Phil Perry

Tried by various means to contact EPM tech in Derby which,. . .as one of you worthies has pointed out, is just up T' road from where I live. . . I got their number from a racing engine bloke I know, . . but they 1) Don't want any visitors wandering around their Formula one composites plant, and 2) Don't want to talk about prices for ANYTHING they make, as they use" targeted" marketing. Refused to discuss the Gyroplane at all, said it was a different department, and asked me how I got that telephone number ! Not very helpful really. . . .bit odd innit ? ?

 

Sorry. . . .

 

 

It can be a bit of a quandary when a legal instructor (WITH LOTS OF TIME ON TYPE) isn't easy to find always. I believe an instructor or any pilot for that matter, with a wide variety of types experience can cope with different things provided it is all analysed in the mind beforehand and any "weird" aspects covered practically and mentally. You can have 100's of hours instructing on certain types and have never taken them to their limits, if that is the way you operate, and not be on top of it. Nev

The aircraft my friend has purchased is fifteen years old, . . .and there are none of these ( to my knowledge) used by flying schools in the UK. Since moost were kit built. They are a nice, rag and tube aeroplane, easy to repair, and not inherently difficult to fly. . .assuming some prior experience of similar types, as you pointed out Nev. The difficulty he has is that most flying instructors hereabouts, wish to remain within their own comfort zone, and only fly their own chosen steeds. Lately, these are mainly EV97 Eurostar, and Ikarus C-42. . .there ARE schools who use older aircraft like the later Thrusters, but these are very few and far between and the A22 Foxbat, cannot be used for training as it isn't factory built. . . . Our CFI refuses to teach in anything other than his Eurostar, so it can be a little difficult for someone like my friend Mike to get hold of someone who is willing to teach in the owner's aircraft at all, especially if it's an earlier type Microlight / Ultralight. . . . shame really.

 

 

It certainly is beautiful. They've done a good job of incorporating all the signals of British luxury - the racing green, timber dash, leather interior the same colour as the chairs in the gentleman's clubs, hand-stitched leather joystick reminiscient of a Spitfire's, even the model/company rep strolling around in aristocrat hunting gear. The look of the website is very 1930's too, all Art Deco style. (Yes before any smartass gets on my case, I know there were no websites around in the 1930's...)Anyway all very well done and I can see them selling a few to "Toad of Toad Hall" types, but given there's no mention of price anywhere I think it'd be beyond your average aspirational pilot's budget.

Are those "Aspirationals" covered by an autogyro license as well Marty ? ? ?. . . just wunderin'

 

 

Hi phil...thanks for the welcome. .I'm 70 miles s.w. Chicago. ..small town of peru

OK Zenith. . . .Don't know the place you're at. . .have to check it out on Google Earth !. . . keep on posting and let us know what you're doing . . . .

 

Phil

 

 

ce with other than the

 

Phil, I was thinking of the stabilator because that's what the RV-12 has, but you're right of course. There are also full flying fin/rudder combinations. The Zenith 601/650 comes to mind. Haven't seen a full-flying tail as you describe it, but it doesn't sound good.rgmwa

It Isn't ! ! The MW4 tail articulation design horrified the PFA ( now LAA ) engineering dept., they allowed that ONE prototype aircraft to fly, but refused to authorise any more ! . . . The machine now resides in a museum. . . . dunno whether that's an insult to the engineering integrity of a Transit propshaft coupling . . .? I flew that a few times, as the MW aircraft Club is based at our site,. . . had a Rotax 377 and a plastic canteen chair for a pilot seat. . . . They might bring it out to play ar the MW Club annual fly in at the end of May,. . if so I'll get some pics.

 

 

Thank you for your kind advice on this Gents. It IS appreciated. Just a couple of things, firstly, I would be more than astonished if the person concerned was being economical with the truth with regard to his authority to fly with the aforementioned medical condition . . . If this was not the case then the flight we had, as one of you has pointed out, would be illegal, since I have no current medical, and could act as nothing other than an experienced observer. I HAVE seen the insurance documents, the aircraft and occupants are very well covered ( assuming the flight is legal ! )

 

Secondly, I have already emailed CAA FCL /Avmed with full details of the flight, and had alrerady decided not to carry out any further "Experienced Observer" ( ! ) duties until I have been assured that everything is confirmed as being kosher and above board.

