onetrack

While I agree that the chances of powerplant problems increase after maintenance, it is also a comparable point that rubber components have a higher failure rate after a few years.

Rubber and rubberised components degrade quite rapidly, with the effects of heat, ozone, UV light, coolant additives and other chemicals, and constant cycles of heat & cold, and pressure.

I would opine that the 5 year changeover time is not unreasonable, nor exceptionally costly, and properly done with due care and attention, I see no reason to avoid it.

.......he makes Ben Roberts-Smith look like a wuss. It's a little-known fact that OT saved a whole company of Australian Infantry from being overrun in XXXXXXXXXX province and at XXXXXXXX airbase, he wiped out a whole squad of VC intent on attacking the airbase and aircraft there, by just standing there in the open, regardless of flying AK-47 rounds, firing from the hip with an M60.

The Yanks were so impressed, OT was actually given a Congressional Medal of Honor, but he can't pick it up, as American awards can't be accepted by Aussies. But regardless, OT doesn't need any more medals, anyway, he already needs a counterweight on the back of his jacket to balance the ones he's already got - or he'd be forever falling flat on his face.

But regardless of OT's record, it soon became obvious to OT, the bloke doing the medical check was a veteran, too. OT started asking questions about his service record, and as soon as the medic realised who he was talking to, it wasn't long before the medical was signed, and a few drinks were on the table.

The war stories flew thick and fast, and when the medic bloke revealed he'd previously been a DHC-4 Caribou driver, the conversation got quite animated as OT related his experiences jumping out of Caribous over XXXXXXXX zone, and joining up on the ground with XXXXXXX company, who had been........

Skippy, you don't state a budget level, which will help. Here's a local (W.A.) aircraft that may fit your requirements, although it may be priced outside your budget level.

It's currently VH registered but it appears it would be no problem to revert it to RA registration.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/yokine/miscellaneous-goods/2011-pipersport-aircraft/1275064299

Here's a flight report on the aircraft. It appears the stall speed is 34 kts in the landing configuration.

https://www.australianflying.com.au/news/pipersport-lsa-flight-test-a-new-beginning

.....and the nurses swooned over his manly physique, thus making it very difficult for OT. As a result, the medical was ignored as flirtatious activity was indulged in, and the medical offices were turned into something resembling.......

Unfortunately, as with many "fantastic" photos and captions, the reality is a little different to what it is purported to be. Photo-editing is a worldwide sport.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/is-sunset-moscow-real/

At 32kg for a genset powerplant, the current rotary still too heavy, considering that you still have to add the generator, and the batteries for primary hybrid power.

But ...... Mazda are well on the way to producing a new Wankel - which is reportedly about 1 litre capacity - and which is going to be the genset powerplant/range extender for the 2022 Mazda Hybrid cars.

Mazda are being exceptionally coy on the actual final design of this new version of the rotary, but we should know more by the end of this year. A small, lightweight rotary range extender could be the answer for a hybrid electric aircraft.

https://www.mazda.com/en/innovation/stories/rotary/newera/

Alan - You have to treat animals as animals, they're not humans, and they can't be given and follow instructions, as humans can.

They're largely unpredictable, and respond to vastly different stimuli, as compared to humans.

For example, a dog could become very excited at spotting what it recognises as prey, or "chase" animals, from the air, and as result they need some form of harness restraint.

I would have to say CASA wouldn't consider dogs to be passengers under any circumstances, simply because they are classed as animals, not humans.

......creatures, and very little stops them from getting airborne - not even a missing tail. "Where there's a will, there's a way", is their motto. After some thought, though, Turbo remembered he had seen an abandoned Hummelbird partly-hidden in a farm shed not far away, and he thought the Hummelbird would possibly provide some useful parts to get the Jab airborne again. After all, the Phoenix rose again from the desert, didn't it?!

Turbo set off on foot and soon found the Hummelbird. It had been abandoned when the 95.10 wing load rules changed, and it was actually in excellent condition. Turbo considered it would probably be easier to get the Hummelbird flying, than it would be to get the Jab serviceable again - so he set to, found some fuel, fired it up, taxied around the shed - and found a nice level patch of ground behind the shed, that looked like it was made for an airstrip.

However, just as he was doing his pre-flight control checks, he was shocked to see........

