Captain

G'day All

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted any pics and I have really been clocking the hours .... although in retrospect it is a little hard to see in the photos below.

Have just gone through 175 mhrs in my building log, and a lot of hrs have been spent in the past 2 weeks on surface preparation of the fuselage. I assume/hope that the hours spent sanding andsmoothing will show dividends in the final appearance. I'm just learning all aboutthis& reckon that this is not a Jabiru specific issue as all kits will need good preparation to get the paint & appearance right ...so I hope it pays off when we paint it in a month or 2.

Given all my aching muscles, yards & yards of used sandpaper and the fact that every square inch of my shed & its contents are now covered in white "bog" dust, please don't criticise the finishat next year's Natfly. If you don't like the way it looks, just stay schtumm or I'll get depressed.

Reasonable progress up the sharp end as you can see. The nose leg is off to the powder-coaters tomorrow.

Initial instruments have arrived and I hope to be able to post some pics of the panel soon.

Regards to all - now back to the shed.

Captain

Thanks Dave. I'd appreciate that. Regards Geoff

Dave

This is a little off Shifty's subject ... so apologies to him/her for that ... but there has been some doubt cast elsewhere on the ability of the Avmap to drive an autopilot, so please advise what brand Autopilot is in that Texan and whether you know of any issues with them talking to each other.

Regards Geoff Captain

G'day Nos,

Is that yourmachine in the background?

G'day Roger from about 95 kms to your east.

I am also building a J230 that is shown in the Kitbuilding section. When is yours due?

I'm trying to finish for end Sept and my engine is coming end Aug.

Welcome aboard & if you'd like to see one partly done, just let me know.

By the way ... there is a freight group in Wagga that have a daily service from Bundaberg to the Riverina. I used them, they did a good job and saved a bit ....EDIT - BUGGER, JUST REALIZED THAT YOU'LL BE FLYING YOURS DOWN, SO IGNORE THAT.

Regards Geoff Captain

Spotted at Caboolturelast Saturday.

Brand new Sting with near zero hours& immaculate paint job which I understand took 2 weeks solid to paint!!!

Variable 3 blade prop with Rotax 912S (100HP), Blue Mountains EFIS and Garmin 296.

Nice looking machine indeed.

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It has now been a while since I asked the original question and I wonder if there are any more opinions on these units or whether anyone has started using one over the last couple of months.

I've been speaking with the Distributor today and they are very helpful and knowledgable .... but how do you find the units in every-day use?

Regards

Has anyone seen any reports on the new DC X11 ENC headsets - see below.

Weight looks reasonable at a bit over 12 ozs.

Price is $US, not Skippy.

See http://www.davidclark.com/X11/index.htmlfor details on features.

Regards Geoff

All David Clark headsets come with a FIVE YEAR Warranty and include a free nylon padded headset bag.

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<TD width="84%">David Clark X-11</TD></TR>

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<TD width="84%">Price:$799.00</TD></TR>

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<TD width="84%">Shipping early August</TD></TR></T></T></T></TABLE>

Imagine a headset so comfortable you may forget you're even wearing it-even during long hours of flight. A headset with comfortable features that fit so perfectly, you'll think it was designed for you personally. A headset made from new, handcrafted materials that refuse to sacrifice lightweight comfort while providing long term durability. A headset that is backed by unprecedented customer service and support. Now imagine it's yours, the new X-11 ENC from David Clark.

<UL>

<LI>Intelligently engineered, low force, dual hinge suspension assembly provides perfect fit

<LI>Super lightweight headband, crafted from genuine carbon fiber for maximum strength

<LI>Low-profile volume control knobs with detent settings

<LI>Modern design provides compact storage

<LI>New dual voice coil ENC technology reduces pilot fatigue

<LI>Features cell phone, aux./music input-all cables provided

<LI>Sleek, lightweight control unit powered by two AA batteries(avg. 30 hours)-Auto Shutoff capability

<LI>High fidelity stereo ear phones with dual volume controls

<LI>Super soft, fabric faced, contoured gel ear seals

<LI>Every X-11 headset comes with DC headset bag

<LI>Weighs 12.1 ounces </LI>

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John,

FYI - Following are 5 posts on PIK20's from a Soaring Forum that I inhabit.

It looks like there is some relevant info there.

Hope this helps.

Regards Geoff

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I am wondering what people think about Pik 20D as a first ship. Any thoughts?

I am looking for a something in the $20k range that will be fun to fly cross country and will not be a particular hassle to own. Pleasant flight characteristics, comfortable, stays up on less-than-perfect days, just basically a nice plane to fly. Does this describe a 20D?