 

I have today put him in touch with a flying instructor whom I know, to continue his type familiarization so that it may be legally LOGGED as training, mainly for insurance purposes, as they would have a absolute field day if he cracked it up and made a claim with only a couple of hours on type ! ! The instructor says he has some experience on the Rans, but that it was more than ten years ago. . . he has shown some recluctance because of this. Also, he lives over 100 NM away from where the aircraft is based, so some patience on the part of the pilot is going to be needed.

 

I will not argue in any way with your comments regarding fitness to fly following this type of major surgery,. . . nor any ramifications regarding my own part in it, . . .I will wait to see what Avmed have to say. They are pretty good and very fair, . . . .

 

I'll let you know the result, as it might be interesting from a comparitive point of view . . .

 

Thanks all. . .

 

Phil

 

 

Yes maybe I am a bit slowwwww Phil ... I am sure you understand that when conversing in a subject like this sometimes athings written are taken the wrong way...like I can't see you wink or smile when you say things..maybe we should all put a smiley at the end of a comment if it is intended to be a joke...especially with topic's like this one..ok all good...

We coming to Swindon in July..maybe we can sit down and have a beer and have a chat face to face..

 

David

Blimey David,. . . trying to think what's around there in the way of cheapo airfields ( ! ! ) . . . there are quite a few I think,. . .My Mate Dave Perry ( no relation,. . .the Airbus jockey, ) lives down there,. . .he's CFI at Old Sarum, or used to be,. . . that's not far from Swindon. . . .have to have a look int the book and see what's closest. . .too late at nite now,. ( after 2 AM ! ) got to get some shuteye. .

 

Keep me posted on your itinerary . . . . [email protected]

 

Phil

 

 

Had a rather interesting request today,. . .

 

An old friend, ( Mike - the -Trike ). . .ex-Trike instructor ( 12 years experience ) had purchased a Rans S6 microlight aircraft. This aircraft is a two seat, side by side standard layout aeroplane, high wing, fabric covered ( dacron ) having a wing fold system, with conventional flight controls and equipped with full dual controls, powered by a Rotax 582 oil injected 2 stroke powerplant and a two blade Warp Drive carbon fibre composite ground adjustable pitch propeller. It has a "Square box" type fuselage design, aluminium tube contruction, and weighs in at under 450Kgs MAUW. I do not know if these things are available in Australia,. . .hence the detailed description. ( can't find a generic photo at the moment. . .)

 

I have around 100 hours on type in the book, but had not flown one for around 12 months, having ferried one a fairly long way for another owner. Since which, due to family and business circumstances, my medical had expired,. . . .which meant that I was an experienced Passenger. I made this clear to Mike, and he said that, since I had taught him to fly 20 years ago,. he would trust me to sit with him whilst he tried to fly his new purchase, and since he had already taken a three axis conversion course, his insurance company had ckeared him to fly it.

 

He had recently undergone heart bypass surgery, and was fitted with a defibrilator unit in his chest, BUT cleared to fly by the Avmed people.

 

Problem.

 

He had taken his three axis conversion course on a different type of machine,. . .a Cyclone AX 2000, . . .which is difficult to explain in words,. . . . It is a machine which originated as a very ealry "Weedhopper" design, having no ailerons, instead using "Tip Dragger" controls for yaw, and a very powerful rudder. This evolved into an aircraft with slightly swept back wings, with added ailerons, . . .which didn't seem to do anything at all, so that turns were accomplished using the rudder only, the bank being a secondary effect.

 

The difficulty I was going to have was that, 1) He was nervous about three axis aircraft anyway,. . . .I tride to fly with him ten years ago, and he tried to grab the controls when I sideslipped the aircraft, as he thought that I was going to crash it sideways into the runway. ( not trying to make the bloke look like an idiot here,. . .but this is what happened )

 

The Rans S6 flies pretty much light a light version of a Cessna 150/152. ie, rudder /aileron coordination is important. Also, it is extremely light in pitch, and the pitch trim control, a wheel between the seats, is geared incorrectly, so that many turns are required to achieve the desired result. ( the PITCH trim in an AX2000 is a cosmetic and doesn't actually do anything noticeable at all. . . )

 

The Rans is fitted with three stage flaps,. . . (which the AX2000 isn't ) so we have a completely different aeroplane for him to get familiar with. We started with me doing the takeoff ( right seat ) and then handing over control to him. . . . . he found difficulty in flying straingt and level, as there was a small amount of turbulence, and had not got used to the position of the nose on the horizon in various attitudes. . . .we flew around doing upper air work for around two hours, and he was getting more and more agitated, as this particular type is a bit of a bugger to get used to anyway, . . .and it was basically well outside his comfort zon.

