skippydiesel

Thats strange - my local RAA flying school/club has 3 Foxbat's - all with conventional (analogue) instruments. They seem to have an unending stream of students.😈

I rarely take photos - way too busy. Not much of a story- Son & young family on round Australia journey. Son & Daughter- in- law needed some documents from home. My excuse to fly up to Rocky, to do non cost effective, delivery. I tented for two nights, beside family caravan. Had wonderful food & quality time with Granddaughters. Who can ask for more? Both Sonex & my longest trip to date. Little aircraft "packed to the rafters" with camping gear, change of cloths, fuel bladders etc. Rotax just purred along. On way up, did a go round at Armidale due to strong gusting cross wind - changed to grass X strip - no prob. Again on return to The Oaks - too fast on approach, likly due to fatigue impairing judgement. It was along trip in such a small aircraft - If I hadnt been "on a mission" & concerned about weather window, might have been better to have camped a night each way. If it didn't happen - Fatigue must be in my imagination.😈

Got back from The Oaks - Hedlow (North of Rockhampton) late yesterday arvo. Hobbs 7.3 hrs each way (little more on way back due to head winds) Was going to go via Chinchilla but lovely lady, from flying school, persuaded me to go via Dalby. Wonderful people in Dalby - Loan of ute into town for fuel. No charge but put fuel in ute, as token of my appreciation. ERSA/Dalby somewhat wonting in airfield data. Hedlow - Great spot. About 45 minutes by road), north of Rocky. Accommodation & camping. Not cheap at $10/landing + $15 for aircraft parking over night. My thanks to Steve of Rockhampton (RAA) Flight Training (Hedlow), for advise on navigating Rocky airspace.😈

What makes you think that? Student/Low time pilot looking for pointers, does not necessarily indicate that they are just relying on an EFB. As for the $2 compass - don't forget how seafarers navigated before, what we would recognise, as a compass was invented. Panic is the enemy when your nave systems "go walk about". A bit of common sense goes along way. When all else fails, your relationship to large geographic features (may be non existent in Central AU far out to sea) should give strong clues as to flight direction and then there is the friendly voice of ATC .😈

".......what you do when the EFB fails." No panic! Why? Because you have been keeping a running record of your heading. Why do you keep a record of your heading? Because it may differ from your planned (EFB) heading and you need to know this, if you loose your EFB. You will know what altitude you are flying at and the heading should remain as was, until either EFB comes back or you reach a known point (airfield) On any trip away, from an area that I am familiar with, I have paper maps/plan to fall back on. These days I just screen shoot/print my EFB plan onto paper.😈

In my limited experience - Tractors and other powered farm equipment (header etc) have governed engines. The operator sets the rpm depending on the work to be done. For the most part the engine remains at or close to the set rpm (varying loads eg soil conditions may influence this). In short there is not much, if any change in rpm, for corners, etc. Brakes are principally used as a turning aid - not for slowing. Slowing, if required, is achieved through engine braking and /or an implement reaming in work. For the most part tractors do not go up & down through the gears (hydrostatic transmission may do this). The work gear is selected and remains (some tractors incorporate torque converters to allow for part ratio changes "on the fly"). Most tractors can move off, in every work gear ie gear changes are not usually done when moving. You may wish to rethink your agricultural example😈

With particular reference to - "(or farm appliance)" Would you care to expand this comment??😈

Okay no problem - From aged memory, I recall this matter being discussed, in significant detail - Conclusion - There is no problem with refreshing "stale" fuel. There is a lot of hysteria/urban myth about fuel deterioraton. Moneybox has demonstrated its a reasonable strategy & I support him in this. As stated, some judgement is advised. Use a little bit of common sense- Its not unusual for RAA aircraft to not be used for several weeks at a time (weather / domestic demands / work commitments / etc) Are you going to drain the tanks when this happens?? It depends (how much time has passed / type of fuel). Drain or add a significant dose of fresh (shandy). I have been clear all along - this is not a long term (6 months?) storage strategy. In my case, I have refreshed my "stale" 98 RON, with fresh 98, after about 8 weeks - noticed no impact on starting or performance. I know of a Rotax 912ULS powered aircraft, on my field, that is being run on AvGas at the moment. Its only flown about twice, since the beginning of this year - starts first time and flies normally If in doubt, use the "stale" fuel it in your mower/etc😈

It has been known, for some considerable time, that "stale" fuel can be revived, to near fresh condition, by adding fresh. I don't know what time span or condition, constitutes "stale" - may be a subjective assessment by pilot but it is certainly a viable option. Nor do I know of a formula for the mix, however would not like to go much below 50:50. Perhaps length of storage, storage type (open to atmosphere/sealed container/temperature/etc) and stored fuel type (AvGas, 90-98 RON) may all come into the shandy ratio. The reviving of "stale" fuel has been mentioned many times in this Forum and at least once in this Thread and as Moneybox can attest - worked for him😈

Why not?😈

Its kind of ironic that EV's are being charged by diesel powered generators.😈

Once again - While you live, you learn (I hope). Seems a tad inconsistent though. Why allow further training in a home built, if not initial?😈

Thanks Thruster - That's almost as I have ben advised, by the CFI at Hedlow. His advise is to go to Cale Keppel and then to the Koorana Crocodile Farm . Tried to make contact with Rockhampton Aero Club (still listed) but apparently went "belly up" a few years ago😈

You didnt answer my question. If its a home built aircraft, your CFI will not have the choice - (unless rules have changed) you can not receive instruction, in a homebuilt, that you did not build.😈

"They are not safe to store petrol in our climate." I guess Cue would get a tad hot in summer. Over here in the East, where I am (Gods Country), we only get the occasional 45C day. I only mention this because I have all my 98 RON in Bunnings Aero Space 20L cheepo plastics x 5 and x 2 10L plastic ex oil containers. Have been using these for about as long as Bunnings has been operating (?years). So far, no complaints but then I don't sleep with them. I agree that, compared with metal fuel containers, they can not be as safe.😈