hiperlight

I think all LSA's and Ultralights should be radio controlled, with the pilot sitting in an armchair on the ground,surrounded by cushions (in case he/she falls out of the chair), with an inflatible doll of the appropriate sex (depending on the pilot's sexual orientation) sitting on his/her knee. The cushions could be dispensed with if the armchair is fitted with an approved four point harness. The pilot should wear a full length flakjacket and a bone-dome (with an approved face protector) just in case he/she loses control and the aircraft crashes nearbyspraying the pilot withbits from the disintegrating wreck. If the aircraft is made of foam rubber,damage to third party life and property could be avoided, provided the propellor is made of safety glass, propulsion is by rubber bands, and the radio control unit is made of indian rubber and is automatically ejected and floats gently to the ground, like a wounded butterfly, after deployment of its own dedicated BRS. Of course, all thiswould be unnecessaryif LSA/Ultralight flying was confined to simulators bolted to a slab of concrete. Bruce

I did 'basic' flying in the RAAF-Nasho (13th Intake) in 1955 to PPL level (we kept two logbooks - RAAF and Civil) and I made an executive decision (at the ripe old age of 18) not to be tempted to jump out of a Tiger Moth or a Chipmunk. I decided I would ride the beast to terra firma,so I sat on a cushion - not a parachute (except once or twice). A BRS sounds great and I can probably think of times, when, with the benefit of hindsight, it could be life saving. However, once it is deployed you are committed to ride it to the ground which may be blocked by objects not of your preference (e.g. large trees, power lines, buildings, tiger country, etc. etc.). It's called 'Murphy's Law'. If a BRS gives you a warm fuzzy feeling, that's great, but the best solution, in my humble opinion, is to fly the aircraft (of thesize we fly)to a stop, and that requires the use of enough grey matter, in a relatively short period of time, without having to decide whether it is safe to deploy a BRS or not. Also, think of more than half a tonne swinging on a parachute......! If the machine catches fire, then 'repeat after me...' Unless, of course, you have exclusive, personal contact. Bruce

Hello Arthur and Ben You're both right!! Try the Corby Starlet official website: http://members.shaw.ca/kingdws/frameset.html and click on 'CJ-3 2 Seat Starlet' Bruce

Hello Arthur, I'd like to see it too. ;) I believe the design is very flexible. It can be constructed from any material from papier mache to cast iron. Bruce

When you think about it, the arrestor hook and cable probably kept the F-111 straight on the runwaypreventing it from slewing sideways and perhaps dipping a wing in and rolling up in a ball. I'm a bit surprised the RAAF allowed the pilot to attempt the belly landing. I thought the normal procedure would have been to point the machine out to sea and eject. Perhaps the cost of replacing the aircraft these days exceeds the cost of training a new pilot and navigator!!!! Hey...imagine how many Jabirus one could buy with the money needed to repair that F-111. Bruce

Ask someone in authority and you will get the answer you don't want. Bruce

Hello Geoff If you are flying you own aircraft and if the case you carry your disassembled 12 gauge in doesn't look like a gun case, who, besides you, would know. To the casual observer it could contain your cut lunch and a couple of apples. If you have to put it through a baggage X-Ray, or a baggage search, then youARE in strife. If you ask the same question of a sufficient number of people you will eventually get the answer you don't want. Bruce

Hello Arthur Your wife might be interested in the 'constructor's corner' at: www.raa.asn.au There a couple of good reports on plans built Jodel D18's by Leo Powning and Lachlan Wishart. I'll be watching for your documented progress. Bruce

For my 70th birthday I was given, inter alia, a bottle of Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley 2003 Shiraz. I quietly drank it tonight (my wife doesn't drink red) and it is next best to mother's milk. Absolutely beautiful! And that part of my brain thatused to bebadly affected by red wine withered and diedyears ago. It must be those anti-oxidants! Anyway, back to the unholy alliance between the AWAL, the RFACA and the SAAA. I wonder if the hierarchies of those respective organisations have considered the pecking order in the gilded cage if and when they achieve their collective goal. There has to be a first, second and third fiddle. Perhaps they will hold a penalty shootout or just a common old bunfight to decide. I think the RAA is better off sitting on the sideline egging them on. Bruce

Hello Galpin If you can't get into the LFA website with the link I provided, try a google search for 'leisure flight australia' and get in that way. Sometimes I don't understand the intricacies of the internet. Bruce (footnote: Bruce, I fixed the link in your previous post prob with i before e or something like that - Ian)

Hi Ed Politics and huge EGOS I suspect! OOPS! there I go, venting my spleen again. Bruce

