Mike b Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Is the Drifter group still active? Seems most posts are years old, like me, or I’m probably doing something wrong.........I’ve got a Fisher Drifter and I like reading the old posts..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turboplanner Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Is the Drifter group still active? Seems most posts are years old, like me, or I’m probably doing something wrong.........I’ve got a Fisher Drifter and I like reading the old posts..... It probably wouldn't take too much to fire it up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Is the Drifter group still active? Seems most posts are years old, like me, or I’m probably doing something wrong.........I’ve got a Fisher Drifter and I like reading the old posts..... AS active as you choose to make it!!!!......Franco. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coinz Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Interest must have waned,i can't understand how such a simple plane isn't offered as a put together kit,or is it? colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunder Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 I'm a bit surprised as well....As there still continues to be interest in the design and active flyers worldwide. From memory, a few very old threads covering the topic of re manufacture mentioned alot of fabricated parts required and the labour out weighing potential sales costs. The only way I can see it made new is in a lower labour cost country under "special" low taxation rules devoid of import/export tariffs. I have a few ideas on that. Ideally with a 4 stroke engine, which I think is possible in this day and age, matching cost, power and weight requirements.(even electric?) I believe the manufacturing rights are held by an Australian company and they are pretty much just sitting on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmick Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Beefed up version http://www.worldaircraftco.com/surveyor/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Don't like it. Basic structure is just not nice.. No basic bracing is triangulated. 100 HP 1320 lbs.. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunder Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Beefed up version http://www.worldaircraftco.com/surveyor/ No updates or info for a long time. I think only a ptototype or couple made. Designed by Max Tedesco so cant be too bad. I like the idea of an aluminium drifter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M61A1 Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Too busy flying to be posting much....... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster88 Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Interest must have waned,i can't understand how such a simple plane isn't offered as a put together kit,or is it? colin One can buy a very very good Drifter or Thruster for only 10-15k now, so thats where the market is. A kit would have 9k in just the 582 and prop. A 582 with rotax's e-tec would be as reliable and economical as any engine on the market, only available in snowmobiles atm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Give me an electric setup for my Drifter, that can give me the same performance as my current Rotax 503 DCDI, at a cost roughly equivalent to the 503 and keep me in the air for a minimum of 1 hour and I will fit it at the next engine change... At the moment, it looks like my next engine may have to be a Hirth, 3202 2 cycle 55hp or the, 3203 2 cycle 65hp both engines are free to air or fan cooled! Franco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Beefed up version http://www.worldaircraftco.com/surveyor/ Saw a price on it somewhere, not so long ago and I think it wasn`t too far under $100 K! Way far too expensive!!! I wouldn`t clean swap my Drifter for it... Franco. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmick Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Give me an electric setup for my Drifter, that can give me the same performance as my current Rotax 503 DCDI, at a cost roughly equivalent to the 503 and keep me in the air for a minimum of 1 hour and I will fit it at the next engine change... At the moment, it looks like my next engine may have to be a Hirth, 3202 2 cycle 55hp or the, 3203 2 cycle 65hp both engines are free to air or fan cooled! Franco. Aerochute have been working on an Electric model for a while, 30 min flight time. https://www.aerochute.com.au/aerochute-electric/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Aerochute have been working on an Electric model for a while, 30 min flight time. https://www.aerochute.com.au/aerochute-electric/ Thank You Mike, I wasn`t aware of it!... Hopefully, there will be electric capable of powering the Drifter before I get to old to use it!!! ... Seriously though, I would go electric!.......Franco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebmooney Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Hi all ,looking for some specs on the drifter mainly is there a max front seat limit, thought I'd read it somewhere once but can't find any reference to it anywhere now. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 There's a minimum weight of the front seat occupant or you carry weight in the seat cushion. There's probably a Max as well but it just makes it hard to stall. Nev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M61A1 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Hi all ,looking for some specs on the drifter mainly is there a max front seat limit, thought I'd read it somewhere once but can't find any reference to it anywhere now. Cheers The A503 manual says Minimum front seat weight - 69Kg Maximum front seat weight - 92Kg The A582SB manual says: Minimum front seat weight- 65Kg Maximum front seat weight -95Kg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebmooney Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 That's what I was afraid of Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly_tornado Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 time to get on the smokes and laxettes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Use it as motivation.. I'm not sure about the smokes and laxettes You will get cramps and lung cancer. Give up sugar and anything processed and the weight will fall off. Nev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Rod- Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Hi Gents, A NZ Drifter Pilot, Kelly Martin is after some spare parts, original engine mounts for the Rotax upright 582. A contact for a supplier appreciated that I will forward on. Cheers Rod Birrell AirSports Flying School (Victoria) [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boleropilot Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 my poor old 582 (3,500 + hours, a lot of them spent chasing sheep and checking bores) has been sold as a basket case due to needing a lot of work, including new skins sold to a consortium of Drifter Drivers, one of them a genius by the name of Manfred. she's been rebuilt in Boonah and looks like she came out of the factory yesterday as for a Drifter for me? at this stage the only one I will be in command of is the 6 foot wingspan radio control model I will build - soon ! with electric power no less..... I happen to have a nice little 200 metre landing strip in my back yard, so..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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