Tomo

...Gee wiz! You sure you aren't a horse racing commentator yours truly?

Kingy was quite surprised at the detail and length, not to mention the time the 'yours truly' was up to writing such a report.

"Quite an effort don't you think?" asked Nanna

"I reckon we could de...err...nominate him to........

Can't really help without knowing what model it is unfortunately.

Go and buy yourself a 5D :big_grin:

Wacky do!

Well done guys! It just gets better... :big_grin:

After about 300 hours of use, the thru-bolts decided to shed their nuts again! With rough running and almost total power loss on take-off at 400 ft, the instructor skillfully landed on the short runway last Saturday morning. Took the engine to Bundaberg on monday and awaiting their report. Now have a new engine with the latest specs (hollow pushrods etc) The thru-bolts need to be high tensile with rolled threads instead of machined chrome molly. Atleast that might keep the two halves together! There were numerous reports of thru-bolt failure in the Sept Oct Flight Safety Mag. The folks at Bundi were unaware of this. Anyway I will keep those who are interested posted if and when further info comes to hand. Regards, Bob

Yes, very interesting indeed. As you already know, I was there when Bill made the emergency landing, and I had a look out the motor on the floor once you got it out.

Too me everything looked perfect except the stud they use, and it seems to me that it is mostly the bottom ones that let go. Interesting again.

I wonder how hard it would be to up grade to something say 3/8 or 7/16th in stud size. (not sure what they have there now, but it looked like 5/16??) Also getting a rolled stud would be ideal.

To me it seems an easy fix, I wonder how much it would take to alter the certification. Probably be a night mare, as it is changing the actual structure of the engine.

Pity really.

This would be a good senario to work into the n.e.s

I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked,

'Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?'

To which I replied, 'If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?'

He smiled knowingly and nodded, 'That's why we ask.'

This happened in Elizabeth S.A.

too much of a flap :super:.

And that folks, is an aviation term.

Mm yeah, what does it say?

This is a generic print, not the real thing, so maybe a typo?

Reading the POH for a Cessna 172M (what I fly) and in the Emergency procedures section about Fires:

It says -

Engine fire during start on Ground

(1) Cranking -- CONTINUE, to get a start which would suck the flames and accumulated fuel through the carburetor and into the engine.

If engine starts:

(2) Power -- 1700 rpm for a few minutes.

(3) Engine -- Shutdown and inspect for damage.

If engine fails to start:

(4) Throttle -- Full open.

(5) Mixture -- Idle cut off.

(6) Cranking -- Continue for two or three minutes.

(7) Fire Extinguisher -- Obtain

(8) Engine -- Secure

a. Master switch -- Off.

b. ignition switch -- Off

c. Fuel shutoff valve -- Off

(9) Fire -- Extinguish using fire extinguisher, seat cushion, wool blanket, or dirt. If practical try to remove carburetor air filter if it is ablaze.

(10) Fire Damage -- Inspect, repair damage or replace damaged components or wiring before conducting another flight.

That's all good, but cranking it for two or three minutes?? Poor starter! not to mention over heating of battery, cables and the starter itself. 2,3 minutes is a long time! Seems a little unusual I thought?

Tidy looking plane, sure you haven't got it tucked in the back shed Ozzie?

In my RAA training we did lots of engine failures, and most times it was over approved farm land (for low flying and landing), so it was the real m'coy on dirt tracks etc... obviously that can be done in a drifter, but wouldn't want to attempt that in a HP thing!

Here's a bit of praise for us RAA pilots, a GA instructor who is a little anti RAA said the thing that most RAA pilots do well is PFL's, and glide approaches to landing (his excuse was that we're always on the look out, because the engines fail all the time!)

Apparently one thing that catches people out is easing out of a high descent rate sometimes occurring with full glide approaches. I used to do engine off landings in the Drifter until it was pointed out you aren't supposed to without an instructor.

You're very fortunate I reckon.

Check out the other side of the tail -

Great question Liz, and one that I often think about myself. Just of late I've done a lot of this sort of thing, due to having to demonstrate it in my GA training etc.

