greggf

Ian has left the building After a leisurely breakfast browsing the weather reports, and an hour's delay due to a flat battery, Ian finally got away from YPMQ at 0900 local. Personally I think he held out to the hour to make nav calcs easier (I really don't believe he can drive all the technology he has packed into that little CT.) WX for his trip south sucks (predictably!) and he'll need all the CTs performance to make any ground speed at all. Me, I'm having a day off, and I plan to find somewhere warm and sunny to curl up with a good book.

Just noticed, the canopy shape on the CT4 looks just like the SportStar profile reversed. Sort of... Oh, alright... Ggg

Congratulations Matt and Kaz, I'm delighted to hear you've found a new baby. Be assured that "Dimples" is being well cared for and is behaving in exemplary manner. Ian (yes, he did survive the trip up here) and I have just been comparing his CTsw with Dimples. The conclusion is that the CTsw is about 20 kts faster all around, but we concluded that both are beautiful aircraft. Look forward to seeing you at Camden Haven (Ross Glen) on June 22/23/24 - something else Ian and I have been discussing with other Hastings District people this afternoon. Should be a great weekend. Cheers Gregg

Yes Ian, spot on. It's actually much easier than it looks on the map. The railway line is very easy to see and follow, and the terrain is not as unfriendly as you may imagine. I managed to get the C-172 through there after Narromine. Now, in the SportStar I would definitely have no issues. Probably follow the rail lines through the tunnels just for fun. Ggg

Pleased to see that you started on the right foot - with the best choice in aircraft, the SportStar ;-) Cheers, Gregg

Tell him to go with the numbers he's used to. Near enough ;-) Gregg

Indeed, someone did pick up a bargain. I am now Drifterless, and Jody has moved down to the Central Coast. I now drive a SportStar - and I'm loving it. The Drifter was a ge\reat experience, that I wouldn't have missed for quids, but as I'm now 57 I value the little creature comforts a bit more. Best wishes to all you Drifter Drivers. I'll always be one at heart. Gregg

Anyone who can contain themselves to rate 1 turns in a SportStar is a model of self control. Personally, I've got used very quickly to 80 degree banked turns "because I can". She is such a beautiful little aircraft and makes me feel like a fighter ace. Today was a good test. Wind 180 at 14 kts on the ground. Runway 21, so only a few kts of left x-wind for takeoff. At about 300 feet we ran into a washing machine of shear. I found full aileron each side several times, and I estimate the wind at 500 feet as about 50 kts. Definitely NOT fun, but the SportStar handled it with aplomb. I was NOT having fun, and I was VERY glad to get back into ground effect for landing. Still, it was a great experience, and I was delighted with the way little "Dimples" handled herself in bloody rough conditions. Gregg

Flew my beautiful "Dimples" up to South West Rocks today with 8 other aircraft from Port Macquarie. Had lunch at a resurant there and then flew back after a couple of sight-seeing flights. 500' down the beach all the way back. On a glorious day (30C and calm) it was bliss on a stick. Be it known by all that Dimples (formerly known as SportStar 3978) is being superbly treated by her new family, and has settled very comfortably into Port Macquarie.

Darren and Emma, Don't talk him out of it. Do you know how long I've waited for this? Chers, Gregg (new owner) And now I have to make a new avatar.

Hi Kaz, I was joking. Besides, I like my greggf tag. Now I hope the weather gods will be kind to us. Cheers Gregg

Hi folks, After a long absence I'm back on the Forum, and again my Drifter is for sale. I took it off the market nearly a year ago because I was having too much fun, but now I do need to sell my beloved "Jody". Excellent condition, always hangared, Rotax 912 4-blade carbon, 68 ltr tank (plus pump and plumbing for a belly tank), recent cables, new tyres, helmets, headsets, etc. Also has a GRS chute fitted (lots of pelicans around here) plus a decent radio, intercom and antenna. Runs like a dream, stable and gutsy. Economical at around 11 ltrs per hr. $32,500 or (very) near offer. [email protected] or call 0419 438 194 Located: Port Macquarie NSW.

