pmccarthy

Thanks RF, I also know of 912 stoppages due to fuel supply, fortunately with a safe outcome.

Survey result so far - no one on this forum has experienced failure of a normally aspirated Rotax 912, Lycoming or Continental engine. Interesting.

The last few years were low for several reasons. This year I am back on track to meet my 2010 to 2016 average. So that is the number I have chosen in your survey.

In another thread, engine reliability has been raised. Some people don’t trust single engined aircraft. So let’s have a quick survey. 
 

What is your experience of engine failure in normally-aspirated aero engines? Express it as engine failure per thousand hours of your flying experience. Limit it to Lycoming, Continental and four-stroke Rotax engines. Perhaps only answer if you have at least 500 hours of flying experience. Of course we are talking about mechanical failure, not fuel a management issues.

Auto conversions, older or minor makes, turbo and injected engines not included.

My experience, for what that is worth, is zero failures per thousand hours.

Every day there are dozens of single-engine flights over built up areas, water and forest where there is little or no option to glide clear. A mid-Bass Strait engine failure would almost certainly be fatal. Ditto flights over the eastern range to places like South Grafton. And all that traffic over cities where you would be looking for a golf course, perhaps a 50-50 chance. We trust our engines because they have been shown to be very reliable. When planes come down, it is more likely fuel mismanagement, stalling in a turn or VFR into IMC. If anyone is afraid of engine failure in a well-maintained aircraft then they should get their jollies with a home sim setup.

Someone who popped up on this site again a couple of days ago once strung us along for months, perhaps it was years, with a new engine he was developing. Did the same with a plane. It pays to be skeptical.

24 minutes ago, facthunter said:

You're NUTS if you fly over populous  areas anyhow on ONE engine.. 

Do you mean all the single engine flying that is done legally and safely today over towns and cities? Or do you have a particular type of engine in mind?

Thinking people are working against you is not schaden whatever it is paranoia.

My latest flight was today, William Creek to Wentworth. Check out the ground speed, 155 knots. Not bad in a Vixxen!

Innaminka to Arkaroola today, flew over the Moonee oil and gas field and this uranium  mine.

There are plenty of boats left under the sea but there has never been a plane left in the sky.

I guess shopping around will get 1.8- 2.0% for the airframe cover then add $600-800 for third part liability etc.

Just insured my Vixxen for north of $200k.

You don’t get much Cirrus for half a mil.

Don’t honk, new donk.

My simple thinking is that for light aircraft, MTOW assumes that you can make a safe landing immediately after takeoff if required for any reason (eg unlatched door).

Stealth version, for local flying in Kiev.

We all have long lost Nigerian relatives who want to send money to our bank accounts.

The dredges are still there and I have clambered over them, now covered in jungle stuff. It was an amazing achievement for the time. The dredge was designed so that the tumbler, the biggest part, just fitted in the Junkers.

By definition, it is not a UAV.

I used to take out an assurance policy every year 50 years ago. The subs were deductible and payout was tax exempt, that is the only reason it made sense. Then they changed the tax rules and these policies disappeared.

I have never enjoyed building things. I get my jollies out of taking old things apart, fixing the faults, and putting them back together. Have restored a few cars and bikes. I just cannot imagine building a plane, it would cause me a lot of grief. Happy to own one, have now owned two new and two used aircraft, and new is best!

I have had my red ones since 2011. The sort with the spouts inside the cap when closed. The main trouble is the yellow spouts don't bend enough when you tip the can up it inevitably spills. Made worse if you have a Mr Funnel balancing precariously in the tank filler. I gave up when I got the high wing and now transfer using a 10 litre Tuff Jug which doesn't spill a drop. But you need to do the Mr Funnel bit first when you fill the Tuff Jug. It is expensive but you only need the one.

11 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Please explain

I use the ag chemical ones for motorbikes, mower and sometimes cars. I have proper red plastic containers for aircraft mogas and I don’t use those for anything else.

I use black plastic 10 litre ag chemical containers for fuel. They are embossed as suitable for petrol and I think that was a sales feature to attract farmers to them. But I don’t use them for aircraft fuel.