I was flying with another instructor many months ago for a check flight to use his aircraft, when he asked the question, "how often do I experiment (for want of a better word), and really get to know your aircraft". That's when I really thought about it, and make it a regular thing now, as much as possible.

The hard factor for us that don't actually own an aircraft is the cost, you hire an aircraft to do a certain thing, go to this place etc... not just for practicing stuff. It shouldn't work that way, but I'm sure that is a steering factor for a lot. I'm fortunate in that I can borrow, and or use many types of aircraft now, so it has been pretty good.

What area's do you find pilots lacking in when demonstrating these things Liz?

Personally I get skitish if I haven't flown at least once a week! The last month or so I've pretty much done a bit every second day......

I was mucking around in the drifter the other day, and I practiced a turn back procedure at 1500ft on a full power 50kt climbout - cut power, nose down and a 180 turn, 45degree bank. Into wind it was 210ft, with a tail wind it was 260ft. And that was being ready for the failure! One up (and I'm light) with 40ltrs of fuel.

Interesting fiddling around, worth doing I reckon.

Hey GSA, this is the Alpi 200, but it's almost the same as the 300 except it's fixed undercarriage.

Has the CSU prop etc... if you want more information let me know and I'll get it to you, once you get signed off on this one, there is a Sparrow (with CSU) at Caloundra that you can also hire.

Nice aircraft - interesting on approach with flap out though.

Sadly they aren't as cheap as one would think, about $50k new I think.

They are pretty demanding on the ground, not many people I know actually taxi them on the ground, usually flown everywhere, with a 17kt power off stall at full MTOW, and 14kts with some power, they are pretty badly effected by wind.

I'm planning on getting my Tow endorsement sometime in the next little while on one. There are quite a few around the Dalby area used to tow hang gliders.

Ensure you get proper training on one with an instructor who knows how to fly them, before venturing on your own. Apparently there are a few things that you can easily damage if you do something wrong. Like smacking the tail on to hard, and you can have a prop strike on the tail boom. (not sure if they've changed that or not now)

Personally I'd be looking at a Drifter for some more utility etc... as these are slow, and quite demanding on the ground, especially on a windy day. Vne from memory is about 57kts or something, so everything is slow. They are designed to climb, and that they do.

Flying wise, I haven't actually flown one myself yet, so couldn't tell you, but the view is highly unobstructed! :big_grin:

Sorry to spoil the depression... But been really nice days up here lately, we did get 24.5mm thursday night, but the days have been lovely. (and believe it or not, the rain was needed)

Been doing quite a bit of flying myself actually, the Hawk on friday morning, Cessna yesterday, will take the drifter for a burn today.... :big_grin: :thumb_up:

Whoops!

• Some stalls and a bit of airwork in the SB582 Drifter. Notice airframe buffet through camera mount as it begins to stall; I love drifters, as they talk to you the whole time!
   
   
  
  Not shown on this video, but I practiced a turn back procedure at 1500ft on a full power 50kt climbout - cut power, nose down and a 180 turn, into wind it was 210ft, with a tail wind it was 260ft. And that was being ready for the failure! One up (and I'm light) with 40ltrs of fuel.
   
   
  
  Hope you enjoy.
   
   
  

• http://www.recreationalflying.com/forum/vbtube_show.php?do=tube&tubeid=496&name=drifter-fun-stalls
   
  

I quit being a comedian, 'cause people kept laughing at me.

Some time ago, I was told I should be on the Stage. They meant the first one out of town. Nev

The one up north had 70 odd litres I believe drained out of it, I'm not even sure if they have found the problem with that stoppage? that one was on take off.

he said as he picked one out for a toothpick

I believe a chap at Evans Head has ordered one.

G'day and welcome Ian, great to have you. :thumb_up:

Private strip on the whitsundays...mmm may have to come visit you sometime :big_grin:

I drive Drifters as well, WB 503, and the SB 582 are the most common.