Ultralights

ahh Saudi.. if it doesn't involve alcohol, or woman, then it's legal.

more than ouch! sadly it resulted in a fatality.

just got my new prop for Richard Sweetapple! Im very impressed! top quality and very cheap considering the alternatives.

Congrats on your fist solo! it will be a day you will remember for the rest of your life!

Once my vampire is through its major overhaul and modification schedule, i will be a regular at Goulburn!

at the moment i am in the process of modifying the engine cowl with a nice big cooling air scoop and a few aerodynamic refinements, remake of the instrument panel, moulded and shaped to take a few more instruments, map pocket and drink holder. all of carbon fibre, and the usual mods, longer nosewheel, replace a few skins that are showing their age, you know, the usual stuff you do over a winters non flying season..

nice pics! makes Oz look decidedly flat!

at the usual impact speed of airliners, and their mass, shatter would be the norm. even jabirus will shatter in some instances.

i went the same route, but up to Archer and Arrow level with CSU and Retrac, but since flying the Jabiru, and the costs, i only ever get back in archer for my Biannual.

probably find he was after an instant criminal when he went 3 kph over the limit... because apparently you die instantly if you speed now..

though it is fun following freeways and highways looking down at how the other half travel..

i did my work experience at Richmond RAAF base, and spent 10 days with 38 sqn on the Caribou's, had the time of my life and even got about 5 flights in!! give the RAAF a call.

any pics? how did you go about hiring an aircraft? did you need your logbook?

that sounds a bit strange! the secret is in the metal? if its aircraft grade aluminium it should be Alclad, the alloy is coverd with a layer of pure aluminium to help with the corrosion resistance, but any scratch, hole or cut will break the alclad and be a corrosion start point, if its not aircraft grade aluminium then it most likely would be 500 series alloy, which is a commercial grade alloy.

Richard Sweetapple makes nice timber props, i have ordered a new one for my vampire for $500 including shipping...

as an aircraft sheety by trade, i have never worked on a commercial or military aircraft that has untreated aluminium, absolute minimum is Alodine/Alochrome solution treatment and zinc chromate or similar primer. bare metal finishes are usually clearcoated, heavily waxed or coated in "corroguard" its a dull aluminium coloured surface treatment it can be seen on the surfaces of the wings on most airliners, and leading edges of stabilisers. the bare metal surface of the vampire is heavily waxed, but close inspection has shown signs of mild corrosion starting to take hold on some outer surfaces, especially in areas that are regularly handled, such the wing leading edge skins near the cockpit, tailbooms and areas you grab during pre-flight checks.

Even though aluminium provides its own protective layer of aluminium oxide, the oxide covering is very fragile, and where the coating is damaged, shaken loose, blown off etc , then corrosion will continue deeper in that area.

at least at an absolute minimum, treat and paint the areas that touch against or join parts of the structure or other skins.

for curiosity sake, the standard procedure for joining aluminum structures in Boeing aircraft is alochrome treat, zinc chromate prime, 2 coats of Polyurathane paint, then assemble wet with sealant before riviting, though Airbus and BAE use a non curing yellow barrier compound called JC5A instead of sealant. though im not sure how this would go with Recreational aircraft where weight is a prime consideration..

im sure we could all stump up a small donation for this!! what ya think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/FIDSCHI-INSEL-90-Hektar-Blue-Lagoon-Island-Resort_W0QQitemZ140123811370QQihZ004QQcategoryZ66406QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

fantastic story! nothing beats that warm and fuzzy feeling you get taking someone up on their very first flight ever!

ahhh the joy of having a few Zeros in your rego..... Vampire Zero Seven Eight

Aircraft spruce sells a self contained strobe light for about $100, i have one on the tail of the vampire, the entire unit is about 4 inches high. all it needs is 12 Volt power.

you can see the strobe just behind the antenna on the right tail fin.

if their a bunch of diehard rednecks, just tell them the field will be underwater in 2 weeks time from Global warming, so they don't have anything to worry about... they might get off the case then!

im not much of a cook, but i want one of these blenders!!

http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=marbles

video

Quote from a magistrate at Sutherland Local court in Sydney, in my case after a woman drove into my van after i had reversed out of a car park and bugun to drive away..

Magistrate.. I find you 100% Liable as you failed to take action to ensure the road was closed so as to prevent the possibility of an accident happening.

me..to my solicitor... Is he serioues? can you imagine the chaos every day as everyone closes roads so they can leave the carpark at a shopping centre!!!

I have bought the same instrument at Narromine, but i have yet to install it, in the next month i will begin rewiring the aircraft and installing my new panel with all my new instruments and avionics. so it will be a while before i get it all up and running.

Hopefully it will be like the Hunter recreation flying club i am still a member of, membership covers maintenance of the clubhouse and a $150 per annum to Cessnock council buys you 12 months unlimited use of the airfield!

perfect! thanks for that!

not to mention the dry cleaning bill after hitting that in the dark!