onetrack

On such a small diameter as the pushrod, you won't get any appreciable amount of shrinkage just from a regular freezer.

Using liquid nitrogen or dry ice, you get more shrinkage - but on a small diameter item, the shrinkage is barely measureable.

On a component that's 50, 75 or 100mm in diameter, different story, the shrinkage is very measureable.

.......posing as Dr Turbine, wearing a white coat. Turbo borrowed the PC12 while the coppers were on their alloted time off, and flew to Moorabbistan, because there was a certain gal there he really wanted to impress. He landed and stepped out wearing his doctors coat, fully intending to make a huge impression on this highly desirable gal. 

Unfortunately for Turbo, right as he stepped out on the apron, a contingent of Victorian police, who had just been up country tracking down dodgy COVID-19 doctors and nurses, landed on the runway that Turbo had just exited.

They spotted Turbo in his white coat, dialling up a Limo service to take him to town - and they promptly surrounded him, wanting to know who he was, asking for his ID and medical credentials, as well as asking other awkward questions - such as, "Where did you get this PC12?"

Turbo had to think fast. "If you really want to know, why don't you.................

[Note to Cappy, regarding nicknames - Mark Holden never had a Monica, you're thinking of Bill Clinton. However, he may have had a Moniker that his roadies used for him. If Turbo had a Monica, I'm sure his wife would like to know, right about now.]

.....as the padlock clicked, she was working out her method of revenge for such poor treatment. The Divvy Van (a modified HQ Holden ute - modified with no windscreen, no side windows and no back window - and a 10 litre jerrycan for a fuel tank, mounted on the seat between the two Indigenous Constables in front), lurched off - mostly as a result of the Constable in the passenger seat having to work the clutch by hand, as the clutch cable broke 15,000 kms ago - and no HQ wreck between Laverton (W.A.) and Ngarnawallahwoopitup had yielded a replacement cable, as all those were broken, too.

The HQ came to a sliding halt about 50 metres past the Police Station - mostly because the front disc pads were down to the metal, and the braking effect was considerably less than it should've been.

The IC's got out, and unlocked the padlock and threw the divvy van door open - and at that, Doubtfire lashed out with both feet, like a wild brumby - catching one Constable in the groin, and the other, right in the gut. 

They both doubled up on the ground, wincing in pain. "Oooooh, Bro, thet hurt! This one's a killa! Where's ma..........

.... Cappy and his deranged followers from Kapookistan? Leave it to me, I'll sort this out!".

Boxcutter went on, "OT, where can you arrange to send this nuisance known as Const Doubtfire. She's done little except cause affray amongst our personnel, ruined at least two Morry Minor patrol cars, and has really upset the Commish!".

OT promptly got on the phone to various acquaintances of high standing, and before long, Const. Doubtfire had received a text message saying she was being posted to Ngarnawallahwoopitup.

The message went on to advise that this was a location where the locals were very restless, and a firm hand was needed to keep them under control.

Doubtfire promptly organised a flight (long-overdue avref), courtesy of the WAPOL Air Wing, and they arrived with alacrity in the Kawasaki Bolkow BK117 (long-overdue avref) and whisked her away to Ngarnawallahwoopitup - which just happened to be an Indigenous Community (acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather today, and accordingly, pay my respects to all Elders past and present, and whose photos we can't publish), on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert.

"Where is this place?" said Doubtfire with concern, after 4 stops to refuel the Kwakka, and 7 hrs flight time (avref). "I though this place was going to be some place that respected my national standing, and respected my substantial policing skills and experience, and this is starting to look like a......

Maaate, the difference between a diesel application and a petrol application, is the fire potential from a diesel leak is only a miniscule level of the fire potential of a petrol leak.

My reference is Number 7 on the webpage below ...

https://firesafety.tips/guide-to-car-fire-prevention-and-control/

Good quality fuel piping that utilises barbed tails doesn't possess sharp-edged barbs that can cut hose. You will find the vast majority of fuel line fittings have barbed tails, the smooth pipe fittings are in the small minority.

The main factor in the accident is simply pure, breathtaking arrogance coupled with a "know-it-all" attitude. It seems to be amplified when the owner is extremely wealthy.

