eastmeg2

And of course regardless of what you fly (except maybe for balloons - always check for other traffic, even at private strips.

Hi John, Maybe I did simplify it a tad too much by being too entusiastic about the relative simplicity of trikes, as I do tend to check brakes and hand throttle when straightening the nosewheel in circuit. Windsock/Wind Generator - I check before joining crosswind to determine best runway (and circuit direction when at our private strip). Fuel quantity should not really be a consideration once in circuit within glide of the runways and should be part of flight planning for maximum duration before the flight even starts and during the flight, not moments from it's end. If there's an an undetected leak in flight then I'd have to use a paddock kept within glide as I probably wouldn't make it to circuit area. Hopefully thorough preflights will detect any leaks so that situation can be avoided altogether. Cheers, Glen

I don't see why you couldn't try a Streak wing provided you use the rear hangpoint which should give you about 43kts hands off. That's how I did all my circuit training years ago and the 582 was pretty relaxed on that setting so the 503 should be ok in that territory. Would not try the middle hangpoint 2-Up with a 503 though may be ok solo, depends on how hard you want to work your motor and may find it struggles to climb 2-Up on the middle hole. Forget about the front hole with the 503. I do Know a couple of ladies who flew an Edge wing with a 503 a couple of years back but they did get a cracked exhaust on one of the week long fly aways - not sure if that was an real indicator though. Cheers, Glen

A while back a caravaning friend told me of some "transponder" devices he fitted to the tyre valves on his caravan which transmit a signal to beeper in his car when the tyre pressure drops to a set value. These might come in handy on aircraft too, not sure about how low the threshold pressure can be set to, to be suitable for the Tundra tyres.

I have to wonder if this update would have occured if not for XCOM arriving on the scene . . . but having said that we do have a Microair M760 in one of our trikes which we might upgrade. The XT has an Icom A22E until we decide which radio it will eventually have in the long term. I suspect the Icom will go back into the X and the XT will get the Microair (with or without the upgrade). Also interested to see how quickly Microair turns around your upgrade, and its transmit stability . . . might end up buying another radio. Cheers, Glen

A child sized straight jacket could be the answer, that way they can't flip off the ignition switches or throttle, etc . . . lol

I would have thought that since Airborne are now selling the Outback XT with Tundra undercarriage that the XT base is now certified for the Tundra undercarriage. Would not think it to be suitable witht eh Streak-III wing though, only suitable with the Cruze, come to think of it Airborne did mention the Tundra undercarriage could onyl be used with the Cruze wing as the Streak-III does not have enough yaw stability when the finned wheel spats are removed. Rgds, Glen

Also got my ASIC card last Friday (13th) after sending my application to RAAus about 20th June, I must have lucked out with the timing of their batches. Now I also need to get a holder or 2 for it. It currently lives amongst my credit cards in my wallet. Cheers, Glen

I should have been clearer by saying 100m horizontal separation from the public when taking off & landing.

Hi David, I have seen a couple of full dress Edge X Classics adapted to the Tundra undercarriage with good results. I have also seen one of them get mud on his wing sprayed up from his tyres when landing on a wet grass runway, but it's much easier to hose off a bit of mud spray than having a nose wheel dig in. The other advantange of course is greater confidence with beach landings, of which I've done a few with the standard Edge X undercarriage, being very careful to stay on damp sand and try to minimise weight on the nose wheel. If you use a Wizard wing then the bigger tyres are well suited to get you in & out of virtually anywhere, naturally the Streak wings require greater care on short fields or short ocean/river/lake beaches. Though always remember the rules about minimum separation from the general public (100m) if possible. Other rules on this are a bit grey, landing below high tide mark at low tide I think is ok. Rgds, Glen

I've used Google Earth to plan a flight I did to Tumut and back last August. It really helped to familiarise me with the terrain and major landmarks along the way. I also tried FS2004 but it lacked the correctness of detail that Google Earth has. Even though Google Earth lacked resolution along my intended flight path it still gave a good indication of what was forested and what was cleared for potential emergency landings. Rgds, Glen

Well, that's Nanolight Trike for you. I went forward to the next video of a crash due to EFATO. . . the motors they use leave a lot to be desired. They'd be a lot better off using the Rotax-288 single cylinder 28hp motor, assuming that's had the same engineering development as the early 503's & 582's. They also don't seem to have been trained to keep landing areas within glide distance . . . Rgds, Glen