Faded and scratched Polycarbonate will polish up nicely using a loose leaf calico buffing wheel on a bench grinder with a spindle extension.

Use some blue Josco polishing compound, and don't let the heat build up in the polycarbonate when buffing.

https://www.josco.com.au/resource/select-the-right-buff-and-compound/

[Note to a very compassionate and concerned Ratty - You will be pleased to hear that OT has organised a crowdfunding fundraiser for the rabbits of Darraweit Guim, to fund swimming lessons for every rabbit, that is capable of hopping to them. This will ensure that no rabbit will be left behind to drown, when the wall of water strikes Darraweit Guim in the near future, and every rabbit will be able to bodysurf that wall of water, like Mick Fanning....

And here we have the video evidence to show you the heartwarming abilities of the first Darraweit Guim rabbit to complete his full course of swimming lessons......]

Be very aware, that if you use Decalin Runup, its primary constituent is a compound called Tri Cresyl Phosphate. TCP is an organophosphate, and as such is extremely toxic, both to humans and animals. Simply put, it's a nerve poison.

Read the MSDS on Decalin Runup and TCP and treat the stuff with all due respect, for the highly poisonous chemical it is. Don't spill it on your skin, and don't inhale any fumes from it.

......people with boats permanently at the ready, tied to the house verandah railings. But CT9000 doesn't believe any large volume of water in the aforementioned 5 creeks is a flood, until the airport tower goes under water, and puts up a periscope looking for aircraft. 

The rabbits of Darraweit Guim have taken to wearing both lifejackets, as well as fleecy coats (from China, of course), to cater for all extremes of weather and water levels in the village area.

However, due to the degree of success by the tower operators with the tower-issued .22 Brno long rifle (single shot, bolt-action only, no American killing fields here, and the rabbits get a sporting chance), the rabbits have all sent in their internet order for 1,500 rabbit-size flak jackets.

The order puzzled the website owners, due to the very small sizes ordered (even baby rabbits get one each), but they proceeded to issue a manufacturing order, which was handled by........

.....perfect cream and placid cows that stand still for long periods, so they are highly suitable as subjects when making TV ads for dairy products.

But whilst talking of standing still - it appears that the WAPOL have not been standing still on the case of the disappearance of several Morry Minor engines from their warehouse.

The case is proving a major embarrassment to the WAPOL, who pride themselves on their record of solving cases - which currently stands at 16% of important cases solved.

To further greatly improve WAPOL performance, it has been decided to send high ranking officers along to a new cutting edge course, entitled "How to Track Elephants in Snow".

It is believed this course is of huge value to WAPOL, and will likely greatly improve the current level of important and outstanding case resolutions.

What is of concern to WAPOL, is that the MM engine heist took place in broad daylight, using a regular taxi-truck service, who merely rolled up to the warehouse, and upon presenting a fake stores issue document, they were given the engines without adequate checks being performed.

Heads will roll over this, of course - mostly the heads of junior officers and civil employees, to save the arXes of those higher up the food chain.

Checks of taxi-truck companies are being undertaken, CCTV records are being scrutinised, and it appears a fictitious company, Turbo Taxi Trucks had been purposely created for the heist.

But WAPOL are onto it, they have all the conversations and photos from the encrypted phones of the perpetrators, and WAPOL have identified a large number of other criminal offences being committed by this mystery organisation, that utilises a fictitious name and fictitious address.

It appears that Aviation-related offences are also included, as conversations taken from the encrypted devices, refer to the infringement of a multitude of aviation regulations, leading to great alarm amongst operatives in CASA, who failed to notice that this TTT was virtually "flying under the radar". However, the evidence in the encrypted conversations is now sizeable enough to.......

Trump certainly wasn't a politician - and he wasn't a leader either. But he is a narcissistic bully, with a need to belittle and viciously abuse people, the instant they failed to support him, or criticise him.

He's also a blatant liar, bordering on a Walter Mitty type personality. He's the sorest loser in U.S. politics in the last 100 years, and he still continues to promote the BIG LIE, that he was cheated out of winning the Presidency again, by voter fraud.

Yet, despite launching dozens of lawsuits where PROOF of a claim must be provided, Trump could not provide one single piece of proof, that he had been defrauded in elections.

The judges threw out every case, bar none, stating Trump had failed to even provide any basic proven facts for a case.

