nomadpete

Hey Frank. Make sure the drifter is safe, too! Hope the storm doesn't hurt her.

And furthermore I note that OME has been posting on that other forum!

OME, I resemble that remark!

As pilots we all ask ourselves, what traps are out there awaiting us? We do not wish to pre empt any informed conclusions (conclusions which might help us avoid a similar fate). However, as was pointed out, we are not privy to the facts. And it is unlikely that we will ever hear the facts . Unfortunately for us the actual facts revealed by the official investigation will never be shared with us. So we are left with speculation. Our speculation is pure guesswork but it is all we have available to try to work out how to prevent such a tragedy happening to us. My condolences go out to family and friends of the pilot. He did not go out to have this happen, and he surely did all he could to prevent it.

So where can I get one of these 'self made' planes? I'm getting sick of 'owner building' mine!

At 450kg it's a roomy single seater

Cool. What part of the airframe will you put them in? This is gonna be real exciting to fly!

Happy new year, Bex.

He just looked at Beeb so he would know what to disbelieve

Thanks Marty. Actually I haven't put the wings back on yet.

Gee thanks, I feel so much better now. I'll just go right out into the 50 degree heat and sweat some more. Marty, it's easier to see what you have to do because you are starting with nothing and building everything with new materials. In my case I started with an aircraft that looked like it didn't need much work, until you pull any item off to inspect and then discover that it is either stuffed from the inside out, or has been mentioned in a Service Bulletin and Must be replaced. eg, the Rotax oil tank turned out to be alloy which, unbeknown to me, should have been replaced ten years ago with a Stainless Steel one ($1100 thanks), then I discover that Lightwing had modified the alloy one in a way that I couldn't copy. So then I had to cut a hole in the cowling to get access to the dipstick, and make a hinged hatch for it. And on it goes. King Midas in reverse (everything I touch turns to shyte) but now I am getting used to it and have grown ever more determined to finish. Problem is, once I do get it finished (if I ever pluck up the courage to test fly it), I'd like to take it home to Tasweigia. BUT the Home Control Manager has forbidden me to fly it over water. I keep telling her that water is so much softer to crash into than mountains, but does She listen? Anyway, by then Marty should have noticed that his driveway is a bit short for even a CH701, and moved to a flat place with room for a little Lightwing to keep his plane company.

Marty, stop it! You are getting ahead of me again. I promised myself that I'd get my Lightwing in the air before you finish the 701 ! Every time I see you post another step forward, I seem to discover another unforeseen setback. Feels like I'll never get it done! At this rate you're going to beat me, and I started with a complete aircraft!

The first 3 are easy but good luck with the last two .........

Hey don't jump the gun. You can't be a member until we get the full reports from FBI, ASIO, CIA, CASA and RAA ! Welcome to the forum and good luck with your tailwind.

Not a 701, Marty

Spotted? What are you on? Can't see any spots.

Thanks Doug. I decided to copy yours. Can you post a pic of the hatch I have to make in the cowling?

Yes Riley. I had heard about the rear location on the GR. I think they didn't do the sums very well on weight andbalance. My GA has battery and oil on firewall for w&b. Maybe a couple of inches longer engine mount would have moved c of g forward (for the GA) and allowed room for the oil reservoir in the engine bay where it belongs. I note that the new Lightwing is longer in the tail. Maybe that allowed them to move battery and oil forward?

Thanks folks. It's all good information.

Thanks guys. Oil draining is a painful task. Crawl into the foot well space and balance a shallow basin on the rudder pedals.... Refilling is done through the dipstick tube in the engine bay. It's a 55- registered factory built flying machine, so modifications are not allowed (without CAR 35 certification). Maybe I can drill a hole for the extra outlet, and fit a brass hose fitting secured by a nut on the inside of the new tank. That way it complies with the Rotax directive without modifying the aircraft (or welding anything)

I'm Moving along with my maintenance, and I discover that my oil reservoir is alloy. It seems that many years ago Rotax issued a SB requiring replacement by a stainless steel tank. The alloy ones had been known to crack. Anyone with a GA please tell me what tank you have and where it is mounted. Mine has been modified (by factory), and it is located on the inside of firewall without an access hatch to check oil level. It has a non standard hose welded into the bottom of the tank, plumbed throught firewall to a dipstick in the engine bay. So, to install the correct SS tank, I'll have to modify the fibreglass cowling to make an access hatch. Or get a non standard pipe welded into bottom of the new tank. Any ideas?

Thanks for the tip Cherk, unfortunately that's a bit far from home. Looks like I'll just go with carefully chopping the ones I've got.

Thanks, Clay. I tried Repco but they no longer allow me to go behind the counter to do my own selection. They all seem to insist on a car make and model. Bring back the 'good ole daze' when I could go down the back with my sample an find the right hose myself. So far I've managed to get a couple that might do (with a bit of massaging and cutting). Was just hoping someone had good catalogue numbers. PS Thank you to the mod who corrected the thread title.

Hi Lightwing brothers. I'm doing a hose replacement on my GA912 Lightwing. There is a "rubber replacement kit" from Bert but it doesn't include the two radiator hoses. The top one is easy as it's straight. Can anyone tell me what automotive equivalent will fit the long lower hose? Thanks, Peter PS the thread title should say "rotax" but autocorrect didn't agree and it changed it to "total".