But breathtaking arrogance, and "know-it-all" attitudes, are not the preserve of the ultra-rich, it affects every level of society.

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The "spigots" are not barbed - so hose length and security against movement are important.

There's enough reason alone just in that poor design, to not use these Hengst inline plastic filters on an aircraft. What VH aircraft uses fuel piping connections that are not barbed? None, I'll wager. It's an accident waiting to happen.

Barbed fuel line connections are standard throughout the automotive industry to prevent fires. Even the cheap Ryco plastic inline filters have barbed tails. 

.....in a cloud of dust. So Const Doubtfire did the only sensible thing - she called in the WAPOL PC-12's (seriously overdue avref). They took off within 5 mins, and made it to the Bungarra Roadhouse in less than an hour, landing on the road to pick up Doubtfire (because she was needed to ID the Eastern States-origin, fleeing felons).

The PC-12's didn't take long to pick up the trucks dust trail. They flew over the top of the trucks and called on them to stop. But Cappy told the driver to keep going. "What are they gonna do?", he crowed. "Shoot out our tyres? They couldn't hit the side of a truck at this distance! - let alone our tyres!"

But no sooner than Cappy had uttered these words, than there appeared a line of...........

I have had those inline filters on vehicles block up to the point whereby the engine stopped completely, and not a skerrick of fuel would get through, even though the filter looked O.K. I would not use one of them on an aircraft engine in a million years.

.....the focus is on the impact of the colour, rather than the taste. The yellow colour really is a hit, it makes everyone think it's a Caterpillar product, and everyone wants to be associated with Caterpillar today! - and of course, Cat want to be in on the scene, too, they like to have their name hung off everything, so Cat Mousse is going to a great hit in the Supermarket aisles!

"Shouldn't it be named Cat and Mousse?", said Cappy with some concern. "We all know how correct naming can make or break a product!"

"Nah", said OT. "Cat Mousse rolls off the tongue, just like the product. "The only problem we're going to have, is keeping up the supply of mice from NSW. We all know that NSW is a pretty poor performer when it comes to supporting W.A. - just look at Barilaro, he always slinging off at Mark McGowan, now he's chucked a wobbly over a comedian taking the piXX out of him!

Soon, he'll be declaring mice an important NSW food product, and exports to other States will be restricted, and that will mean.......

Great photos and information. I must say, I'm amazed the mice didn't munch on his aircraft overnight. I'd be pretty worried about rodent damage around NSW, at present.

I just freighted a PTO-driven, trailer-mounted, Lincoln Tractapac welder, that I bought at a rural auction, from Holbrook to Perth. I thought Holbrook was relatively unaffected by the rodent plague.

When I tried to turn the welder over by hand, it wouldn't turn very far, before it jammed. I reversed the drive pulleys travel, and it jammed up again, after only about a quarter-turn.

I pulled the covers off the drive pulleys, and found around 30 litres of rodent nests, rodent turds, and general trash, totally filling the area of the pulley covers, around the big pulley.

Even the V-belts had been chewed up. What amazes me, is this got through W.A. Border quarantine, without anyone picking it up.

.......was huppening with Scotty and his counterpart? It was just amazing to see. Scotty didn't wunt to rub noses, and only wunted to elbow bump, and it looked like a new kind of dunce, as they moved arund each other!"

Meantime, Cappy had a phone call to attend to, that called him away from the shower, so he just sloshed a bottle of Eau de Cologne around the old ABC (that's [under]Arms, Bum and Crotch, for those who haven't worn Army OD clothing, and crawled around in S.E. Asian jungles for 3 weeks without a wash of any kind).

This Eau de Cologne sloshing had the effect of making a number of the CWA ladies swoon at the whiff of Cappys new aroma (which, one must admit, is much better than his regular aroma of wet dogs), and they had to be helped back to their feet.

Cappy took the urgent call, and was surprised to find it was...........

......who enjoys a good game of polo, cucumber sandwiches with Auntie Lizzy, and to just be regularly called, "that bastard with the Royal Pommy title".

However, in keeping with his titled image, and ensuring he used his Viceroy qualifications to the best, Cappy demanded a seat on the board of BOT-FLY (an honorary position, of course, as no titled individual must ever been seen to be doing actual work), which demand caused some consternation amongst the other board members - Turbo, bull, OT and Salty.