If you think all this erratic and self-promoting behaviour makes for a good President, then you probably need to take off your rose-coloured glasses. Even the Chair of his Party, Liz Cheney, has savaged his pathological LYING behaviour.

.......previous Black Rod was well-worn, and looking very limp and tatty, due to an exceptional amount of daily use - which could almost be described as "getting a good flogging".

Meanwhile, Turbo was planning revenge on the Governor for his ruthless act of depriving Turbo of the companionship of Darrenweit. The Governors wife was also plotting with Turbo to exact some revenge for dispatching the donkey.

It's not well known that the Governors wife, whose maiden name was Margrete Yiekkanen, had previously been a champion Finnish rally driver, and a world-class aerobatic pilot (long-overdue avref).

Her nickname was "Yikes", which developed directly from the cries of her rally co-drivers and co-pilots, as she threw rally cars and aircraft around equally with gay abandon (and no LGBTQ reference meant here, either).

She was now determined to resume her former career, and had cunning plans to include the Governor in either her rally car and aircraft rides. Accordingly, she organised for a Ford Fiesta WRC and a Pitts Special S-2 to be........

.....alarming", said the Governor. "But you always need to match your weapon to your opponents weapon! - and I have the superior weapon!". At that, he shot Darraweit stone-cold dead on the spot, thus bringing gasps of horror from the assembled crowd - while his wife cried out, "Ei! Ei! Ei!!".

"Kyllä! Kyllä! Kyllä!!", cried the Governor in delight as the donkey fell over. The crowd yelled, "Yes! Yes! Yes!!" - mistaking the Governors Finnish outburst for English, and agreeing that he really was a Killer.

Meantimes, Turbo burst through the crowd, seething with anger over the senseless killing of his dear old donkey, which had provided him with many a laugh.

"You bastard!", he cried. "This means War! I'll never forgive you for this, and neither will your wife, who was gaining.........

I posted the link to this historical tornado-aviation-damage story previously, but it's probably worth putting here again. A tornado in 1952 took out two-thirds of Strategic Air Commands B-36 Convair "Peacemakers", in one hit.

It left the SAC reeling in the knowledge that their mainstay against the Cold War Russian nuclear threat was in tatters. A massive repair program was initiated immediately, to get as many B-36's up and running, ASAP.

The repair work was deemed an urgent National Priority, and was spread amongst three groups - Convair, the USAF logistics teams from Kelly AFB in San Antonio, and the SAC's own repair teams.

It took only one week before the first fully-repaired B-36 was back on duty, the second week, nine more were brought back to full availability, and within one month the 7th Bomb Wing was back at full operational strength.

It's surprising that the SAC failed to understand the basic military tactic of never gathering all your major assets in one place. They learnt a major lesson from this event, and spread the B-36's around whenever severe weather was forecast again.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/remembering-the-1952-carswell-afb-tornado-that-damaged-two-thirds-of-sacs-b-36-force/

.....because his wife was Finnish, she blocked him from any further moves, and yelled out, "Ei!! Olen innoissani!! Jätä minut!!". This had the effect of causing great confusion amongst the others present - but it didn't confuse the Governor. He knew exactly what she was saying, and it was time to do something about the donkey - because he couldn't do anything more with his wife.

"Darraweit!!", the Governor called out, fully expecting the donkey to raise his head and acknowledge him. But as soon as he called out the donkeys name, 120 heads swivelled towards him, and most of the crowd started to laugh and point - at the Governor - and his wife. The Governor was apoplectic. He was going to get Turbo for this, even if it took him 10 years. He headed for the donkey and.......

I doubt very much whether iBob's classy Japanese Taiyo Seiko riveter is imported by any company in Australia - simply because they can import Taiwanese and Chinese hand riveters, and make 10 times the profit selling them - while advising customers they're as good as they make today.

However, there's a Japanese online seller called Monotaro, who specialise in Japanese-name MRO and industrial products. They have "divisions" of their online selling operation in nearly all Asian countries.

The closest and easiest to Australia is Monotaro Singapore (monotaro.sg), who can supply the Taiyo Seiko hand riveter for SGD$75.99 - which is around AUD$74 - plus shipping cost, which amount you don't find out, until you have put the item in your shopping cart.

