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Methusala

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Everything posted by Methusala

  1. Methusala
    On my Vision, I have installed an electric carburetor heater. the instructions say to use heat on take off. The fact that the electric heater does not heat the incoming air but instead the carb throat, the prophylactic use of heat at takeoff shouldn't degrade power and so imo, given that takeoff is the most power critical stage of flight, use of heat is a good idea. The accident report is (relatively) open on the possibility of ice as the cause of power loss but it then leaves a mystery as to what other factors may be in play. Perhaps use of heat, in my case, is a judicious course to follow. Don
  2. Methusala
    “It’s when things are going just right that you’d better be suspicious. There you are, fat as can be. The whole world is yours and you’re the answer to the Wright brothers’ prayers. You say to yourself, nothing can go wrong… all my trespasses are forgiven. Best you not believe it.” — Ernest K. Gann, advice from the “old pelican,” The Black Watch, 1989.
  3. Methusala
    The aircraft was carrying 110 passengers and crew, and was heading to Holguin in eastern Cuba from the nation’s capital. It crashed shortly after takeoff, killing almost everyone on board. While the cause of the fatal incident remains unclear, eyewitnesses said that the plane tried to return to the airport after ascending and apparently hit a power line. (RT News)
  4. Methusala
    I saw that the red beacon was flashing - thought that would be meaningful to a "first responder". Perhaps I think too much.
  5. Methusala
    Why didn't someone think to turn the master switch off? Seemed to have plenty of time.
  6. Methusala
  7. Methusala
    Just got this from Tumut Aero Club newsletter: Phil O’Driscoll Out of hospital – but a series of specialist visits to go while down this part of the world (Canberra/Tumut). Still bruised and sore, and broken eye socket to be sorted properly
  8. Methusala
    Well, pretty simple. From the Abbott experiment we learned that you don't always get what you want. (And it usually costs a bucket for little gain)
  9. Methusala
    How about we go halves Phil?
  10. Methusala
    Hinkley Point: the ‘dreadful deal’ behind the world’s most expensive power plant A nice reality check for those dinosaurs who insist on spinning the myth of safe cheap nuclear power. Go on, just read it and weep.
  11. Methusala
    I flew a Jabiru on Tuesday at Wagga ticking the box for BFR. It is about twice as fast as the rides that I am familiar with. Has flaps and a radio. Traffic was light but there was a BAE Hawk landing as we taxied to the hold point. Instructor said nothing wrong with my flying technique but, being unfamiliar with the a/c, I found that I concentrated mainly upon aviating rather than communicating. I like the Jabby as it flies well and is a fast, efficient and safe plane. I don't fly for transport but I can see that it could be addictive. The rest are: a) Not Australian, b) Tending towards millionaire territory and, c) Haven't demonstrated the crew safety of a Jab.
  12. Methusala
    "Please explain!" (No apologies to the Queensland ranga)
  13. Methusala
    Monday I went flying over Lake George. Blue sky, no wind... perfect. At about 200ft an eagle flew by about 70ft below. About 500m out from the shoreline I saw someone walking. I landed and taxied up to him. "What are you doing?" I asked. He told me that he was working for a film crew and came from Aukland. They had been filming on the lake bed the previous day and that he was picking up litter. "Do you want to go for a fly?" After the briefing telling him that he could die he jumped in and, with his phone camera recording we did a circuit. The lake bed is very pretty at the moment with large circles of green, yellow, deep red and brown. I dropped him off and flew away thinking that I had probably put a shine on his day. Don
  14. Methusala
    Report to Fair Work Australia
  15. Methusala
    India's lead in the labor market is largely tied to the huge disparity in labor costs. In India you can earn up to $18/day (if you work 18 hrs).
  16. Methusala
    Looks from your photo that the struts are gold anodised. This is not original Thruster but, most likely, sourced from Wade as he had a large stock of gold anodiosed 6061-t6 destined for manufacture of Vision 600's. Don't be alarmed as this material is the real thing.
  17. Methusala
    Rip-offs are not the exclusive province of govt funded enterprise. 7/11, Subway, Uber etc, etc. The gig economy has the young and students held to ransom. I remember my first after school job as a grocery packer for J B Youngs in Canberra. I was paid a recognised hourly rate and given meal breaks on Friday night and paid penalty rates on Sat morning. This was in 1965 and I was 14. Of course this was under the SDA Union, same as Bill Shorten worked for. By the way, when I saw him welded to the top of the Beaconsfield mineshaft I thought he would make PM one day. I don't happen to be sucked in by Merdok propaganda and think he is one of the best of the current crop. Don
  18. Methusala
    I love the way that you think Bruce. The storage problem can most probably be solved using small to medium sized pumped hydro. These can be located reasonably close to population centres ( think the Illawarra escarpment for e.g.). It is a feature of Austalia that much of the population is near to the east coast. The GDR is close to this coast line and so steep changes in elevation are readily available. I think that the day of mega projects, such as the much vaunted Snowy Hydro 2.0 are dinosaurs. Don
  19. Methusala
    Flew the Thruster in 10/10 conditions yesterday with "my darling wife". Some days are meant for flying. Nice post Blue Drifter. Don
  20. Methusala
    "Muscular" comes to mind! Very interesting post on an unusual and little-known British warbird. 5 stars Phil.
  21. Methusala
    See my post#19 on the topic of localised wind effects around wind turbines. IMO not a big concern - and I have flown with them in "my backyard" for over 5 years. Don
  22. Methusala
    Poor taste again!
  23. Methusala
    My post #32 in this thread gives some reasons to be skeptical about the viability of Snowy 2.0. The cost would be horrendous and the long lead time requires an almost mystical faith in knowledge of tech 5+ years down the track. Better solutions than this will evolve.
  24. Methusala
    I am unaware whether this is the same Phil Driscoll. Hope that I have not made an error.
  25. Methusala
    Phil is currntly in Canberra Hospital recovering from injuries sustained when his helicopter suffered power failure and crashed in the Lob's Hole /Ravine region of the Kosciusko National Park. We wish him a speedy and complete recovery. Don
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