greggf

Hi Caz, I had a fly of Ian's Texan in Port Macquarie last week. Loved it! The nearest thing I've experienced to driving a Ferrari in the air. Great handling - responsive yet stable, acceleration and speed. Wow! I hated the manual trim and the hand-operated brakes. Calls out for electric trim (an option) and toe brakes (also an option, I believe). Those two items aside, a fantastic aircraft. Now, if I can just find a buyer for my Drifter... Gregg

I had a fly of the Texan TC a couple of days ago here at Port Macquarie - thanks again Ian! Very impressed with its performance and docile behaviour through the flight envelope. Very windy and gusty conditions prevented a more thorough workout, but I was certainly able to admire it behaviour in the challenging conditions. I like the high seating, and the resulting excellent visibility. I found that I kept holding climb attitude because the level flight attitude is so much lower than I am used to (Foxbat and C172). All in all a VERY nice aircraft to fly and, with the composite construction, appealing in a humid and salty environment. A couple of things I would change in my own aircraft. The manual trim lever is awkward and prone to inadvertent movement. The hand operated brake under the throttle makes a one-armed wallpaper hanger look lazy during taxi, and the well shaped seats call out for sheepskin covers. Apart from those minor niggles, I was VERY impressed. Hmm, now to convince the Cook and the accountant. Cheers Gregg

There are about 10 of us going over from Hastings District Flying Club (Port Macquarie). We'll be staying in river view rooms booked in the same hotel as pictured previously.

My contribution...

Try this one for size...

Gregg, Port Macquarie NSW (formerly Canberra) Own: Drifter 912 Also fly: A22 Foxbat, Cessna 172, Cessna 152 Have flown: Lightwing (trike and tail), Jabiru, Gazelle, Sportstar Hours: not enough yet. Ambition: UL Instructor rating Handicap: $$$$$$ Also like: Motorcycling, women and alcohol (not necessarily in that order) Next aircraft: Hmmmmm, Sting Carbon, Texan or Sportstar.

Matt, As soon as I sell my Drifter, I shall be having a serious exchange with you. I suspect that $120k is maybe a little steep, based on the price of a brand new aircraft, but that's your place to ask. Anyway, first I'll sell the Drifter, then I'll call you. I only left Canberra last September to live here in Port Macquarie, so it wouldn't be too painful to drop down for a squizz. cheers Gregg

Hmm, you've just added to my dilemma, Ed. I flew the SportStar with Peter at NatFly, and loved it. I didn't get to fly the Texan, but I like the look of it, and the NSW distributor - Ian Loveridge - is an old mate of mine and I respect his opinion (which is VERY GOOD!) Eeeny, meeny, miney... First I have to find a buyer for my Drifter. Nothing at all wrong with her, but I've just outgrown (out-aged) open air flying. For "bugs in the hair" flying, first you need hair! cheers greggf

All this talk of ASICs is a bit moot as far as I'm concerned. I requested - AND PAID FOR - my ASIC through RA-Aus last November. It's now end of May and I don't seem to be getting any nearer. Fortunately the so called airport security w**kers are up to their usual standard and I've never been asked for it anyway. If and when I am, I'll show my (now laminated) receipt from RA-Aus and suggest that they take up their enquiries at that end. I guess if my name was Bin Laden I would have received it by now, but because I was born in this country and have a clean record, I'm confusing the poor dumb pubes who are trying to check us out. Gregg

Hi Paul, How would you rate the Tecnam for "bigger" people. I'm not fat, but I'm no Twiggy (gives my age away!) and at 6'1" (187 cm) I don't always fit into Italian vehicles that seem to be engineered for the 5'3" latin lothario. Gregg

Gentlemen, Please add me as a "me too" for such toys (read = useful devices). Cheers Gregg email: [email protected] PS. My autopilot (pictured at left) is looking for a set of rudder pedal extenders.