 

We packed it in after two landing attempts as we had a thirty degree gusty crosswind on the strip and he has asked me to come and fly with him again next Saturday and Sunday. /. . .NOW,. . .I really don't mind doing this, . . .and I'm not getting paid for it, BUT am getting my bum into the air for free,. . .but I really wish he would go and find a current LICENSED instructor to carry on with the training, because, I am thinking that it is going to take the bloke at least ten hours of intensive, just to get him comfortable with it, and after spending ten grand, he isn't really going to give up. He tells me that he cannot find an instructor wi thin a fifty mile radius to get some training. . . .so what to do. . . . .? He is licensed,. . .the aircraft is insured for him as P1,. . . . He can't fly it,. . .If I suggest he flies it alone, he will undoubtedly crack it up on the first landing attempt. . . . .I dunno. . . . . I can get my medical back no problem,. . .but the F/I rating went a long time back,. . . what would YOU blokes do in similar circumstances ?. . .keep taking the free flying ? ? ? ?

 

Any ideas ( ! )

 

 

Phil, Well I do think he inferred that they should not have Muslim pilots....All I am saying is, is that you better not fly on airlines...like... Singapore/Malaysian/Etihad/Emirates etc if you are worried about Muslim pilots...just fly QANTAS or maybe Germanwings if you would like good christian pilots..I don't believe whether they are married or Muslim or Buddhist is going to make one iota of difference if they have depression or a metal problem and they just want to kill themselves.All the airlines can do is screen their potential pilots better, more regular testing for personality problems but even that will probably not help if someone really wants to harm themselves... they have had years of hiding it from family and friends...I am not an expert and I really don't know how to safe guard the travelling public 100% from this sort of thing...sorry to say...

David

OH. . . .BUGGERATION. . . . . . . David, .. .PLEASE . . . .I HAVE NO ISSUE whatsoever . . . .with flying on an airline using pilots who have ANY kind of religious affiliations Sir,. . . . . And I can assure you that I don't give a $hit what colour they are. . ..I was TRYING to be amusing. . . . . ( At my age mate,. . .I have not got much else to offer. . .) This is the way I ALWAYS deal with ANYTHING remotely racist.

 

It was a Joke, and I'm surprised that you didn't see it as JUST THAT . . . . .I should have ( maybe ) sent this as a PM,. . .but sod it. . . .that's cowardly. . . . .when I fly commercially, . . .which is quite a lot,. . .I don't CARE what the religious affiliations of the flight crew may be,. . .I automatomically assume that they have graduated to be in that front office because, like me THEY LOVE TO FLY . . . and if this is indeed the case, which it is with every pilot I have EVER met,. . . .then I don't have to worry that they might not be qualified to fly Angie and me to the Algarve, . . .or Dalaman in Turkey,. . ., or if they are suicidal,. . . . . if I did,. . .I'd be a complete bloody fool, and wouldn't ever fly commercially.

 

Come on mate,. . . Please take my comments on this topic in the spirit in which they are intended. . . . .because I refuse to walk carefully on eggshells for anyone.

 

Kind regards,

 

Phil

 

 

What are your concerns with full flying tails, Nev?rgmwa

Hi Rgm,. . .Ever had a total trim tab fail on a Piper Warrior 161 in flight with 4 POB ? nowt in the POH to cover that eventuality,. . . . it is still flyable, but operates rather like a wheelbarrowloadl of wet cement,. . . .

 

A FULL flying tail, also includes the vertical fin/stabiliser/rudder. . . .not many of those have I flown, other than the Whittaker MW4, which has a fully articulated tail section, based upon a Ford Transit propshaft universal joint, so that the entire tail section articulates from that joint rearward, ie, the horizontal stabiliser yaws also in rudder pedal command, and the fin follows pitch inputs,. . .THAT is a fully flying tail. . . . . . I think you are referring to a system where there is either no actual elevator, just an elevon, OR perhaps, that, AND a fully flying finivon . . . .( ! )

 

Phil

 

 

Welcome and best of luck, keep us posted! Where in WA are you flying out of? do you have the non-time-lapse, non-music version? I think most of us like to see and hear what's going on. :-)