Where do you Pik owners get parts?

Anything to watch for when viewing Piks for sale? Any other advice?

Thanks.

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Greetings

I'm sure most D models are fine but do read Johnson's flight report (26-1979-01.pdf). There's some evidence that the wing mould had warped over time and the wing was manufactured around 6% thicker than it should be resulting in poorer performance than earlier B version.

Another thing to look for is cracking in the wheel retract mechanism (the wheel hangs down a little and this gets worse over time). There's more detail and some useful links at:

http://www.cofc.co.nz/pik20/pik20.html

There's been similar recent discussions on the forum (try a search).

cheers JR

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And check out Jim Tsillas's PIK web site,

http://www.appledor.net/tsillas/soaring/index.html

Bob

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The model B is rated "experts only" by Piggott because of its flaps-only configuration. I have owned a D for some years. It is the most forgiving ship I have ever flown. Parts can be a problem. I think that you might be under-budgeted if you are west of the Rockies.

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Clem

It seems to me that if, as an example, you were required to travel to a destination on business and you decided to use your private aircraft instead of driving or flying with a commercial carrier, you could then claim the alternative cost, at an ATO agreed car allowance or the cost of commercial flights etc (& maybe even overnight accommodation if dictated by commercial timetables).

But it would be a stretch to claim all costs associated with a private aircraft unless it is used 100% commercially.

RegardsA Bush Lawyer

Since the last post have been working mainly down the blunt end.

Pics show horiz. stab end caps on, elevatoron, elevator end caps on, rudder fitted and playing around with panel location to suit long legs.

Apologies that shed is such a mess. Will do better next time.

Heaters working well. Gas Co share price is going thru the roof

Ian

Were your Bose units straight or coil leads .... and do you have a strong preference?

Regards Geoff Captain

Your 500 mA limit might be an issue.

I have a Kuntzelman tail fin strobe (www.kestrobes.com). They quote it as 2 Amps but Claus Grimm has just tested it for me running direct off the lighting coil and he advises that it draws 1.2 Amps average when pulsing.

It seems to me that LED Headlights are just around the corner and (bright) LED landing lights are soon to be here, but I have tested an LED strobe ball and while it would be fine at night, they are not yet bright enough in daylight IMHO.

Let me know if you want a link to the LED Strobes and I'll dig it out.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards Geoff

The latest Jabiru Newsletter is available at http://www.jabiru.net.au/news/jabachat/index.html#current

Certain secret messages in the Newsletter are only visible to those reading it thru J coloured glasses.

The rest of you will have to just dream.

Ian ... it's not too late to cancel the CT and get with the J program.

Regards Geoff

You are right Paul and there are several Motor-Gliders in the market.

The key decision appears to be whether you want to have a self launcher withTOP class sailplane performance. If you do then it costs an arm and a leg for that latest performance and something like an ASH 25 or a Stemme is needed.

S/H 5 year old Stemme's are about $US210,000 or so.

But if you will accept the somewhat reduced Sailplane performance of atypical "Motorglider" then prices are back somewhere near Ultralight levels.

Regards Geoff

G'day Arthur

All administered by the FAI Gliding (see www.fai.org/gliding ) but I don't know if this is a class here in the GFA, however I understand that there may be some who have chosen to put their Sailplanes thru the RAA. Chris Kien is a gliderphile anyway so should be able to tell you more.

I'm no expert on the FAI Regs, but there is a Microlift Class that is meant to just chase upward airmass movements, not thermals, with a MTOW of 220 kgs and max 18 kg/sq.m wing loading ... see the following link where there are some drawings, photos and Specs ... http://www.fai.org/gliding/documents/microlift.pdf

From the following excerpt from the FAI Rules it looks like Ultralight is the same MTOW without the limitation to wing loading ...

Quote

d. ULTRALIGHT a glider with a takeoff mass not xceeding 220 kg, and a MICROLIFT glider is an ULTRALIGHT glider with a wingloading not exceeding 18 kg/m2.

MICROLIFT gliders do not have separate world records.

Unquote

Interesting, isn't it?

Good stuff doing over 970 kms in an all up 220 kg sailplane.

What do you reckon?

Hope this helps

Geoff

Captain

John,

As an indicator there is a 1987 DG400 self launcher available in Nth America with 2473 hours @ $US87,000.

I'll see if I can find my latest Gliding Mags and post whatever else is listed here and in the US.

