hiperlight

Ian, Quick fix...leave the hip flask at home!!! Bruce

Yenn (the older), I=E/R...the higher the voltage for a given resistance the higher the current. The higher the resistance for a given voltage, the lower the current. (I=current; E=electromotive force or voltage; R=resistance.) W=EI...if the voltage or current is lower the wattage is lower. Bruce (the younger)

In 1955 Kingsford Smith Flying School at Bankstown operated Austers as their primary trainers. The engines in their Austers had a reputation for stopping during the landing run (idle rpm too low?). The story of what happened to one unfortunate KSFS Auster is told at the following website: www.navy.gov.au/units/805sqn/documents/Auster_Shootdown.pdf or google 'runaway auster' It's a true story...I was there...and NO, IT WASN'T ME! Bruce

Ian, 'A poor ground can have the same effect as high amperage.' I know you are older than me, and I respect that...but "PLEASE EXPLAIN" Bruce

The starter motor relay is a low current solenoid switch for closing the high current circuit to the starter motor (a series wound electric motor). Without the solenoid switch the high current wiring would be unacceptably long (with associated voltage drop) and the starter switch in the cockpit would need to carry 200A plus. Ideally the battery should be as close as possible to the starter. Keep the fuse, or master isolation switch, as close as possible to the battery to reduce the risk of fire due to a short circuit. Bruce

The circuit diagram indicates that the starter motor draws its current through the 100A fuse...I'm buggered if I know why. I love Italian design, but when it comes to simple things like engine electrics, I wonder what they are thinking. Why they did not accept the Rotax starter circuit I have no idea. If the aircraft was mine and I was allowed to modify the wiring I would wire the starter directly from the battery without a fuse and put a substantial master switch in the earth lead from the battery. Fire in an aircraft really worries me...even more than an an engine failure. Wing frames without fabric or aluminium skin are a bit short on aerodynamic features! Bruce

Be careful, Paul. If you remove the fuse while the engine is running you could damage the alternator. Alternators do not like running without a 'load'. I don't know your setup but for your own sake please check with someone who does. The starter motor should not be supplied through the fuse...typically they draw 200A plus during start-up and should be wired directly to the battery. If the starter is wired correctly then I suggest you have an intermittent short circuit. Look for broken insulation on all wiring. The starter solenoid should be wired through the fuse and would be worth a check...and the starter switch...and etc. etc. Bruce

Oh sheet! I'm laughing! Bruce

Davidh, You win...it upsets me to see grown men cry!!! Bruce

Yeah...we let the poms win occasionally otherwise they will sit in the aeroplane on their way home sucking their thumbs. Makes 'em feel good to win sometimes! Aussie hearts are so big I sometimes wonder how our lungs fit in the same chest cavity. We do the same with the kiwis when we play rugby with them. It's good for the game!!! Bruce

Don Flying fraternity ha! The common interest may be flying...but that is where it stops, full stop. If one section of aviation thinks it will benefit from the demise of another then watch out. I have been involved with aviation in its various forms since 1955 and I have seen some foul acts performed within the so-called 'fraternity.' The 'dog-eat-dog' attitudes may have existed before 1955, but in those days I saw the world through rose coloured glasses as I had spent six years of my childhood living with a World War, the Korean War was over, and the world looked great. Then Ansett scuttled Butler and that to me is the epitome of everything that has happened within the aviation industry ever since. It is a ruthless business. A 'BUGGER-YOU-JACK' 'fraternity'. I really don't think the regulator sponsored this sort of attitude but I can assure you they did nothing to bridge the gaps...divided and conquered was the result for aviation. Look what happened when our Prime Minister Bob Hawk described airline pilots as glorified overpaid train drivers. You called me an old cynic once before, Don. You were probably right. The 'brick walls' confronting the aviation industry in this country (probably the world) are now solid like the Great Wall of China. It is a waste of time trying to breach the walls, so do what I do when confronted with barriers...just mosey on around the end of them. Closure of GA facilities is endemic. Who's going to stop Macquarie Bank and the like? Not a fragmented aviation industry, that's for sure. So individual groups just put their tails between their legs and move on. I wish it was not so! Bruce

Unbelievable? I'll say it's unbelievable! It's bloody impossible! It's great what they can do with animation these days. Bruce