Have to agree there Adam,. . . . .I MUCH prefer to see a FLYVID without the postproduction music track,. . .which seems to be a "Must Do" on a lot of these videos, ?. . . .what for, escapes me,. . .I would MUCH rather listen to the flying instructor yelling things like,. . ." You dickhead,. . .are you trying to kill us ? ? ? " and that kind of stuff, which is much more pertinent, amusing and INTERESTING. . . . to flight training and videos of same, without Pink Floyd superimposed,. . .much rather listen to the radio calls, the instructor patter,. . .and save the movie stuff until flight training is all over, and then make a movie about flying in some interesting places, then,. . .by all means intersperse the film with a bit of APPROPRIATE music ( if you must ! ) otherwise it's a bit pointless in my own, narrow minded, measly, horrible opinion. . . . . ( ! )

 

This feeling probably originates from my own flight training woes,. . .WHICH HAD NO musical accompanimant whatsoever, . . . .just a surfeit of curses and threats from the miserable bar$tard who was trying his best to convert this complete idiot into some sort of half-safe aviator. . . . . . . .

 

ANYHOW Andrew,. . . . . don't let some miserable Pommie Git put you off from posting further stuff mate ! ! ! ! But can you use some more appropriate soundtracks like,. . .er,. . . . those magnificent men in their flying machines,. . . .? . . . .OR,. . . . when you are doing your SPIN training,. . . .Queen's "Who wants. . .to live. . . .Forever. . . . .. . ." etc. . . . . ( ! )

 

Phil.

 

 

I I made it

Geeeeez Zenith,. . . . .that's nearly the shortest forum post I've seen for a few weeks ! !

 

Welcome to the forum,. . . . . Wot part of Illinois is it that you fly from ? . . .

 

Phil

 

 

Hello everybody, new here, found this forum via another aviator pal who owns a Long EZ. I own a Cessna 172, 1964 vintage with manual flaps and 6 cylinder Continental.I keep her on a small grass strip in Norfolk, UK, called Felthorpe. We have two runways, 23/05 and 33/15. Both are quite short, around 450m, and are within controled airspace for Norwich International Airport.

 

I also fly a De Haviland Chipmunk. Terrain around here is real flat and surrounded by coastline.

 

Look forward to posting.

 

Asthecrowflys

Welcome Asthecrow,. . . . . nice to see another Pommie on the site,. . . .( the darned place seems to be full of bloody Aussies. . . . .! )

 

Nice aircraft you've got,. . .and love the Chippy as well,. . .many happy hours in those,. . . we'll have to fly in and "raid" your strip sometime,, !. . . I'm based at Otherton, just South of Stafford, alongside the M6. . .and also at Mitton, a tiny little strip 5 NM West of Oth,. . . ( 495 metres, 28/10 )

 

Keep posting and let us know what it's like on the "Flatside" . . . . !

 

Phil

 

 

Those clever yanks; somehow they were able to con the operators of all those radio telescopes (eg. Parkes) that Kubrick's movie was coming from the moon.

Yes and not only that. . . . .on a visit to the Mt. Palomar observatory ten years ago, my mate Chalkie, down at the Hen and Chickens Pub,. saw. . .on the moon. . . .with his own eyes. . .through a Jinormous telescope thingy. . . . all the crap and mess that SOMEONE left behind on the moon's surface when they left,. . . . and my mate Chalkie doesn't mess about, so it MUST be true then. . . .?

 

 

What's being a Muslim got to do with it??? the Germanwings co pilot wasn't a Muslim from what I have read...how can you say that, I don't think any of the aircraft incidents that have happened lately can be blamed on the pilot because he may have been a Muslim...David

David,. . . .that isn't what he said. . . - - - - - If I read it correctly he stated that ( and where that came from I hesitate to ask. . . ) the Boss at Airlines of Turkey ( A MOSLEM ( MUSLIM ? ) country,. . .has suggested that his airline pilots GET MARRIED . . .

 

Now,. . . er,. . . I believe,.. . that that faith does not believe in Gay Marriage,. . . .so that is an immediate problem, finding sufficient qualified Opposite sex pilots to get married,. . . . and more importantly,. . . . since Muslim Men ( Moslem ? ) are allowed ( in some sects ) to have many Wives, it wouldn't then seem a problem to have a suicide pact with his least favourrite Wife,. . .as he'd have a load more to choose from. . . .? and this is where the whole argument falls down. . . . . .not only this, but when he went to heaven following his anti - aircraft Jihad. . .there would be a reduced quantity of virgins available too, so it doesn't really make sense Gnarly. . . . . yeah,. . .that CEO at T.A. has got a good idea there mate. . . . .

