old man emu

It's great that so many of you have subscribed to LAM. I know that you will get a lot of benefit and enjoyment from it.

Like all magazines, some months are diamonds and some months are coal. Overall, it's a valuable gem.

OME

UPDATE:

Has any one of you received issues of the magazine?

Tell me what you think of it.

OME

My instructor says what I should be doing in between lessons is closing my eyes and visualising my way through the circuit, to help with my memory. This was just an aid for that for the seemingly endless days stuck in an office between lessons.

OME

Goody! A place for "What has Old Man Emu Scratched Up?"

OME

Thanks guys. Not sure what you mean OME about having my head in the cockpit during the circuit?

My comment came about because I'm old-school and I to my way of thinking, all these electrical gadgets like glass cockpits, GPS devices, iPads, Smart phones, etc, etc and so forth, take away from the joy of being in the air and committing aviation. I haven't quite changed over to these portable devices. I'd rather kick the tyres, light the fires and flock off, and fly IFR (I follow roads). Mind you, I wouldn't ever think of taking off for a flight to Umberumbika without first having prepared a detailed flight plan, because that's another bit of fun I like - trying to make sure that I'm "on track, on time"

Now, having read your post, I get your drift. I do the same thing when I want to go somewhere, especially if I'm driving somewhere new. Before I go, I have a quick look at Goggle maps satellite view and get orientated. But I wouldn't print that view and refer to it while I'm driving. That's what I thought you were going to do.

Old Man Emu

Ugh!

You want to fly the most dangerous, high workload part of any flight with your head down in the cockpit?

1. Know your airplane's behaviour in the circuit.

2. Know where a reference point on your runway side wing lines up with the near edge of the runway while you are flying the downwind leg.

3. Know what the runway threshold looks like at 45 degrees over your shoulder.

4. Know where a reference point on your plane is when it's time to start your descending turn to come out on the runway centreline. Remember that your plane will drift away down the extension of the centreline if the wind is straight down the runway, and will drift sown and to the side of the same line if there is a crosswind.

Landing is the time when you fly the airplane. You are a pilot, not a navigator for the ten minutes or so it takes you to do a circuit. If you learn to fly a circuit with reference to points on your airplane, you will be able to fly it confidently to the ground.

If you are flying into an unfamiliar strip, there is no law that says you can't circle over it at 1500' AGL a couple of times to take a good look at the layout, but once you drop down to circuit height, landing on unfamiliar strips is the same as landing on your home strip.

Old Man Emu

I'd like to know why it only flew for an hour after it was built. That sounds like it was its production flight. Also why he didn't get it flying in Australia, but that might have been for C of A difficulties. If that engine hasn't run for 20 years, I'd suggest that its a boat anchor at worst, or is only worth its core value.

If you like this type of plane, a Cosy has just come in to our shop for a Periodic, and I believe that it is up for sale.

OME

That wouldn't be the one that's sitting in the corner of a hangar at Camden, would it?

The big thing to watch for, as with all pushers, is CHT. We recently replaced an engine in one that the owner cooked by overleaning. I think that you have to run them a bit on the rich side of best mixture.

Another problem is that they don't like unsealed landing areas. They can break the nose gear leg on grass strips.

OME

Obviously the C0ck, Sucker!

OME

You fellows seem to have done it the hard way. We have dealt with a lot of planes imported from the States, and at the moment have a Pitts coming out of Texas. Because it's Saturday, I can't get you the correct information, so I'll post something on Monday night after I check my data at work.

OME

Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons..... doesn't a commercial activity involving aircraft of any type (including unmanned RC aircraft) require an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from CASA? I believe that this little requirement has stopped some RC enthusiasts from starting little businesses with their planes.

OME

From many of the pilots' comments, it seems to me that flying in was a free-for-all, which held the door open for a mid-air. Perhaps next time the organisers could apply to CASA for some sort of temporary control zone centred on Narromine, but with the OK for any airplane to operate under uncontrolled aerodrome rules. (ie not Class D airspace rules), except that they would have to follow the controller's directions.

Also, the airshow should be organised a lot better so that each display follows quickly on the one before. It dragged on. Likewise performers should have been mustered in a holding bay well away from the crowd so that their engine noises did not drown out those of the planes performing in the air.

And Ryan ... it's Gilgandra - no "h".

OME

Perhaps it has something to do with the amount of heat applied to shrink the fabric in the first place. It might not have been hot enough. Nev

OME

No. You've said most of what I wanted to say. Thanks.

The thing I took away from the seminar was the need to read the SBs deeply. This applies to interference between those 12 point nuts and the cylinder, and some other spots. Apparently the relevant SBs refer to this problem.

I'm going to ditch what 15W50 I have in stock and only use W100+ on the 200Hr + engines. I'll consider the new oil in light of the ages of the planes we service.

OME

I attended the OzRunways seminar and was very impressed with the amount of detail that one can draw from its various sub-routines. I went back to the exhibiters' hall but was unable to talk to the people offering other similar material. I know that I shouldn't say what my preference is without having reviewed the others, but I'm thinking about opening up the wallet for OzRunways.

