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New to small aircraft


Bob Young

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:wave:Hello everyone,

 

I actually found this forum while looking at ultra-light airplanes and thought it would be a good place to find advice, tips and experiences.

 

I'm retired from airline flying and enjoying getting back to GA flying. I bought an old Percival Provost and found that 100 liters an hour was a bit much so decided to look at smaller airplanes.

 

Hopefully, I'll be able to learn to flare lower than fifty feet real soon. The ole' back can't take much more.

 

 

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098_welcome.gif.81ff07d492568199326e4f64f78d7bc6.gif Bob and G`Day!!

 

I gues the Drifter is too basic for you!................... Not too many Knick-Knacks to have to fiddle with though and the Rotax 503 runs at 14/15 lts. Phr.!

 

Won`t get you anywhere in a hurry, mind you, but thats the idea!... Slown down and enjoy!....Oh!... And you don`t have to look through a windscreen!014_spot_on.gif.1f3bdf64e5eb969e67a583c9d350cd1f.gif...022_wink.gif.2137519eeebfc3acb3315da062b6b1c1.gif

 

Frank.

 

 

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098_welcome.gif.81ff07d492568199326e4f64f78d7bc6.gif Bob and G`Day!!I gues the Drifter is too basic for you!................... Not too many Knick-Knacks to have to fiddle with though and the Rotax 503 runs at 14/15 lts. Phr.!

 

Won`t get you anywhere in a hurry, mind you, but thats the idea!... Slown down and enjoy!....Oh!... And you don`t have to look through a windscreen!014_spot_on.gif.1f3bdf64e5eb969e67a583c9d350cd1f.gif...022_wink.gif.2137519eeebfc3acb3315da062b6b1c1.gif

 

Frank.

got any photos? It sounds like just the airplane I need.

 

 

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These are photos of my aircraft and that`s me in it!... One of the early WB (wire braced) Drifter, Rotax 503 engine, built by Austflight Aviation,at Boonah Queensland,in the early eighties and certified by CASA for twin seat training!

 

I`ve had the aircraft for almost 26 years!... Used it for training for 12 years when I was operating my AUF flying school!...Refurbished it 2 years ago!...Flies beautifully,extremely manouverable!

 

The blue one is the Wayne Fisher Mark 1.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

 

1046413531_FrankDrifter..jpg.d841a54d2380f2b5157135abb9f58706.jpg

 

170344894_Drifter1.(Small).JPG.40673d852bcd44598ac72dcaa1a54945.JPG

 

1024822593_Drifter2.(Small).JPG.3bfaa2cdf387f3d9edd7b542d2a91fd1.JPG

 

1114066516_WayneFisherMK1503..jpg.1d4ae92636e2aa841be428be00cd279b.jpg

 

370580702_StrurBracedDrifter..jpg.f09607d178fed719b94354d3ac21d191.jpg

 

 

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These are photos of my aircraft and that`s me in it!... One of the early WB (wire braced) Drifter, Rotax 503 engine, built by Austflight Aviation,at Boonah Queensland,in the early eighties and certified by CASA for twin seat training!I`ve had the aircraft for almost 26 years!... Used it for training for 12 years when I was operating my AUF flying school!...Refurbished it 2 years ago!...Flies beautifully,extremely manouverable!

 

The blue one is the Wayne Fisher Mark 1.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

Real pretty airplane. Looks like fun on a hot sunny day, but unfortunately, we don't get many of those here in New Zealand where I live. What are the speeds? Stall, max cruise, etc? I'll see if I can find the Austflight web site.

 

 

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Looks like I'll have to lose weight to fly this airplane. I like the slow stall speed.

Hi Bob

 

Welcome. This is a great place to come and participate in vibrant exchanges about many things 002_wave.gif.62d5c7a07e46b2ae47f4cd2e61a0c301.gif

 

If the Drifter guys can't convince you to join them, I hope you'll keep the Provost for those special days and buy an Auster to keep you honest the rest of the time.

 

The Provost looks fantastic. Can you give us some mechanical and performance data so we understand a little more about it, please?

 

Regards

 

kaz

 

 

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General characteristics

 

  • Crew: 2
     
     
  • Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.73 m)
     
     
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m)
     
     
  • Height: 12 ft 0 in (3.70 m)
     
     
  • Wing area: 214 ft² (19.9 m²)
     
     
  • Empty weight: 3,350 lb (1,523 kg)
     
     
  • Loaded weight: 4,399 lb (1,995 kg)
     
     
  • Powerplant: 1 × Alvis Leonides 126 9-cylinder radial engine, 550 hp (410 kW)
     
     

 

 

Performance

 

 

 

It is currently painted in the Sultan of Oman Airforce camo. I want to return it to the RAF 3 Training Squadron livery.

 

sgn2.thumb.JPG.cc316b86df5433d14ccd100cd0edd6ea.JPG

 

zksgn.JPG.86ad90c5cb5c35f031373063e89a24b8.JPG

 

 

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A bit of trivia: Henry Millicer worked on the Provost design. Compare a 3-view of the Airtourer with the Provost. Compare the aerofoil sections used.