 

 

Oh Flippin 'Eck Mr. Gnarly. . . . .You'd ruin ANY good story. . . . . . .! !

 

 

Also comes in handy when a near miss makes them sh*t themselves.Will pilots now bother with pants at all, or just the shirt & jacket?

Sorry folks,. . .don't mean to make light of a fatal incident,. . . my Airbus 330 captain friend sent the above funnypic. . . . .

 

 

( Said in a real Darwin Orstrayleeyan accent. . . .) NOW LOOK. . . it didn't bloody well burn. . .and nobody got dedded,. . . .so what's all the bloody fuss about. . .?

 

 

Hi. new to the site. About to buy my first LSA.

GOOD. . .!. . . MAKE SURE YOU BUY THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU SIR. . . .!

 

Then,. . .tell us all about it. . . . NO, NO, No,. . .don't tell us that you bought the wrong one,. . . ASK the Lasses and Lads here BEFORE YOU BUY ONE,. . .then weigh up the options. . . . .it's the best way mate. . . . .nobody here will steer you wrong. ( ly ) and you might even buy something you wouldn't have considered in the first place ?? . . . never know. . . .

 

That's what my forum friends are here for. . . .( don't take any notice of me,. . .I'm too far away from the action in OZ. . . . .as a consequence, I don't know exactly what's available to you in God's own country . . . )

 

Phil

 

 

In the early 1970s,. . . I had the offer of a free lift from Sydney to Jakarta on a repositioning flight in a completely empty B707 cargo aircraft, . . .WOWIE. . . .the thing went up as though it was terrified of the ground . . .! ( No,. . .not vertical,. . .but SERIOUSLY steep AOC,. . . . ) I experienced a similar event as third officer on a 727 cargo flight a few years later and had a similar experience, ( lovely aeroplane that. . .) BUT. . . I Really WOULD like to sit in a late model jetliner in the same circumstances, ( but the chances of that nowadays are very remote ! ! ) The performance, with no cargo on board was astounding,. . . . even though the pilots reckoned that the aircraft was seriously under-powered in normal day to day operations. . . . I reckon that the performance of an empty 747, or Airbus A380 would be . . .er,. . .INTERESTING ? ?

 

The only delights I get nowadays, ( Apart from when I visit Thailand. . .! ) is when flying Rotax 912S powered trikes. . . .!. . . due to the massive power compared with the tiny weight. . . the climb angle / rate is truly breathtaking !

 

Phil

 

 

I recently had a dream come true when I had my first 5 hours of RA flight training, I am going back in May to have further training and I am really looking forward to gaining a certificate and flying on a regular basis.

Welcome to the forum Sir,. . . . . let us know how you get on with your continued flight training. . . . After FIVE HOURS. . . . you should nearly be ready for solo ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

 

Phil

 

 

 

It had to happen,. . . .I'm glad I wasn't the first to suggest this. . . . . .

 

 

Yenn, I appreciate your thinking behind this comment, but by using "Europeans" I was making a distinction between those whose cultural origins are northwest of the Alps and the rest of the wogs, dogs and other undesirables.OME

Don't beat about the bush OME,. . . say what you think bro. . . . .! ( Love it. . .)

 

Crickey, Phil! I was trying to be tongue-in-cheek!OME

YEP. . .I gathered that Mate . . . my T.I.C. respond key obviously wasn't pressed firmly down. . . .!

 

 

"The dingo won't eat my baybay!!"

OOOOH Adam,. . . .that's an 'orrible thing to say. . . .mind you,. . .my cheese & Kisses reckons that they definitely killed that baby, . . .otherwise, why did police forensics find baby blood up under the dash of a car on the site, ??. . . .really weird case that was,. . .I think the dingo was innocent,. . .( did it get the death penalty I wonder. . . ? )

 

Phil

 

 

ALL CAPS LOCK so its ok

HEY,. . . . .SORRY ME OLD TOOWOOMBA MATEY. . . .I JUST FORWARD WOT I GET SENT FROM ME MAD MATE BIG IVE BIRCH IN SYDNEY. . .. .IF HE'S GOT NOTHING OTHER THAN CAPS LOCK THEN I'M BUGGERED IF I'M GOING TO EDIT IT. . . . . . . . .

 

fil.