Methusala

I think that heavy wake turbulence is particularly evil because it revolves continually in a spiral. Recall that a RAAF pilot crashed a Mooney due heavy wake turbulence taking off at Wagga years ago.

I'd come down to give you helpful advice but I'm in 'lockdown'. (Sounds like we are a mob of Ned Kelly's doesn't it?)

How boring it all was 'till we had Thrusters!😃

Pictures of my 25-393. Lovely safe ultralight.

TROLL!

Only time I recall having problems was when I ran out of fuel! (Only happened once)

Very easy to take exception to this type of statement (which implies that "All labor govt's are economically ignorant"). I read the story of this from Wikipedia. Seems that it sought to utilise untried technology and failed to be economic. No mention of "meddlesome govt fiddling". The late Turnbull govt embarked, with great ballyhoo, into Snowy 2.0. This was a boondoggle from the get go designed to show a competence in energy industry management that was simply not there. The lies began immediately. Promised a $2b price tag, completion within 4 yrs and a cheap solution to provision of back-up power to Sydney and Melbourne. There was scant mention that very expensive new transmission lines would be necessary, nor that transmission losses would equal roughly 50% of the output. It was claimed that no public money would be required. I read an earlier engineering report stating that the projected operating head of around 850m put it into an almost experimental (perhaps even dangerous) category of technological effort. The Feds used public money to make a generous offer to NSW and Victoria, buying out their remaining interest in the Snowy. Cynically, this could be seen as a move to prevent the States questioning the wisdom of this investment somewhere down the track. There is also the question marks over the business case of the feds plan to finance a $600m gas plant in the contested Hunter electorate. Energy companies have vigorously denied that this is needed but the govt will press on regardless (and use Snowy Hydro, fully owned, to build it). I am not qualified professionally in these areas, but, as a concerned citizen, wonder why it is always Labor administrations that wear the blame for poor economic decisions. I place on record that the only reason I have to vote against Liberal administrations is that the alternative is almost always a slightly better bet.

Spurways ST-10 is a good hand riveter (long handles - good mechanical advantage) but are a bugger to reassemble after cleaning the jaws. Marsden Klicker are good and easier to service. Don't get any chemical contamination on the rivet stems as this causes a build up metal fragments on the jaws.

This is exactly what I envisaged as the perfect town car. ABC news reported a few weeks ago on a similar Chinese project which sells for around $5,000. Could sell the Astra and keep one X-country wagon and use this as a town car. Would smack the arrogant Angus Taylor in his mouth claiming that govt support for EV's would be the equivalent of subsidising "luxury" cars. Don

Sorry, didn't mean to be sexist. "Stages of life" may be more appropriate.

Kaspar, stages of man is the answer. Either you are in the still developing state of existence where all $$$ need to be shepherded for children's school etc or you reach the end stage (some call this retirement) where the money is your super and intended for enjoyment of your later years. Hopefully you've reached thay stage in which case... don't think about it, just do it! Don

Try $10bn and counting for MT's boondoggle Snowy 2.0. This is exclusive of new transmission lines and estimated 50% energy loss in said transmission to Syd/Melb. As I have stated before EV's are only a political sop. Without legislation how many will be bought. Angus Taylor has insulted the intelligence of us all by stating that subsidies in this field are the equivalent of govt paying for people's "luxury cars", fer *hrissakes!

Here's one for you red blooded pilots to watch...

G'day NT5224, I don't mean to be unnecessarily pedantic and I am not obtuse either. We have had a discussion over the past regarding abbreviation of geography. Not everyone who reads our posts has a categorical memory for 4 letter codes nor are they interestedf. For pure clarity and also as a display of good faith, could you please use layman's language. Thanking you for taking this point, Don

Darwin markets?

Nev, I have apologised for mistaking the gist of your post. I am an amateur pilot with less than 1,000 hrs in basic planes over the past who knows how long. I read de Crespigny's book and agree that a lot of very fancy footwork only just avoided disaster. I have not read more than one tech report on the Air France disaster but it left me (and others) wondering why the crew thought holding full back stick would have been wise under the circumstances. You have provided a plausible reason for this and I thank you. )

Nev, I'm sorry if my reading of your words was in error. I cannot see how the Air France accident near the Azores was anything but pilot error. Whatever software fixes embedded in the FMS systems to prevent pilots from crashing obviously were not enough to prevent catastrophe. Nothing can prevent bad outcomes resulting from profoundly incorrect actions. Airbus seem to be doing well and 'fly by wire' is set to become universal as greater efficiency demands more technological inputs.

I don't get this implied antagonism towards AB. I have read praise of Airbus from many eminent captains for their aircraft. Richard de Crespigny, Captain of QF32 had nothing but the highest praise for the Airbus engineers, responsible for writing the POH, on the A380. In particular he was astonished that every question he asked during the 5 hrs preparatory to landing the crippled jet was answered. 'Automatics' did not prevent the crew from managing a nightmare occurrence into saving the plane. Others comment that the workspace is far more user friendly than Boeings because of the side stick controller. A350's have the quietest cabins I've experienced and have a lower cabin altitude than others. Seems that criticism of Airbus may be based more on prejudice than experience. Remember: "If it's not Boeing - I'm not going!"

Best compromise...T-600 Vision (Jabiru 2200 of course!)

We have an 'A' model Karatoo project which may take a bit of work to get back to Flyable. PM if interested/curious. Don

Just looked up the specs... says up to 300l/hr. I used to pump from 60l drums. Don't recall it being terribly slow but it was a long time ago and so not crystal clear in memory. Beats hand pumping!

I think that he will find difficulty in obtaining parts for the engine. Must need a full strip and re-build with a smashed prop.

Collings wrote a bloody good book called (I think) "Riding the Fire".

Great replies you blokes!!! Agree that any additional information is a plus to "see & be seen". Nev, I agree with"pass on the right". Just that, as has been said in this thread, Things can and often will happen within seconds. That's why I have mentioned the dichotomy of *turn left for circuits* and *pass always on the right*. As you say,Nev, we have to be soo clever. Never stop learning (and thinking too).

Please comment: We were "Shootin' the breeze", in the clubhouse the other day. Actually discussing see and avoid scenarios. Someone mentioned overtaking or passing another aircraft and spoke of conditioned reactions. My mind was confronted with the fact that circuits are most commonly left handed whereas the accepted avoidance manoeuvre is to turn right in a descending turn. Which one is going to be the "conditioned reaction"?