winsor68

What about those of us who have lapsed Ra Aus certificates...? We can't really claim another field besides enthusiast...

The pilots didn't walk away...commercial interests dragged them away. No accident.

Automation will revolutionize safety. Fact. Computers don't make mistakes.

Personally...I think the usual objections I hear about people not trusting electronics so it will never be accepted..are rather out of touch...I reckon these youngsters we are seeing born today wont blink an eye at it.

This is the worst sort of accident... If someone flies an aircraft into a mountain we can all say, rightly or wrongly, that I can avoid that due to my personal conduct...BUT...When something structural fails (as may be the case in this accident) we can't reassure ourselves (rightly or wrongly) that it won't happen to us.

You will get a great C182 for $150k...

What else would you need...all aircraft are a compromise...IMO the 182 is the least so.

http://www.e-goaeroplanes.com/

WTF? You guys all planning to fly around Australia? It's an ultralight aeroplane for gods sake! Lol

So you can't travel more than 100nm from base without it being an adventure...big deal. Plenty of fun to be had still.

This looks great!! I like the concept. Shame about the useful load numbers and cruise speed...

I like the Skyleader 100...

Maybe just a spelling mistake...

Page 16 of the poh. Says 1320 pounds (500kgs)

The NZ poh downloaded from their site states...

Max takeoff 1320pounds

MaxLanding 1320pounds

Empty weight 737pounds

That is 500kgs max...335kgs empty...

I realize there is conflicting information ...nothing unusual in the world of kit built aircraft...

Not according to the NZ POH...available for download from the site.

500kg MAX take off weight...appears it can only carry about 160kgs..

I am fortunate. My Dad was nuts about flying ...and making home super 8movies.

This footage shows me at about 4 years old going for a fly...I always thought these Cessnas werent real planes...

I guess the real trick is to remove all the bits that don't contribute lift.... Sailplane pilots don't seem to like them because they don't glide in circles very well...which is true from what my amateur reading of the numbers indicates...

There is potentially a lot of space inside this sort of airframe...you could fit a nice bed in it...

Thanks, Rotax.That's an answer that I was sort of looking for.

I agree. It would make for a good sports aircraft and a good experimental platform for different engine types.

 

For example, has anyone considered multiple small-sized electric motors along the leading edge? (Say, 2 per side at no mor than 10 or 15hp each ?)

 

Battery life issues aside, could this lead to any significant increase in performance?

 

(Possible near-vertical take-off/landing?)

 

Just spit-balling.

 

Gimballock.

I would think if you can keep it under $50k fly away you would have a winner...

To my mind the important thing would be to market them successfully to flying schools... At $50k you would be offering 2 aircraft for the price of one twin seater...hire rates per hour $100-$120 would not be a problem...even better if you could include a ballistic shute ...

I would love to see the Sapphire relaunched...just need to get flying schools online so that students can hire them...buy two single seaters for hour building and general hire for the price of one two seater.

'chute. Short for Parachute. Not Shute.Really worried about Cirrus pilots and their instructors. I don't think even one has been reported to have been successfully dead sticked after an engine failure, they seem to immediately go into spin entry.

I think whoever "Mr Bligh" is his negative and in my opinion stupid comments are very typical of the this industry as a whole. The fact remains...it is 90% certain this chute deployment saved lives and damage... yet he still mumbles some rubbish knocking it!!!???

Just like a multi 2 stroke?

Would be a once in a lifetime trip...

Perhaps ring around a few boat builders...

Aside from CAMit there was one new aircraft exhibited at Natfly that I hadn't seen before.....the Topaz. A very neat and nicely finished little high wing composite....http://www.ekolot.pl/en/offer/kr-030-topaz1/descryption.html