Old Koreelah

IF you have strong tanks a few flick rolls will agitate things. Nev

... And stronger wings, stomache...

 

 

... If it is difficult to remove your tanks ( and it usually is) is there something like a swimming pool cleaner "Creepy crawly" that could circulate and filter the contents? Nev

...or maybe some strong tank-flushing stuff you can half-fill the tank with then go fly thru some thermals?

 

 

I found (to my cost) that ethanol in e10 dissolved pinholes in my Lightwing fuel tanks.There is a Good article in boatus website - (link is in my post under Lightwing threads) describes some research into the process. Note the main problem was associated with polyester resin but they also did a test on 'ethanol resistant'epoxy and found it lost tensile strength after a month or so of exposure to E10.

In summary, they say the ethanol molecules penetrate the resins and collect styrene, which is then in solution- so straight through filters, into engine, not burnt properly, deposits black gunk on exhaust valves until stems jam, and engine stops.

The chemical experts recommend Vinyl Ester for fuel tanks.

 

 

... Plenty of engines use water methanol injection. The FW 190 was one. DON"T try it on your motor though. It needs to be set up properly. Nev

...and Mitsubishi used it on later models of the A6M.

 

 

...Riveted structurers have a good history over the years for their energy absorption qualities, as do steel frame and some wood structurers...

That may be true Maj. I respect your expertise in aviation matters but please, just once, could you give credit where it has been earned. When it comes to structural safety, Jabiru's fibreglass aeroplanes are amoung the best.

 

 

Some high fliers might be in for a bit of a shock.Eagles at 21,000 feet!

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-13/eagles-restrict-their-flights-to-home-ranges-finds-researcher/5959094

Interesting article Kaz. Quite relevant to us, and a good argument for polycarbonate windscreens.

 

 

Keep this going please, people. One of the most useful discussions in recent times.

 

Correct me if I have got this wrong:

 

Fuel seems to be a major factor for some. Schools' experience may not be directly relevant to those of us who may only fly once a month, or even less.

 

Mogas is viable, as long as only the best and freshest is used and the engine temperatures are kept under control. It is also a good idea to run the carby dry after each flight. Avoid storing Mogas, (or an aeroplane containing it) where it can get hot and evaporate off its volatile components.

 

 

It's a fibreglass block, perhaps 1Inch x 1 inch by 1/4 inch, glassed onto the inside of the ram air duct.

It has a definite effect on cooling. Seems the more hot air you release, the cooler the cylinders all run. I was told you should be able to put a finger up the gap, so I tried something much bigger and it worked surprisingly well.

 

Ideally I'd relieve the entire rear section on the inner and outer end of the cylinder, however I haven't got that done yet, I didn't want to wreck my ducts.

Thanks for the reply, but I meant the dark-looking pipe sticking straight out thru the duct.

 

The fibreglass spacer you mention seems to be allowing mobs of cooling air to escape out the back rather than being forced down past the fins. Surely not a good idea.

 

 

Thanks for the pix and info, but I'm mystified by the second pic.

 

What is that big item protruding thru the back of the ram air duct?

 

There has been much discussion about how important it is for the duct to fit close to the engine. This one sure doesn't.

 

 

...straight to the Pool Room!

 

 

My thoughts.....maybe......a reverse vented panel on the top of engine cowl. ( create a largish low pressure there to drag out head temps from above ) ??An area of small rear facing vents.

Just a thought.

Best not vent anything from the engine dept. ahead of the cockpit. CO, smoke, leaking oil on screen...

 

 

Bex I was about to ask if you had a patent on that modification. Then I had a think. (Takes a while.) The hottest area of the head is the outer part around the exhaust valve, so it might help the middle heads of a six, but on a four it would likely have no effect, other than restricting airflow.

 

Edwin Land held heaps of patents, including for Polaroid photography. When asked how he came up with so many winners he said that he just had a lot of ideas- and tossed out the bad ones.

 

 

Well maybe his big ugly mate got it.

 

 

Spielberg obviously had a hand in directing too!!

Who? Oh you mean this bad person:

 

 

 

Okay. Let's be specific. Name one good thing about Jabiru engines...

...they got thousands of us into the air.

 

 

If it's too hard to move HQ from Canberra, then RAAus should work to make it easier for us to fly little planes there.

 

For those who haven't been following David Edmunds and his team at CRAA, they have been trying to establish a small airport near the national capital. Unfortunately they haven't got the resources to build a Welcamp, and it seems petty bureaucrats are determined to stop them. Is our Association helping?

 

http://www.canberrasecondairport.com/december-2014

 

 

Why thank you, brother Jedi!

 

 

That's very neat. Did you make it yourself, or if not, where did you get it made? And how much did it cost to make?dodo

Thanks for the kind words, fellas. Totally designed and made by me, with no input from anyone. It cost me two years of sleepless nights. The local council (airport owners) made it too hard for me to build a small hanger, so storing it at home in a shipping container built into my shed was the answer. The advantage is that I can easily wander up the back and work on it, and having the fuselage stored above the wing gives access to work on the cockpit and fuel system.

I can assemble it by myself in less than 20 minutes if all goes well, but it's not a patch on the simplicity of the Skyfox wing-fold system.

 

 

HaHa, I was wondering that as well!

...I wind it up 20 turns; that's enough to clear all undulations between home and airport.

 

 

Half the price of the aeroplane is the storage/transport system.

 

This is how mine looked a few years ago:

 

 

 

...Looking outside is a no brainer and you rightly emphasise it...

On the few occasions I have flown low-level "milk-run" routes both pilots have had their eyes on clipboards and NOT looking out the front. Heaven help the rec. pilot they don't notice.

 

 

We may have to wait for a few years for the membership numbers to stabilise before moving. But I would still like the staff input as it effects them.

Agreed Dazza, but even if the board make a decision this week, the staff would have a year or three to adapt. That's more time than many employees get.

 

 

If Jabiru wants to move forward, they would better off going back to a solid lifter engine, as mentioned by multiple people. They just have to listen.

I believe several aero engines have hydraulic lifters, including Rotax. Surely Jabiru can get theirs running reliably.

 

 

Much as I admire our office staff, they are our servants and should not call the shots re location of head office. The current board and CEO have the task of transforming RAAus into a sleek, efficient organisation to serve its members. If that requires downsizing and office automation, so be it.

 

Australian will never have anything to rival Oshkosh, but we can learn from the experience of our American cousins. Maybe our members who have been to Airventure can comment on the advantages of having a central national gathering place.

 

As Don points out, getting head office "closer to the coal face" may be a good idea.

 

I'd love our Association to have a home base (preferably in teamwork with SAAA , etc) but moving our annual gathering around the country may be more realistic for Australia which has only about 8% of the US population.

 

This country may be lucky to have its own continent, but the reality is that we might as well be a nation of islands like Indonesia.

 

Look at a Map of Oz at night to see what I mean.

 

Perhaps the only way to be fair to all our members is for NatFly to "go on the road" like the Ulysses Motorcyle Club AGM.

 

.

 

 

Stuff like that should be on the front page of your newspapers - but have you ever seen the press offices at Parliament? The lunches, the dinner parties etc etc....They don't want to lose their good ticket they're on, that itself is a scandal, they shouldn't be there at all and a proper divide is needed between the Press and Politicians at all times.

...and now that the mad monk has intimidated the ABC, Rupert can set the agenda unhindered...except for the brave professionals at Fairfax- and they have Gina looking at them with a Wolf's grin.