skippydiesel

Yes! Unfortunatly there will be future problems with support, both advice & material, for Sonex ownersl. I feel for those who have purchased kits, that now may never be finished. The Sonex range are great little aircraft however I think their stubborn refusal to move with the times, in particular their very late "recognition & support" of Rotax engines, has not done them any favours. This coupled with limited fuel capacity/range (if you stick to the plans) has left them well behind aircraft with similar cruise performance. In much of Australia we don't have the luxury of a potential fueling location every 100 nautical miles or so.😈

Looks to be a nice day (19C & light winds), if a bit cool, at Parkes. Similar weather tomorrow (Sunday). Camera 28/03/26, 08:00 shows modest attendance. May improve during the morning 😈

FlyBoy1960 All good information. As far as I know Rotax use RON, in all its recommendations. Australia uses RON to describe its vehicle petrol types. So there should be no confusion when deciding what fuel to use, when in Au. 😈

Parkes Weather 27-29/03/26 Looks promising for Saturday & Sunday. Early arrivals Friday may have some interesting weather challenges. The seminar schedule looks interesting & packed into a single day event I note the following: "UNICOM or other ATS services WILL NOT be provided at Parkes (YPKS)..............." "Parkes is a security-controlled aerodrome. Visiting pilots must either hold a current ASIC ............" I hope that those that attend have a great time and will get back to the Forum with all the highlights.😈

As I mentioned, Rotax allow for a the 80hp to be operated on 90 RON, however further reading indicates, to me, that using such low RON fuel brings with it "knock" risks, that need to be understood & managed. Using higher RON fuel, reduces the risk. I am not familiar with the 80 hp, however am aware that, in the 100hp, using 98 RON would seem to near eliminate the risk of "knock" . Check out the Operators Manual Page 5-8 5.1.1) Power setting Sorry cant seem to copy the attached graph. You might also like to look up Rotax Service Bulletin (SB) SB-912-079 R1 (same graph appears in this publication) Additional thought; I understand that higher RON fuels allow for better altitude performance. What this might mean for a Rotax 912 being operated below 10,000ft is not entirely clear to me. LAME's, L2's, well meaning friend, Forum advisors (me) - Always listen to their advise BUT they are human, just like the rest of us. They can be reluctant to give up cherished beliefs (myths) and make errors. Can be unduly attached to the maintenance/operating doctrine of one engine type (LYCon?) that is then applied to another (Rotax?) without real understanding of the differences. As PIC/maintainer its your responsibility to decide how to look after (fuel type) your aircraft. Treat all advise with scepticism - apply your own experince /logic and if all else fails, follow the Rotax advise, as writen in various Manuals & SB,s 😈

Only if running on 30%+ AvGas or real old 912's without overload/clutch (I understand the slip clutch has been a standard fit for many years).. My last 912ULS was still testing okay at 950 hrs - never had a Gbox inspection😈

Not according to Rotax maintenance schedule, with the following exceptions (taken from latest Line Maintenance Manual) Only for the following: "Checking the propeller gearbox without overload clutch. (3 only for engine type 912 UL/ULS/ULSFR (2 if overload clutch part no. 996886, without lead drain holes, is installed and use of leaded fuel more than 30% of operation." 😈

Moneybox "I’m running the 80hp Rotax on 91 for a considerable saving." FYI: https://www.flyrotax.com/p/service/technical-documentation Chapter 5 is probably your best data Rotax 912UL (80hp/lower compression ratio, than the 912ULS/100hp ) can use as low as 90 RON, however it seems to me that Rotax are advising (in the above Operators Manual) using 98 RON & allow 95 RON with extra caution by the pilot. AvGas can also be used however above 30% (from unreliable memory) the service interval is halved (50hrs rather than 100hrs) and the gearbox inspection goes down from 1000hrs to 600 hrs, due to lead fouling. 😈

DC3's on the ground? 😈

Is who you know, not how you perform, that wins all too many Gove contracts (remember the contract economic advisor scandals). We have government, at all levels, addicted to high cost contractors, to the determent of the public service/tax payer😈

My apologise for getting the Tax/Litre wrong. There will still be a GST windfall - somewher in the region of an extra 25-125C/L . The price of diesel may continue to rise, however I strongly doubt the amount of diesel used, will drop significantly - its an integral part of our society & econamy. 😈

Random Thoughts; If, aircraft not in hanger & expecting high wind - tie down securely at all 4 points, tail, wings & prop/nose wheel. In general stakes/anchors should be 45 degree's (or more) out from aircraft tie down point. Ties should all be firm - once they work loose the potential for further loss of security is greatly increased. Lock controls surfaces against movement. Elevator & ailerons can usually be secured using cabin/pilot safety harness around stick/yoke. Rudder may need a purpose built restraint. Wheel chocks are a good addition but must be secured to wheel so that any movement does not dislodge chock/render less efective. Very effective, light weight, chocks can be made from large aluminium angle. Each wheel front & rear, secured with shock cord/similar. 😈