"It could be advantageous to have business links with Royalty", said OT thoughtfully. "You know, we could have an official Royal seal of Approval on the aircraft we're building - imagine what that would do for our sales?! - particularly for those who enjoy personal links with the Royal Family! Why, Cappy could even........

.....people with midget speedcars (because the Turbine Group has a major interest in midget speedcar manufacturing, too), because it doesn't matter if a midget speedcar motor fails spectacularly - in fact, the punters always love it, when that happens!"

"But spectacular engine failures in aircraft - particularly ones with our names on them, as part of the brand, is not something that works in our favour. In fact, it has a nasty tendency to reduce the number of available customers and also badly affect repeat sales", Turbo went on.

"Hold on", said OT. "We have a slight problem here. With the current level of expenditure on  gym equipment, swimming pool, video games, Starbucks, four psychologists, a Diversity Centre with Unisex toilets, a Unisex clothes outlet, Unisex training centre, complaints centre, the large extendable Hearing Room for complaints, the large OHS training facility, and the Corporate Management Centre - we have very little left in the Kitty for engine and airframe construction!"

"Don't worry about that!" said Cappy. "Take a large number of high quality photos showing the outstanding facilities, and only a couple showing aircraft in flight (avref) - then put out a big media release, right on sharemarket opening time - and the additional funds required for actual aircraft building, will just flood in from the punters with a few spare millions to invest! Just concentrate on the superb corporate premises and the management care, and soon we'll be in........

.....added that perhaps the noise of assembly would impact upon the wellbeing of those in the centre, and it would be better if rubber hammers and noiseless tooling was used, which would provide a more soothing environment for the assemblers as well, besides which......

......land a Jackeroo with a dead engine (avref). "We haven't fought a war in 70 years, because the number of medals we wear, puts off anyone who might want to attack us!", said one General haughtily.

"Who's going to attack a prime military target with laser and radio controlled weapons, when they can be diverted by the sheer quantity of metal we're wearing? We protect out military assets by masquerading as targets ourselves. Isn't that just brilliant strategy?"

"I don't know about that", said OT, "I reckon just taking out a few enemy Generals alone, has to be reason for high-fives in any attack!".

"Hmmm, that's a valid point", said the General. "But let's get away from medals and war talk, and let's discuss the local taxes payable on these Spitfires (more avref). I believe US$10M each, with payment in cash (US$ of course, we don't take any of that dodgy plastic Kangaroo currency), is a reasonable figure for removing these Burmese Heritage items from our country!"

"That's outrageous!", exclaimed Cappy, as he saw his restored Spitty dream evaporating again. How was he going to find US$10M, and how was he going to........

Gee, you wouldn't want a greasy, slippery palm when you were holding onto that cabin strut, would you? 

Dick's ripping into Anderson is because Anderson is considering standing for a political seat again, and it is a preemptive move to stop Anderson from being elected again, and thereby again becoming a politician in charge of aviation.

All aviation within Australia and its territories is governed by the over-arching Civil Aviation Act 1988. The definition of an "aircraft" under Part 1, Sec 3 is;

"aircraft means any machine or craft that can derive support in the
atmosphere from the reactions of the air, other than the reactions of
the air against the earth’s surface."

This definition covers almost anything that gets airborne - which includes large drones and RA aircraft.

"Registration" of any aircraft is compulsory, and aircraft that are registered carry a visible registration number.

There's practically no exclusions to this, if you want to be legal, you have to register your aircraft - or your large drone (over 250g).

The only exclusions to registration of an aircraft is, if your aircraft is a model aircraft or drone, under 250g, and flown for recreation.

Any model aircraft over 250g must be registered with CASA.

So to try and say that an RA aircraft is not a registered aircraft, and registration only applies to GA VH aircraft, is not correct.

https://www.icao.int/safety/airnavigation/AIG/Database1Docs/Australian Civil Aviation Act 63 1988.pdf

He doesn't hold back, does he? He could've added a couple of pages, and pointed out that there is never any independent examination of CASA's performance, rules, regulations, rulings and red tape - nor any examination of the size of this bureaucracy in this day and age, when aviation has declined substantially in numbers and aircraft movements, meaning a lot of people within CASA must have very little to do - except think up more rules and regulations. Talk about an untouchable job for life.