Hmm, a Drifter in Canberra. Nup. That's why I left Canberra. I do have a couple of freezer suits that I no longer need ;-) Gregg

Look, I've made it back to the Forums. Lucky the SportStar forum is just next to the Drifter forum.

Hey, does the SportStar 3978 identity go with the aircraft? ;-)

It's all a progression, isn't it. Stepping out of the Mack Truck (C-172) into a Texan, then into a Foxbat, then the Drifter, then Breezy. Next stop paragliding. As far as instruments go, 6 inches of wool is enough for me. The wind in my face tells me all I need to know about airspeed. The wool tells me about alpha and slip. Altitude and location I can find by looking down. Who needs more? greggf

Hi DrifterGirl, I have literally hundreds of photos of, and from Drifters. I own the Drifter 912 featured in the Drifter forum (which is for sale but I'm in no hurry). Happy to squirt you some pics. Keep an eye on your email. Cheers Gregg

G'day Sunny. I've done very little flying of a 503 drifter - only a couple of brief hops in Wayne Fisher's trainer. Mine certainly has more inertia than the 503 version, but the additional engine mass doesn't cause any obvious sway. There is a lot of torque, and a pretty solid right foot is needed during takeoff, with full urge on, but no nasty tricks. Lots and lots of push. Solo I get around 1,000 fpm, and even with 2 adults aboard, I get around 700 fpm climb.

Two more good reasons for flying a Drifter. No legs this time :big_grin:

Hi Darren. Good to see the Drifter getting an outing. Mine has started the warm weather exercises, with an hour last Friday. I'm used to having a few more landing options than you appear to have. It's about "back to the beach" time up in these parts. Now that I'm looking forward to flying her, someone is bound to offer me some money. Pity RA-Aus mag couldn't get the price right. It is supposed to be $37,500 - but I'm in no hurry.

Many thanks for your kind comments folks. With the scenery and weather around here, it was easy to just point and shoot. I did like that one, though. I'll have to take Ian up in the Drifter, now that he's moved to Port for a while. Maybe we can do a repeat performance in the comp. Cheers Gregg

A couple more from the Luskintyre trip... Hastings Flying Club's 172 - took her to Ballina the next day We flew down in BVN

Thanks guys, nice to be missed Some of these are The Cook being arty farty. I have been working my %$ off. So much for this semi-retirement caper. I had more play time when I was working an exec level job. But... and it's a BIG but (no, I didn't mention The Cook) I AM having fun. Anyway, please find attached a few pics from Luskintyre and the run to Ballina. Cheers, Gregg greggf

Day 1, Sat 2nd Sept, Port Macquarie to Luskintyre (west Maitland) to visit the Luskintigers. 1.3 hours each way in Archer II. Day 2, Sun 3rd Sept, Port Macquarie to Ballina and return, to visit my dad for Fathers Day. 2.1 hours up, 2.0 return in C-172. Whew. Now back to work to pay for it all. Great weekend. Fantastic weather and some wonderful scenery. Some pics will follow. Gregg

I like your spin Ed, that the handbrake "problem" is only a misconception, but I'm sorry it just won't wash. The handbrake definitely sucks. Differential toe brakes would transform the aircraft's ground handling for (should be) only a minor additional cost. During my second Texan flight last week, I flew from the right seat. Much nicer, for me. I prefer the stick in my right hand, and the minor controls in my left hand. If (when?) I have my own Texan, I shall set up key instruments on the right and configure for right-seat piloting. No law against it that I know of. Actually, there is a photo of the right hand drive Texan config on the Fly Synthesis website. At first I thought the photo had been flipped, but then I saw all the instruments read correctly. If those egg-beater drivers can do it from the right, so can we. Cheers Gregg