I can vouch for the "Michellin Man" suits. As a motorcyclist I also have a Dri-Rider winter jacket and will use that if I get an oppurtunity to fly when I don't have my freezer suit around, but do prefer the freezer suit since it's more comfortable and is quicker to get on & off. It's an industrial freezer suit, main front zip is double ended which helps when you need to pee quick and the legs have zips with velcroe covers up to the hips. They are rated to -30 degrees. I have never been cold in one and when it gets warmer you simply unzip the leg sides. It's noticeably warmer than a ski suit. Brand name is "Hepworths" and any tradesperson should be able to order one for you. I got a mobile mechanic friend to buy mine at an outlet at Ingleburn approx $180. Get yourself a pair of Bar-Mitts too. They will keep your hands warm without gloves, making it much simpler to operate your radio or GPS etc. PunkinHead airsports makes them with heavy woven nylon outside and polar fleece on the inside and a clear plastic pocket on top for your maps & ERSA. If you're getting a trike with a faired pod then your regular running shoes are adequate as the pod will keep most of the wind off your feet. Cheers, Glen

This is the beauty of trikes . . . downwind checks consist of checking that you have glide distance to the runway but far enough away to turn 180degrees to land if your motor stops . . . and checking that your nosewheel is straight for the landing. So simple, like the aircraft itself. Cheers, Glen

Got my ASIC application in and a confirmation letter back from RAAus, but the weather doesn't look like it's going to play ball this saturday. Well as soon as it does I'll be sure to drop in at Moruya for a chin wag and some coastal flying. Cheers, Glen

Hi Ross, We visited Tralee by car yesterday and managed to catch up with one of the local GA pilots who flies there and got some contact details for the airstrip owner/operator. We'll try and see if we can get their permission - first part of a three step process as I see it, the next two being phoning Canberra tower to get permission to fly to Tralee, then radio clearance from Canberra Tower during the flight itself. It was good to visit there first to see where the commercial approach paths are for Canberra and to rule out direct approaches from the East. Have to say though that the weather aint looking too promising at the moment and looks as though the windy season might have started a month early this year. The GA pilot we spoke to had just aborted a flight to Temora due to low cloud, rain and turbulence. From what the pilot we met has said you are correct about the GA guys being vectored straight in & out of the control zone. It is very close to the company's new site though, about 200 metres. Rgds, Glen

Thanks Ross, Tralee doesn't appear in my ERSA (updated to 15th March 2007 edition) unless it goes by another name, so it may come down to gleening some local knowledge and a phone call to Canberra Tower to ask what's permissable. Rgds, Glen

There's a good article in the July 07 Soaring Australia - HGFA Mag, about oils for 2 stroke Rotax engines. it does mention that the Synthetics will attract water and not to use synthetics if the engine will go for any length of time more than a few weeks without being run. Apparently the absorbed water creates rust pits on the crank and before you know it your 503 or 582 goes POP. So it seems that onyl way to go is with the mineral based oils. Rgds, Glen

I suppose I'll just have to check my ERSA (assuming Tralee is listed) and make some phone calls. The reason I asked is that the company I work for is building a new site close by and it would be good to be able to fly there from time to time. Rgds, Glen

Hi, I was wondering if any of you out there have any experience with Tralee airfield in Southern Canberra. On the VTC it is just inside Canberra CTA and I'm wondering if there are any special procedures available to be able to fly RAAus aircraft in & out of there, without having to be fully CTA equipped (No Transponder etc). Rgds, Glen

Correct me if I'm wrong . . . I thought it was possible now. But the requirements destroy any chance of it being profitable before you even start. You need a commercial GA pilots license - CPL ($$$ Ca-Ching $$$), and your trike would need to have an approved engine (ie, Rotax-912), be factory built by a CASA approved factory, and be L2 LAME maintained and that's probably only part of it. Erk !!! Glen

I'd think you would use exactly the some as Airborne put on their 582 powered trikes. Gearbox 3.47:1 (c = no electric start, e = electric start) Prop: either 4 bladed Brolga with 17 degree pitch blocks, or I think with the Bolly props they now use it's the 3 bladed 72 inch diameter prop.

Ok, Different Darryl, but I'm pretty sure that Jabiru 4699 is on that trip. Ok, I could have seen that from your website . . . It just so happens that Thi and I will be around Darwin-Katherine from 22-28th July. If your weather delays have you around Darwin that week, it'd be great to catch up and get some photo's. Cheers, Glen

Daryl, Same Daryl wit the 5/8 Replica Bi-Plane ??? Regardless, say hello to Robin and Barbara, they did the Megafauna with us last month and mentioned this trip. Cheers, Glen & Thi

A freind who used to fly an R22 once explained this to me. If a helicopter reduces its airspeed to zero, as would occur at some point on a downwind approach, it can set up a rotating donut shaped vortex around the rotor which escalates into faster and faster sinking air for the helicopter, requiring more and more power to maintain height until there's not enough power and the helicopter then descends. The air goes down through the rotors, out, up above the rotors, in and then down again - faster each time. My conclusion from this is that rotor wing aircraft develop lift best when the rotor blades keep moving translationally into fresh air. Best angle of attack for the least induced drag. Rgds, Glen