Regards Geoff

I thought that the following examples of current world records in Sailplanes might be of interest to a few power pilots here:

Best free distance in an Ultralight Glider: 972.04 km

Best distance using up to 3 turn points : 2 129.9 km

Best speed over an out-and-return course of 1 000 km : 199.79 km/h

Regards Geoff

G'day Clem,

What's your (or others) best guess on when?

Exciting times .... eh?

Regards Geoff in Wagga

Clement

I thought it was "Tinnitus" ..... which is a constant ringing in the ears.

You mention "Titinitus", which is a constant visualisation of female breasts.

To which do yourefer ... as I would hate to take "Tebonin" and be cured ofthe latter.If it does that, perhaps the product might betterbe called "Deboner".

Kind regards Geoff Captain

FYI, I have pinched the following from the latest post on this subject on the RV builder's Forum .... where the Lycoming & Rotary supportersare getting a bit twitchy/het-up & trading methods of engine"failure" jibes about things in this debate. If the following are true and replicable, then they are good hours, though:

QUOTE

Since you asked, I know of several mazda engines that have run very near 2000 hrs in an aircraft- the most time I know of was in a training gyroplane, where the service cycle is probably greater than in fixed wing service- that engine went over 2400 hrs before overhaul which turned out to be unneeded. I believe Tracy Crook took his 13B to around 1800 hrs before he traded it in on a newer Renesis motor, mostly to test his new redrive/big prop, not that it needed replacing- that engine had NO measurable wear in any of the bearings or apex seal, and that engine was taken out of a junk yard (used RX-7) if memory serves.

The only reason you have not yet seen more reports is simply that the Mazda conversion parts have only become available commercially in the last few years, and it takes a bit of time for the GA pilots I know to log 2000+ hours

FWIW, The complete overhaul kit in a Mazda costs around $600, if it is ever needed. The most common failure (I believe) involves rubber seals that can can become damaged with excessive heat (cooling system failure). To claim wear-conditional parity with a Lycomming is absurd; many Lucs do not make it anywhere near TBO for whatever reason, though granted, some do if babied, maintained, and used regularly. I do know that a Lyc overhaul costs a bit more than a Wankel.

Im glad you are happy with your Lyc- it is an excellent choice for most of our clan. I really only object when I hear false reporting and biased facts thrown out, which gives a twisted impression on an engine that appears to be as good, if not better, based on engineering principles.

I think you can bank on the fact however, that a properly tuned Mazda engine will run a lot longer at rated full power, 6000 rpm, than a Lyc will at 3000. I suspect we will be able to say the same thing about Subarus as well, though I think the Wankel has an inherent advantage over any reciprocating engine operating at continuous "high" rpm. (remember, the rotors turn at 1/3 crankshaft speed in a continuous motion < do not change direction 4 times per power stroke>, and the rotors do not need to be made light/flimsy like alumimum pistons and connecting rods).

__________________

Mike Parker

RV-9a under construction,

planning Mazda 13B rotary power

UNQUOTE Captain

Jack

Does your user name reflect an Italian heritage?

Regards Anglo Geoff

Ian

I can't comment on performance variables between your available choices, but I will comment that the 57 mm dia faces of the modern radios and transponders make a neat and space saving contribution to the (generally) smaller than GA panels in our classes of aircraft.

And from the checks I have made in preparation for my own purchases of these items, there don't appear to be any real performance or reliabilitytradeoffs to get these 57 mm dia smaller and lighter units.

Not much help, but that is my 6 peneth worth (5 cents tothe young Whipper Snippers who read this).

Regards Geoff

Have been a bit slack with photos over the last 3 weeks (it's a bugger when business interferes with your fun ), so here are a couple more, althoughhave been getting on with the building OK ;) .

Has been a bit cool here lately, so as Ross mentioned in one of his recent posts, I have hooked up 2 large electric fan heaters and a gas patio heater so can maintain the fuselage at 20 C while glassing etc, however the electricity meter is going like a Helicopter rotor :confused: and the gas bottle is getting a workout.

Having a ball :devil:

PS .. the dog sleeps on the blanket & pillow under the fuselage. Not me (yet).

. Captain

Chris

Why not both?

Get a J160 kit and also the Redback with the money you save.

Then you can have the added fun, like Ross & I, in doing the building throughthe glorious 2007 Bathurst winter.

(I have a bit of dirt up at the top of Fremantle Rd and know how cold it gets up there. Just wish I could fit a strip on it, but it is all vertical, although have 9 kms of frontage onto the Macquarie so floats might be an option I guess, or a Cub with big tyres ... did you see that STOL link here somewhere).

Regards Geoff in Wagga Captain