The charter members of Leisure Flight Australia are: <t><t></t></t><t></t><t></t><t></t><table style="width: 423px; height: 199px;" align="center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><t><tr> <td>Australian Warbirds Association Ltd</td> <td>Group Association</td></tr> <tr> <td>Royal Federation of Aero Clubs Australia</td> <td>Group Association</td></tr> <tr> <td>Sport Aircraft Association of Australia Inc</td> <td>Group Association</td></tr> <tr> <td>Peter Bennett, National Vice President SAAA</td> <td>Individual</td></tr> <tr> <td>Marj Davis, President, RFACA</td> <td>Individual</td></tr> <tr> <td>Trevor Merton, President, AWAL</td> <td>Individual</td></tr> <tr> <td>Gary Spicer, National President, SAAA</td> <td>Individual</td></tr></t></table> I suggest that those interested in the future of RAA/AUF have a little look at: http://www.leisureflight.com.au LFA doesn't want RAA/AUF on board their bandwagon, let aloneto beinvolved in any way with the RAA/AUF which might suggest that they need us. Let's face it, in the big scheme of aviation,unless we have delusions of grandeur, we are mixed with the gravel in the bottom of the bird cage. Let's salvage our pride, consolidate and defend what we have, and get on with life. I wish LFA well in its struggle ahead without our help. Bruce (Link has been fixed - changed the ie to ei - Ian) <hr>

To put the prices of crankshafts into some sort of perspective: an OEM 1972/3 Porsche 911E 2.4 crank is US$7.2k in California. Put freight and GST on that and your looking at about AUS$12k. an aftermarket, two piece eccentric shaft for a Mazda 20B rotary is AUS$3.7k in Melbourne. Once you engage in major rebuilding of engines it is worthwhile doing a parts cost exercise beforehand. Saves a lot of tears later. Bruce

My experience with nasty individuals or organisations is to ignore their behaviour. Do not give them the satisfaction of seeing that you are upset with their words or actions. Do not give them any ammunition to fire back at you. You watch! They will eventualy self-devour, and youmay evenhave the quiet satisfaction of seeing them disappearthrough the appropriate orifice in the proverbial puff of smoke. Bruce

golly-gosh-oh-gee!! and I thought I had an original idea!!! Bother!! Bruce

I reckon a 'barcode' tattooed across the forehead or the more discete 'chip' under the skin behind the left ear would be more secure than an ASIC. Even though the card is not a PASS, and is for individual identification only, they areunfortunately in practice, accepted as a 'pass'. Any terrorist worth his/her salt would have access to an acceptable, forged ASIC. Bruce

Good one, ozzie...bluetooth...another microwave floating around between one's ears!!! Bruce

Don't let it get you down Ian...I was 47 in 1983 and I took early retirement in 1986. Irene (my wife) and I have lived another lifetime since then. 'Wouldn't swap it for quids'...as they say in the classics. When I eventually fall of my perch,the things I'll miss most are the technological changes that are occurring at a logarithmic rate. You're still a youth, not yet in your prime...old enough to have wisdom...young enough to relish the fact...enjoy! Oh sh*t!!! (My kids would say 'you have had too much red wine Dad.') Bruce hiperlight

Happy birthday Ian!!! Bruce

Hello Micgrace, Thanks for those links to Mazda specialists. The following is the response I got from 'Guru Motorsports': 'Thanks for your enquiry. We’re actually working on a single rotor engine at the moment. It does require manufacture of special parts to suit (eg eccentric shaft). Keep an eye out on our website www.xtremerotaries.com. Information will be published there once we’ve finished manufacturing & testing the product.' However, after looking at the prices of parts on their website,I suspect the final product might be a little expensive for an old bloke like me...but let's wait and see. One must not be pessimistic eh? In the meantime I'll research the practicalities of building one from a used series 5 13B. Bruce<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><O:P></O:P> hiperlight

Hello Ultralights, What do you think of my chances of converting a 13B Mazda motor to a single rotor unit. I'd like to make a light weight rotary producing about 35 to 40 hp. I have some ideas but I'd appreciate your input. Bruce

Be careful...avgas is heavily leaded...isn't it? Bruce

I'm a fairly conservative old bugger, but I will not be surprised when 'Wankel' engines replace reciprocating engines in GA and LS aircraft as the engine of choice within the next 5 to 10 years. Wankel rotaries have too many advantages over piston engines in aircraft to be ignored. With ceramic seals (albeit at a high cost) TBO's in the order of 20,000 hours are being considered! And the 'baskets' are resistant to seizing!!! Bruce

yeah...and 6 months free meals and accommodation if you get caught! Bruce

About 30 years ago Suzuki produced a bike using a Wankel rotary. The RE-5 was dropped after about 3 years because of lack of sales...a great pity because all of the engine bits in a Wankel are turning in the right direction instead of the high speed stopping and starting in a reciprocating engine. I luv all types of engines and a Wankel in an aircraft seems a logical way to go. Gotta go...more talk later. Bruce