jackc

I can remember back when early Corollas has many gearbox synchro problems. Fixed by changing to ATF oil. Engines and gearbox recommendations on modern engines gets more critical as time goes on. All my machinery and vehicles here are old Dinosaurs that run on 15-40 mineral Diesel oil 🤩

And IF you want to upgrade from your 912xx to the new 912IS, you are in for a World of grief 🤢

There IS a Penrite equivalent specification for 912is engine, but Rotax has the last word, use their Shell recommended oil or the warranty is toast 🤢 Right now it’s unobtainium in Australia, which probably means carry extra oil on any long flight. As much as I hate it, car engines are not much different. I remember when there was only 2 oils, Castrol and Castrolite 🤩 from memory, that’s fading now !

These are an expensive option….. https://www.turtlepac.com/products/collapsible-jerry-can-fuel-tanks/ I would buy one of these, there are cheaper ones but I would not go there….

The good part is, there are many manufacturers coming up with really good airframes and power plants to match. Problems are endemic with deliveries, but that is common, due in part to demand and supply of build materials. Some WEB sites are promoters of vaporware but that is the modern world, I think it a typical scenario in some cases people looking for venture capitalists, which is a way of getting some designs and prototypes to become real World products. Generally the Part 103 sector is seeing good growth and full order books, so that can’t be a bad thing. But I would sure like to see it in Australia 🤩

Knowing what I have been told, there is a lot of work in commissioning that new model engine to the point, I would not want one, even if it was FREE. But I could see someone with a modern aircraft, drooling all over it 🤩

Shell do not have any oil in Australia for the new 912is motor. Rotax will not allow any other choice even though there are other oils available that meet the exact specification. NO Shell, NO warranty……

Now, IF we had FAA FAR Part 103? Happy Days 🤩

It’s a common problem in Aviation, everywhere 🤢

At my age, I have dropped off on many things because of lack of currency, I cant work a Windows PC anymore, because I have simply forgotten, because I have not used one for a long time. Certain software, even on my iPad are forgotten IF I don’t regularly use it. My aircraft? Will NEVER have a glass cockpit. I only need to know how high my arse is off the ground, how fast it’s going, which direction I am headed, how soon before my plane becomes a glide and make sure no matter what I am doing, don’t go below stall speed. 🤩 I am 72 now, so my marbles are few and far between. 🤩

Turbs. sadly, your contribution is worthless……..

Sorry people, we live in the WRONG country🤢 We can thank CASA for our snails pace acceptance of a Part 103 category in Australia. Just look at what we are missing out on? https://www.toprudderaircraft.com/

At the expense of sounding like a broken record…..FAA Far Part 103 rules are on 1 A4 page. Part 103 Aircraft fly to Oshkosh every year and land there under full ATC facilities. The EAA support the sector at many stages of training help etc. The FAA don’t wish to complicate the running of Part 103 aircraft and their unlicenced pilots. They don’t even collate any crash statistics for the sector. We need CASA to recognise the U.S. Part 103 sector and allow it in Australia. When people want to progress further, then they go RAAus and then to GA if they step up further. We had this system before RAAus. And since those days the quality and safety of airframes have come along way.

Who is gonna see someone flying around a 200,000 acre property? The neighbours are probably doing the same🤩 I drove my 9t tip truck 80km along 2 major highways a month ago unreg, no plates. I drove past a Police Prado parked on the side of the road, gave him a wave and kept going. Did not check if I had a permit……no one cares 🤩 Aircraft even less. Laws are useless if not properly enforced……..

And the man in the street does not know that law, IF they see an Ultralight fly past they would say…..Gee, he is having fun, not even realising he was missing a rego number 🤩

Yes totally, and CASA had the chance to fix it all before RAA and leave as it was, back then they could have simply adopted an FAA FAR Part 103 regime and sanctioned official training etc and we would have it today. Instead of people flying illegally, like many do now. And I hope they keep doing it 🤩 Remember the old CB days in the 70s? I do, because I was part of it and then DOC of the day could not handle it, so the Govt created a licence regime and we all happily signed up for it, now the wheel has turned full circle on it and you don’t need a licence anymore. 🤩 I founded my business that lasted 30 years on the CB regime, then I retired. An old pilot I know well, would love to fly again and would happily be part of a licence free Part 103, I told him don’t worry about it, we could get a Part 103 kit each, build them and go fly 🤩 His property is miles from anywhere, and not needing a proper landing strip, who could find the place? 🤩 Local resident to CASA official….’you looking for Callangawollop? You missed the turn off, 300 km back, best you turn around here’ 🤩🤩

Word I get is that Qld is an unlicenced pilots Mecca, and has been for years. Not enough resources to police it. That costs money they won’t spend, besides IF someone crashes they probably don’t get to know, unless the pilot dies 🤢 What do they do? Take his/her estate to Court? RAA won’t investigate anything anyway. It’s all under the radar unless someone gets caught red handed

Looks like something an Everglades Airboat Shadetree Mechanic would do…..

Part 149 is involved, too?

In the event of an onboard fire, I would want a wearable chute. Bur a BRS has its good points, just don’t ask RAA to approve a MARAP to retrofit one 🤢

This forum is not a reliable barometer of the Aviation in general. I speak to many people by phone and when I get a chance I speak to people in person. The story is far different in many ways. Feed back from people I know, that have attended fly-in as well. Wentworth told a story or two……..

YouTube is full of Part 103 exploits as that sector in Aviation in the U.S. has exploded in popularity. Aircraft makers have full order books everywhere and Aerolite are no exception. https://www.uflyit.com/aerolite103main.htm

As the U.S. powers on in the pursuit of growing Aviation generally. Australia wallows along with Aviation discord in many ways 🤢🤢 Stories like this are an inspiration, but not in Australia. https://youtu.be/Xr593ilhKLY?si=lkuDRVwNTpBmit40

Coverage maps tell lies……the truth lies in actual field testing with a consumers phone.

I have no sympathy for Council and State Water Supply SCADA systems that once used dedicated UHF commercial radio links and smart engineers changed over to 3rd party mobile phone systems to carry the system data. I always said, never put your data bearers in the hands of a third party. Every system I designed or commissioned used dedicated radio links that were owner maintained, by their nominated equipment supplier. Seems the wheel has turned now, with 3G disappearing. I will watch and…….wait.