I guess "Sit down and shut up." is a bit blunt. Well... I have to be able to move the stick to full lateral, don't I? Actually I endorse Paul's briefing 100%, with the extension that I do go a bit into the safety issues. Ie, I inform the passenger that: Should I have a problem while the aircraft is still on the ground, I will stop straight ahead, and they should be ready to unbuckle, exit, and move away from the aircraft if requested. After take-off, and until we get to 400 feet, in the event of a severe problem I shall land (nearly) straight ahead and they should "cover up" if I warn them to do so. After 400 feet, in the event of any severe problem, I shall return to the field or to the safest landing area I can access. I then stress the extreme unlikeliness of any such problems, but reassure the passenger that it is better to "be prepared". Interestingly, my passengers have all appreciated the frank approach, rather than any false bravado. And I have no shortage of requests for repeat trips. Gregg

At the risk of being boring, we had a weekend of fantastic weather over 3 - 4 Dec. Just right for Drifting around the coast. A few photos attached. Full-size photos are 2048 x 1536, too big to post but available on request. cheers Gregg

Had a wonderful flight this morning, from YPMQ coastal down to Camden Haven. Weather was great - surface around 010/08 and at 1500 feet about 280/15 with severe CAVOK. Reinforced my belief that Drifters are made for coastal, er, drifting. YCMH is a beautifully maintained private grass strip, and the nearest I've ever experienced to landing on carpet. A few photos follow. Total flying time about 55 minutes. cheers Gregg

Nice shots. Great to see another Drifter driver out having fun. Of course you wouldn't fly near cloud. None of us would! Good stuff! Gregg

Hastings District Flying Club recently had a picnic fly-in day at Camden Haven airfield. What a glorious spot. Land on the lush buffalo grass strip and taxi in to the parking area alongside the river, where barbecues, tables and seats await. Pure luxury! A few photos show some of the Hastings Club fleet, the A22 Foxbat and C-172, and my 912-powered Drifter. Author trying out the back seat for a change - prefer the front!

I was also having some problems with tailplane "flutter". Just occasionally, at about 50 kts I would get some vibration from the tailplane. New wires, properly tensioned, really bothered me. Then Wayne suggested my windscreen extension was causing turbulence. Whipped off the extension and, voila! No more flutters. Smooth as! It amazes me that the airflow, now matter how turbulent around the screen extension could get past the prop to cause drama with tha tail feathers. Still, it obviously did. Anyway, as I always wear a helmet with bubble visor these days, I have no need of the extension, so no loss. Might even pick up a knot.

Wayne pointed this out to me a couple of weeks ago and, when I checked on my Drifter 912 I found the bowden cable has rubbed a slight groove. I covered the area under the cable with a teflon pad - only about 0.5 mm thick - to protect the tube from any further wear. Seems to be doing the trick. Humble apologies for not thinking to mention it in this forum. Gregg

Hi Arthur, Thanks for your suggestion. As a two-wheel traveller as well, I have already thoroughly checked the cables. No, the problem is definitely with trying to get enough mechanical advantage from a hand-grip onto the stone-age band brakes... should be banned brakes! For the moment the long grass just off the tarmac at the holding point suffices to permit my run-ups and mag checks, but when I get a round tuit I'll investigate the disks suggested previously in this thread. cheers Gregg

Hi all, No I don't mean preventing or banning Drifters, I mean stopping them. Brakes! Not to put too fine a point on it, but mine doesn't! Stop, that is. I'm using a hand-grip type brake lever on the stick, because I only have two hands and the other one usually wants to be on the throttle. Problem is, with the standard stoppers, it doesn't. Long grass helps, but I've been scaring the krap out of the pygmy population. I'm considering some sort of cable operated disks. Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks for the comments folks. I actually forgot to take my decent camera up with me to Lismore to collect the aircraft, so I had to make do with a disposable camera. I was pleasantly surprised with the shots. I understand the availability of a 500 foot clearance past Coffs, but with the prevailing westerly breeze, we felt that 1,500 would be a lot smoother. Most of the rest of the trip was made at 500 feet (and occasionally much less ;-) Please have a look at some of my local area shots in the In the Cockpit / Day Trips thread.

A couple more photos from the trip. Now that I am (almost) settled with the aircraft in Port Macquarie, I hope to provide a lot more - better quality - aerial views of the area. Gregg

Actually flew down on Thursday 27 October. Unfortunately I forgot to take my good digital camera up to Ballina/Lismore with me, so the photos were taken with a disposable film camera. Results were beter than I anticipated. Gregg

I just had the pleasure of bringing my Drifter (actually a Fisher Mk 1 - 912) down from Lismore to Port flying coastal. A total of 2.8 hours flying time with two intermediate brief leg-stretching stops. For a set of en-route photos and a bit of narrative, see the attached zip file. cheers Gregg

I've developed a condition that I'm naming Drifter Arm. It is the result of spending many happy hours Drifting around in lovely sunny weather with my right hand on the joystick and my right forearm perpendicular to the sun's rays. Definitely need to remember the 30+ before next flight Gregg