I can understand 'no injuries' but how do you flip an aircraft over with 'minimal damage'. Obviously, whoever writes that sort of stuff doesn't have to pay the repair bill. Bruce

Now that's a fine looking example of one of the true recreational aircraft, Rob...great design...well built...fabulous flying machine. I have access to one, but my bones are too big to fit in the pod...bugger!!! Next time I'm at Hoxton Park I'll have a stickybeak. A great choice, Rob. Bruce

Hello Ultralights...Hey, how about telling us a bit about your new machine. Pretty impressive flyers they are. I saw a promotional video years ago. I even tried one on for size, but alas... My mate in Orange has one with a twin carby 447 donk. A few years back he had an engine failure due to fuel starvation and forced landed in a paddock which was a dried out cattle bog. The vampire skidded to a stop on the bottom of the nacelle after the three protruding thingos with the wheels attached had been wiped off. He has rebuilt it and he loves his vampire. Not the sort of love shared between humans, but you know what I mean. I must see that video again...it may even be on the internet. Regards Bruce

I thought I had spam pretty well under control until around June this year. Then it went beserk! My anti-spam software removes normal spam, which now equates to about 20-25% of my emails. An occasional legitimate email is intercepted, but that is OK. The real problem I have is spam advertising viagra etc and investment advice (often written in unintelligible english). I tried 'blocking senders' but the emails seem to originate from different sources each and every time. I have tried 'message rules' e.g. delete any message with 'viagra' in the body of the message. Very few of the messages are trapped because they come in a variety of colours and I assume this trick enables them to slip through. Another, probably unrelated, problem I have is with forum post from 'captain'. My Internet Explorer 7 chucks a fit each time I try opening his posts...something to do with 'security certificates'. What with a firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, etc etc etc, a high percentage of the software in my computer is security related and still the 'little baskets' get through. Bruce

I got an 'Invitation to Participate' last week...no free meals, 'user pays' basis, it says, at Airshows Downunder Club. Four free entry tickets per dayand a plaque for those participating. I wonder who provided the names and addresses? Bruce

Ross, I've checked with my farm neighbour. He reckons the trees are OK and the sheep are hiding behind rocks.But two of his dogs have been blown off their chains. Bruce hiperlight

I knew it! I knew it! Now I'll have to pull out all those bloody trees I planted. Bruce

Never mind, despite your best efforts you might be lucky enough to spin anyway. Then if you survive, you can tell your audience in the clubhouse that it was as deliberate spin for survival. The experts may be able to help here, but I think VNE in a steep dive might give you a much higher descent rate than a spin. Bruce hiperlight

tcbrandy...Tom, Further to my report on the lack of oil stains...my hiperlight has white tailplanes and fin with red elevators and rudder. There is no sign of oil stains; the white fabric is surprisingly bright white considering it is twenty years old. Hence my desire to replace the fabric even though it seems quite strong and passes normal testing. Bruce

I really don't want to drag this subject on and on...but, I'm fairly sure in the 1950's civil training for a PPL banned restarting the engine as an exercise in flight training, but was part of training for aerobaticsand the RAAF requiredit in basic training, but only with an instructor. Of course in those days-of-yore most 'light' aircraft did not have a self starter. There are a few things that I don't want to be confronted with and they include an inflight fire, a catastrophic airframe failure and an engine failure. Why anyone would want to shut down a perfectly good engine is beyond me (unless the aircraft is a powered glider). Once stopped there is no guarantee that the little beast will start again. Bruce

wanabigaplane, Yeah that's a Hiperlight SNS-8 (Sorrell Negative Stagger, model #8) There is also a two seater (side by side) version called SNS-9. A couple of those in the USA are fitted with HKS 700 engines and at least one with a Wankel Rotary. Bruce

tcbrandy...Tom, The fabric is not showing any sign of oil stains. The wheels throw up dirt on the underside of the lower wings, but that's all. Bruce

Arthur, You probably noticed that the photo inmy avatar was taken outside Dave's hangar at The Oaks. Myplan is to fly from The Oaks. If you Google 'hiperlight' you'll see a couple of clearer photos of the hangar. I think its about the third or fourth entry down the page. Bruce