At around probably nearly 3 times the price of the others, it would want to be good. Unfortunately, I have found that even Japan gets products made in other Asian countries, such as Taiwan and China, so there's no guarantee the Taiyo Seiko hand riveter you buy today, is made in Japan, as it was 40 yrs ago - unless it specifically has "Made in Japan" stamped on it.

https://www.monotaro.sg/g/1001408828.html

I had a beaut pair of Japanese wire strippers ("Vessel" brand) that I bought in the mid-1970's. After 45 yrs, I managed to break the handle on them. I went looking for a replacement pair and couldn't find them - but I found an exact copy being produced by the Chinese for about 1/4 of the price I paid for the Vessel wire strippers in 1975!

After I purchased the Chinese version, I then found the original for sale on eBay! It wasn't available on eBay when I wanted a pair of them, last year! 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3000A-Automatic-Wire-Stripper-/293947940130?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c1#viTabs

.....veil, to get a better look. However, upon doing so, she was immediately scolded by her..........

[NOTE to CT9000 - Of course, even us left coast yokels know that Darraweit Guim is a little Victorian town, a few kays out of Elmore - but there was this well-known performing donkey - owned by Turbo, of course - who was named after Darraweit Guim, purely because Turbo thought it was absolutely hilarious to do so, and to hear people trying to call out the donkeys name ....]

Old K, I think the major problems with hand riveters, is that the manufacture of virtually every brand of them (including the good U.S. name brands), has been outsourced to China.

The problem then is that the jaws do not have the quality (not tool steel), nor the correct hardening, to enable long life.

Add in rapid jaw wear, and a buildup of metal particles from the rivet shanks, and the scene is set for a short operating life.

None of them are able to be repaired, you can't buy replacement jaws for them, so in reality, they're a throwaway tool and priced accordingly.

Maybe this brand will perform a little better? Reputed to be "professional quality" - but that term is used very loosely today, unlike the "old days".

https://www.discounttrader.com.au/product/crescent-chr10-premium-hand-riveter/

EDIT - Here's the same tool, $10 cheaper! ... https://housetradesupplies.com.au/catalogue-specials-jan-mar-2021/7543-crescent-chr10-crescent-hand-riveter-chr10-9337103016654.html

....order it be repainted in St Kilda colours, in the hope that this would turn St Kildas fortunes around, and possibly even produce some more St Kilda followers, who believe in miracles.

Meantimes, Const Doubtfire had advanced on Turbo with a gleam in her eye, and she promptly grabbed him in a headlock, and wrestled him into ......

Well, it appears the Police have no major concern for anyone involved in this crash, so I guess the pilot escaped with little or minimal injury. The NT Police Farcebook page gives the following info ....

"CALL FOR INFORMATION - DARWIN RURAL AREA

UPDATE @ 10:14 PM  (06/06/2021)
Police thank members of the public who have identified the two paragliders/paramotors, one with a red wing, flying in the rural area this afternoon. Police have spoken to these two people and eliminated them from our enquiries. Police do not hold active concerns for welfare of any persons as a result of this report.

Northern Territory Police would like to speak to anyone who was operating or has knowledge of operations of ultralight and paramotor aircraft in the Humpty Doo area, including Herbert, Lloyd Creek and Noonamah between the hours of 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM this evening. (06/06/2021)
The specific area of interest is bounded by Girraween Road, Costa Road, Townend Road and the Stuart Highway.
Please call 131 444 and quote reference 9704772."

Ahhh - so a crashed ultralight has actually been discovered, and there's no-one there at the crash site, is that correct?

It sounds like it's possible the pilot either just walked away relatively unscathed, to organise wreckage collection - or if he was injured, he was taken to a doctor or hospital privately. Some people enjoy keeping a very low profile.

It might be a case of someone seeing a "crash" that never actually happened. The NT News has the following headline (I can't get the full article, it's behind a paywall) ....

"MYSTERY STILL SURROUNDS ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT ‘CRASH’ IN TOP END RURAL AREA

Police have eliminated two paragliders — seen flying by witnesses — from their inquiries with mystery still surrounding an ultralight aircraft 'crash' in the Top End’s rural area on Sunday afternoon."

The NT Police have not issued any news/media articles about this "reported crash". So perhaps there was no crash, just someones imagination running wild.