I went outside and had a talk to Dexter who was showing off his ATEC Zephyr. We didn't talk about the plane though. Just catchiong up and putting faces to names. Then I went over and had a look at the Zenair CH750. What attracted me to this was the sign hanging from the engine cowl that the kit was $25,000 landed and off the wharf here on the East Coast.

I was given an in-depth over view of the aircraft. Then I was shown the DIY documentation and some kits parts. I was very impressed with the way the kit was prepared and the assembly documentation. The chap showing me the plane was up-front about the build. After having a look at the assembly instructions and plans. I came away thinking that if you were happy to accept the airplane's performance, you could be doing your maiden flight within 6 months of opening the first packet of parts. I reckon it would be a good partnership build as, although there's a lot of work a person could do alone, there is always the need for an extra pair of hands to assemble major units.

The fellow made a good point about suitable engines. The plane will take a Rotax 912 (series). Now there are lots of these around flying schools with about 500 hours left to run before overhaul. If the flying schools fly them full life, they are just left with a boat anchor, but if they can sell an engine with 500 hours left, then they have a deposit for a new engine. Since the average recreational pilot wouldn't fly much more than 50 hours per year, then you could get about 10 years' flying for under $10000. Also, with 500 hours before overhaul, the engine will have be debugged and should be unlikely to need major maintenance before its time runs out.

I was going to watch the air show, but the programme had too many long gaps between performances, and these were done too far away from where the crowd was gathered. I reckon that if you wanted a good closeup view, you should have left the airport and gone a K or two along the road towards Trangie and watched from the airport boundary.

Will I go next time? Dunno. I'm a bit shy of paying $500 for a display site. Perhaps I might link up with Ian and share the costs. This airshow also made me doubt whether I'd like to go to Oshkosh. That sounds heretical, doesn't it?

OME

8:05am Saturday.

Cuppa tea in the flying club. Again 8/8 blue. 5C no wind.

Just waiting for the OzRunways seminar.

OME

for those of us who couldn't get there, maybe you could post more info when available.

Went to the preliminary OzRunways presentation in the afternoon. The seminar on practical use of the app is at 8:30am tomorrow. I haven't had a look at the competition, but so far OzRunways looks like the way to go for pilots like the most of us.

I left soon after the seminar, shortly into the "Air Show". Someone must have been hammered by the provider of the public liability insurance because nothing happened within easy view of the crowd. The big disappointment was the the way the big radial of the Avenger starting up right in front of the crowd drowned out the sound of the big block Cleveland V8 in he 3/4 scale P51 as it did its flying display.

I managed to do a walk up and down the tie-down lines and had a look at he aircraft that had arrived. Too bad that there were hardly any owners there to discuss their planes. Also, why would you bring an unusual plane to a fly-in and then cover the canopy so people couldn't get a look inside? Brickbats to the owner of the Storch!

I'll go tomorrow, if only to attend the OzRunways seminar. I most post some advertising flyers on planes, so if Bill Posters is prosecuted, he's innocent!

OME

1:00pm - Lunchtime!

Still breezy here. A Douglas Avenger has just arrived. Real planes have round engines!

I found out that I can get into the parking area, so I'll take a wander around there before the OzRunways seminar.

Attended a Jabiru engine service seminar. There's a new Shell oil coming out which is supposed to provide better lubrication.

OME

11:00am

I've had a walk around the trade displays. I spoke to Paul Tyler of Light Aero Aust who has the fuselage of his "T2 Sundowner" on display. This is a 2-seat tamdem all wood and fabric plane, to be powered by a Great Planes 2180cc 76HP VW conversion. Gross 1050lbs; MTW 570; Cruise 85 Kts; stall 30 Kts. Endurance 3.5 hrs + 1/2 hr reserve. Good luch, Paul!

Spoke to Ross Gosby of Avia Cam. He produces dash panels etc using CNC cutting. He can also cut wing ribs by CNC, a method I have spoken of before.

The OZRunways boys are here. I'm going to their seminar at 2:30. The app is already downloaded onto my iPad.

Just having a cuppa before I head out again. I'm a bit dissapointed at not beinag able to get out the aircraft parking area. I feel like an orphan with his nose presses up against a lolly shop window. All those treats and I can't get at them.

OME

8.45am:

The first warming cup of coffee. Slight breeze that's a bit cool, but the sky is 8/8 blue. I've linked up with Ian and Scotty (Bubbleboy).

At the moment we are waiting for a replicar P51 to tke off. Nice engine sound anda pretty plane.

Time to start walking around for a sticky beak.

OME

I'm inbed at gilgandra right now.I'llbe at Narromine about 8:30 tomorrow.

OME

I have finally done it - bought a 1944 Auster MK V

I know a good maintenance organisation at Camden.

OME

The failure was resolved by the timely intervention of General Confusion.

OME

I don't mind doing a fuel run about 3:00pm on Friday & Saturday. I won't post my mobile number here, but will display it somewhere central.

$20 in a taxi! Maybe a gold coin and a can of cold beverage per trip. I don't know it I can bring any empty drums, but I'll try.

(Another service to Recreational Aviation from QED Aircraft Parts & Hardware)

OME

The field is not far from town. Someone will give you a lift. I'll be there with a car on Friday & Saturday.

OME