kgs. The difference is in takeoff distance & initial climb rate.

How the political system works is completely irrelevant to people on the ground and those suffering. The image that is portrayed is that of politicians politicking and not being seen to do things.

The fires have been burning since July and have been worsening week by week and they have only in the last week decided that volunteers (initially only Public Service employees) should get some compensation for the fact that they are not working at their normal employment. They were warned months ago that this was going to happen but did nothing. Morrison refused to even see the group of ex Fire Chiefs. I don't give a flying fig that they should have gone state by state according to the so called areas of responsibility. The ex Chiefs knew that but could see this emergency was likely to unfold and so endeavoured unsuccessfully to open the eyes of federal government, most members of which at the time were forging headlong with their fossil fuelled backers. Now we get knee jerk reactions to something that should have been foreseen. 

Nothing, just trim elevator (stabilator) for S&L as for any change in C of G. Longitudinally it is just the same. When I built my aircraft, the Jabiru engine installation manual said 1-2 deg RH offset. Garry Morgan said 4 deg so I queried it. He just said "Don't take any notice of Jabiru. This is not their aircraft. 4 deg and your right leg will thank you for it". He was right.

I don't see much difference in dedicated aviation versus some of the Marlin ones...

 

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/ps/survival_lifevests.html

 

True. The Marlin MK150 looks almost identical to the Revere Comfortmax from Spruce

The best syndicates I have heard of are those where there are a couple of keen pilots and a bunch of sleeping members which always makes me wonder why sleeping members bother to be part of it in the first place.

If there was true leadership at a Federal level, there would be no need for the State to have to ask for support in times of such dire emergency. The antipathy displayed by our politicians at both State and Federal level by just buggering off on holiday at such a time just because they planned it before the emergency is not only disrespectful to those who have suffered loss but indicates a "business as normal" approach when things are far from normal.

These are all marine life jackets suitable for boating. Though there is no doubt they work how comfortable are they to wear in a restricted cockpit?

Jerry,

When you say you have no written rules I assume that excludes the 4 rules you noted at the beginning. I just wonder how maintenance, hangarage, landing, fuel costs and other fees, insurance etc is arranged and if you damage the aircraft I assume that you pay or you pay the insurance excess. Eg, if you fuel the aircraft up then don't fly as the weather is crap does the next person get to fly free? Are these sorts of issues based on gentlemens agreements?

Get the engine offset right and you don't need any rudder trim. Mine is offset 4 degrees & with the cowl off looks horrible. It flies straight & level hands & feet off with no trim tabs anywhere.

We have had 5 days of relatively clear skies and NE to SE winds but today the haze returned, mainly dust (no smoke smell) as most of the fires in NE NSW are out or very much downgraded.

I have a Motobatt MBTX20U AGM battery, 310 CCA & 21 Ah, weighs 6.5kg & was new in 2012 though not installed for 2 years after that. I trickle charge it via my roof top 20W solar panel which also charges 3 other batteries in my hangar at the same time via the Solar controller. I just connect the system up via the power outlet on the panel which is directly connected to the battery every time I put the plane away. It spins the 3300 jab easily even on cold winter mornings & is showing no signs of deterioration (touch wood). It cost around $120.00 back then.

It is only a Happy New Year for some. The many thousands affected by the bushfires plus those who no longer have homes to live in this year (well over 1000 gone now) is looking far from happy although many may be thankful they escaped with their lives. I have 3 friends who have lost homes & while they have a positive outlook it is going to be a tough year for them.

The Rotax 912 is a very good engine despite the complexity and plumbing. The 912 ULS likewise but not as reliable as the 80HP 912. A friend with a Bushcat said to me he'd like a bit more power for some of the short tight strips he flies into & does not want to go to a 914  due to some reported troubles with it. My Jab 3300A is also a very good engine and is simple and easy to maintain. Oil & filter every 25 hours for $45.00. I like the direct drive compared to reduction drive, air cooling and the fact that all the horses can be used all the time if required compared to 5 minutes max with the ULS. Also most 3300As produce 125-127 HP on the dyno even though rated at 120HP. The Jab engines got a bad reputation which was ill deserved at the whim of a couple of ex RAA people who joined CASA, now departed.

All engines are man made & can fail. All engines go through their lifecycle with improvements made when components fail to perform as they should. All engines should be maintained to the manufacturers specifications. The local flying schools Jab engines are maintained this way and all make TBO. None are overhauled because a brand new engine is cheaper.

Everyone has their biases. I have faith in my engine but am aware that it could, like any other engine fail at some point. I like the power I have and the sound of the 6 is music to my ears.

There are several factors related to how long and where wake turbulence occurs including wind direction & strength as well as the size of the aircraft creating it. It begins to dissipate as soon as it is created and 3 minutes is usually a safe length of time before taking off after another aircraft. I believe in certain conditions it can last longer though. The fact that the pilot was warned by ATC gives me the impression that he was taking off within this time frame.

I was going to edit my post but waited too long. I went for ergonomics and simplicity. Most panels are far too cluttered for my liking. This is what mine looks like.

Throttle on left with carb heat directly underneath & flap switch on the side of the binnacle.

Pilots side. ASI, ALT, Tach, VSI plus Dynon D6 which has turn coordinator & slip ball, AH, Voltmeter, & duplicates ASI, VSI, ALT & compass (If there is a pitot/static failure instrument switches to GPS imput). Surface mounted is a $7.50 calendar, clock, alarm, stopwatch, OAT & IAT plus humidity.

Centre. Space for Nav tablet, radio below. 5 switches only, Mag 1,2, Main Fuel pump, Avionics & strobe. Below that master switch/starter & 12 volt outlet wired direct to battery (connected to solar trickle charger when A/C asleep) & the only warning lamp installed indicating alt charging. Stabilator trim is a knurled wheel in the centre armrest.

Bottom choke, fuel transfer pump switch, main tank fuel valve & centre bottom left/right wing tank selector valve.

Right angled to pilot are fuel gauge (main tank only as wing tanks pump to main) oil pressure, oil temp, CHT, EGT, & Carb temp. Far right are 3 circuit breakers.

There is an anderson plug on the RH side of the lower cowl