Moneybox, "The iPad lasted all of 10 minutes dying as I passed over the dry Lake Austin just south of town. " Have you installed a ventilated iPad docking station ? Is your iPad fully charged before you take off ?- this will reduce the inflight charging temperature. Can you shield your iPad from direct sunlight? 😈

I guess we are all concerned about the price/availabity of fuel. What it has suddenly risen to and what it might go to. For most on this Forum its the price of ULP and Avgas. To get to/from the airfield & then fly the aircraft and what of refueling during a trip away? A major influence in fuel pricing, that has always intrigued me, is the cost of diesel. Diesel underpins EVERY aspect of our lives (including petrol cost), yet its price rarely seems to be of significant concern to the general public. Our Government taxes diesel at about 43%/Litre (not an insignificant amount). Therefore this tax is effectively influencing every aspect of our lives, yet there is no suggestion, from the Gov of reducing/suspending this during the current fuel emergency. The consumption of petrol can be significantly reduced, without too much impact/pain on the wellbeing of the public and econamy. The consumption of diesel can not be significantly reduced, without severe societal/economic ramifications. The Gov stand to have diesel tax revenue windfall,with the rise in the cost of diesel. So far the Gov has toyed with the idea of; a national reduction in speed limits, as a way of conserving fuel - predominantly petrol ie little impact on diesel consumption/cost. asking (directing?) people to work from home - another petrol reduction initiative. car pooling - reduction in petrol consumption. reducing some services (eg weekly rubbish collection) - at last a potential reduction of diesel consumption I suggest all Forum meters contact their Federal (&State) local members to express their concern about the price of diesel. FYI - How the price of diesel is arrived at in Australia; ttps://www.aip.com.au/sites/default/files/download-files/2020-06/Facts%20about%20Diesel%20Prices%20and%20the%20Australian%20Fuel%20Market_1.pdf 😈

Interesting! I have flown into Cowra a couple, or more times - very busy during the week (Saturdays?) near dead on a Sunday. Great coffee & brownie in town. Never into Tumut - hoping to do one of their third Sunday/Month brunches, in the near future. The 126.7 frequency is an interesting issue - resent flight from Rylstone to The Oaks - as soon as I got above about 5000ft, I could clearly hear those in The Oaks/Mittagong circuit, still 30 + minutes away. At The Oaks, I often hear airfield well to the west of the The Range - sometimes so clear, that if the transmitter forgets their location component, my heart rate increases as I think there is an unseen aircraft very close - its certainly can be a problemo! 😈

Not defending/taking sides here - The Forum has a wealth of past, current & future aviation ( sometimes other) knowledge to impart. You can learn stuff, even from a self proclaimed perfect pilot/engineer - best not to use the "ignore" function if it means a loss of access. Instead use the self discipline button - do not respond!😈

Holbrook Easter Fly-in 2026 Holbrook Ultralight Club has hosted this popular annual Fly-in since 2006. Initially held on the first weekend of November, the Fly-in is now held on the Easter holiday weekend and continues the tradition of hospitality and friendliness. We welcome recreational and sport pilots and their aircraft from all over Australia. 2026 Fly-in details When: Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April 2026. Where: Holbrook Airfield YHBK S35.41.0 E147.19.0 https://www.holbrookultralightclub.asn.au/flyin.html

Just winging it: Depending on cable material (alloys) & proximity to corrosive atmosphere (eg sea) you may have to think about more frequent replacements, just to be safe. Visual inspection may not reveal internal coorosion.

Nowhere in the World can nuclear waste be safely disposed of. You condemn, the generations to come, to radiation sickness - talk about short term gain / long term pain😈

To the best of my understanding (low bar) we ( human species) do not have a safe (as in never pollute/ irradiate, current or future generations) method of disposing of the spent fuel. Should this be correct (??)- all we are doing, is polluting our one & only home (sh..ing in our back yard) to the detriment of generations to come. ".. no brainer" might just be the way to describe advocates of atomic power stations/ weapons. 😈

IF ? you have a Constant Speed prop: Even if throttle cable broke, prop likly to remain at or close to, selected rpm. If above not true, select for courser pitch to govern rpm down to a less heart stopping rpm.😈

Very nice IBob BUT its not a canard 😈

Very pretty aircraft. The belly air inlet, directly behind the nose wheel, (kicking up stuff) look like a high risk of stuff entering the engine???😈