 

I used to enjoy aerobatic displays by the Shuttleworth Collection's Provost.

 

Incidentally, is there a typo in the rate of climb or time to height?

 

 

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Hi Bob. Wow, 100 litres per hour! 031_loopy.gif.e6c12871a67563904dadc7a0d20945bf.gifIt looks cool, though!

 

Have you considered a Jabiru, like a J230 or the like? There is also Australian Light Wing Speed which is supposed to be a very GA-like LSA.

 

You'd be burning only 22'ish litres per hour then!

I will be looking at a Jabiru next weekend! My annual inspections would almost pay for a Jabiru!:rolleyes:

 

 

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A bit of trivia: Henry Millicer worked on the Provost design. Compare a 3-view of the Airtourer with the Provost. Compare the aerofoil sections used.I used to enjoy aerobatic displays by the Shuttleworth Collection's Provost.

Incidentally, is there a typo in the rate of climb or time to height?

That's what's in the book. It does appear to be incorrect. No reference to weight, temperatures etc, so I really don't know which figure is wrong. I suspect the rate of climb. Initially it is high but it really decreases when the boost and RPM is reduced.

 

Here is a link showing my airplane in flight. It shows it in it's original RAF livery and then in the camo.

 

 

 

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I am actually really interested in the Jabiru line. They look pretty sleek and efficient and have good performance. What is the concensus on this forum? Worth a look or not?

They do have great performance and fly well. I'm a particular fan of their J120 series - a small but great little aircraft.

 

Here is a friends J120 - I was in the other one!

 

24679_1110849508215_1736203604_214122_7798099_n.jpg

 

The little one I fly regularly

 

12326_1120102539535_1736203604_230928_2485370_n.jpg

 

 

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A bit of trivia: Henry Millicer worked on the Provost design. Compare a 3-view of the Airtourer with the Provost. Compare the aerofoil sections used.I used to enjoy aerobatic displays by the Shuttleworth Collection's Provost.

Incidentally, is there a typo in the rate of climb or time to height?

A ROC of 2200 fpm is really getting up there for 550 horses pulling 2 tonnes vertically, let alone somewhere close to 3000 fpm which the time to 10,000 suggests.

 

The Mk IX Spitfire has a book figure for normal rating of;

 

Maximum rate of climb in M.S. supercharger3200 ft.min at 13,500 ft. Service ceiling (100 ft/min)42,100 ft. Time to 10,000 ft.3.1 mins. Time to 20,000 ft.6.5 mins. Time to 30,000 ft.10.7 mins. Time to 40,000 ft.20.2 mins

 

Nevertheless, the Provost is a lovely looking machine and must be a heck of a lot of fun to fly. Is it all-metal or does it have a lot of timber and fabric like many of the GA Percivals?

 

Just looking at the photo, it seems to evoke a likeness to the Winjeel for me... particularly the canopy and stilt-like legs.

 

kaz

 

 

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The Alvis Leonides 126 is supercharged and the climb performance is good. Since I stay below 3000 feet, I haven't really checked the rated of climb. I know that the B777-300er with the GE90-115 will peg the IVSI and that is 6000f/m. I don't know where the RAF got their rate of climb and time to climb figures; maybe the same place they got the Spitfire data.

 

It is all metal, extremely stable and forgiving. It was an Ab Initio trainer so there are no surprises and the systems are easy to learn and operate. OK, care to buy it?

 

 

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They do have great performance and fly well. I'm a particular fan of their J120 series - a small but great little aircraft.Here is a friends J120 - I was in the other one!

 

24679_1110849508215_1736203604_214122_7798099_n.jpg

 

The little one I fly regularly

 

12326_1120102539535_1736203604_230928_2485370_n.jpg

What a gorgeous looking airplane. Sleek, but I need a bigger cockpit to wedge my body in.080_plane.gif.36548049f8f1bc4c332462aa4f981ffb.gif

 

 

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What a gorgeous looking airplane. Sleek, but I need a bigger cockpit to wedge my body in.080_plane.gif.36548049f8f1bc4c332462aa4f981ffb.gif

Youd be surprised Bob, Im 6,2 and 120kg, tight but Ok for 3 hr flights, not all Jabirus have the same cabin width.

I have one and I reckon they are the best value out there - I didnt say "best".

 

Engines have mixed results, up to date versions withgood maint are OK, J230/430 6 cyl is 120 hp, 120kts @ 22lph, 4 seat AC with 2 seats missing.

 

 

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Youd be surprised Bob, Im 6,2 and 120kg, tight but Ok for 3 hr flights, not all Jabirus have the same cabin width.I have one and I reckon they are the best value out there - I didnt say "best".

Engines have mixed results, up to date versions withgood maint are OK, J230/430 6 cyl is 120 hp, 120kts @ 22lph, 4 seat AC with 2 seats missing.

Based on your recommendation, I booked a flight with a local F.I. who has a Jabiru 120. The cost of the dual would be 15 minutes of fuel in my Provost. Thanks for the info.

 

 

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