KRAviator - Not putting down your sales ability, but with the current level of Landcruiser demand, and the extreme shortage of good Landcruisers, you could sell an ex-tribal Landcruiser from some remote community today, with just a one line, no photo ad.

I experienced this in 1995 when I sold my 80 series turbodiesel auto wagon. I'd paid $50K for it in June 1992, and sold it in November 1995 with 170,000 kms on the odometer.

Such was the demand for them in that period, I advertised it for $40K and I was knocking back buyers with a stick.

The first buyer who rolled up bought it on the spot, dents and all, without even quibbling about the price.

Aircraft don't exactly fall into the same level of demand. But you're right, if you really want to sell something, you have to put in the effort.

I believe many aircraft owners are reluctant to part with their aircraft, due to numerous reasons, and this leads to the attitude of, "I'll only sell it if the price offered is right". Many brokers represent this same attitude.

There's nothing like coming across a seller who really needs to sell their aircraft - and they have what you want, and the sale price is excellent value.

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There used to be a regulation requiring him to carry a firearm.

Turbo, surely you jest? Discharging a firearm inside a cramped cockpit would produce enough concussive forces and fumes, to just about disable a pilot - let alone the potential damage to aircraft control systems with a random bullet!

I would expect anyone who wanted to take a pet with them in a light aircraft, would have enough brains to have the pet tethered in a harness, exactly the same as is required in many jurisdictions, for road vehicles.

An interesting point about this forced landing, is that commercial airlines do not require a separate seat or restraint for any child under 24 mths of age.

CASA and other Govt authorities are obviously most concerned about child protection in the event of an aircraft crash, as the primary safety angle.

The ATSB got a grant to carry out research into child restraint (where the child does not have its own seat), because young children in aircraft crashes, without proper restraints, have suffered from an excessive death rate, as compared to adult pax.

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/32773/crs_final.pdf

Maybe he can say the bub was just Mums luggage? After all, the littley would only be about 10kgs. I've seen woman with handbags that weigh more than that!

.....had to think quick as to what he could substitute for the RSL. Of course, it would have to be the Revolutionary Socialist League (British Trotskyist Group), which group would align nicely with the ruling Generals of Burma.

"I can do that introduction, no problem!", said Cappy to the General who asked. "But the RSL will want to see your relevant qualifications, to be able to meet with them. They're not just any social club with tea and cucumber sandwiches, you know!"

"I have the highest level of military awards and medals, in all Burma!", stated the General haughtily. "I fully expect they will welcome me with open arms as one of equal standing with any of their highest medal recipients!"

Cappy replied, "Oh, I'm sure they'll welcome you when they see your........

[Dear Cappy - OT apologises for the throwaway hula girl remark - OT was not aware of the obviously still-painful memories of your GGGGGGG great grandfather's sudden demise at the hands of several hula girls - which is in direct contrast to the historical reports, which failed to mention hula girls].

......several Burmese Generals who arrived at regular times, with dismayed looks, to survey the destruction of their prime aerodrome (avref) - and who indulged in heated discussions between themselves in Burmese, obviously arguing over whose stupid idea it was to let Turbo loose with a large excavator, at their primary aerodrome. 

Meantimes, OT had rolled up, and surveyed the scene, shaking his head. He went over to Turbo, had a short discussion with him (obviously related to his earthmoving and operating skills - or more pertinently - the lack of them), and Turbo got out of the excavator and OT took his place.

The bystanders were amazed as OT showed off his specialised earthmoving skills, acquired over a long period of time, with dirt flying skillfully everywhere at low fuel cost - and within an hour, there were three dirt-covered crates sitting on the surface, and 14 of the 16 superfluous holes that Turbo had dug (which made the area look like a lunar landscape) had been skillfully filled in and levelled by OT. And the excavator still had 30% fuel remaining in the tank.

The Burmese Generals all arrived in short order, and their smiles were wider than a Tahitian hula girls greeting. They talked excitedly amongst themselves at the great result OT had produced - not only had he cleaned up the mess left by Turbo and others, he'd also found 3 of the long-lost Spitfire crates, and now they were looking at.........