rgmwa

Thanks all. It wasn't a textbook day for test flying, but the worst of the weather held off until later in the day. We had two first flights on Sunday, my RV-12 and an RV-7A. Same pilot - he's a chief pilot/CFI/ATO and his usual plane is a PC12 or Kingair flying out of Darwin or Jandakot, with maybe a Pitts or RV on weekends. He said the shifting wind over the hangars and trees was creating a fair bit of low level turbulence making the approach and landing a bit tricky, but both planes handled it equally well, despite the differences in power and weight. Both landings were on the grass strip. I was pleased the RV-12 handled the grass well for both take-off and landing as the main gear spats don't seem to leave a lot of tyre exposed. He hadn't flown a -12 before (there aren't any others down here), and expected it to be a bit under-powered with only 100hp, but was surprised that it wasn't. rgmwa

Last Sunday my plane took to the air for the first time in the very capable hands of `JB', while a group of us looked on and enjoyed the show. The flight took place at Serpentine (YSEN) in WA - just a couple of circuits to break the ice and make sure everything worked. Nothing fell off and there were no leaks, so now the real test flying can begin. I'm still grinning. rgmwa

No, when the radio fails it's CACTUS (the radio). rgmwa

Phil, I was thinking of the stabilator because that's what the RV-12 has, but you're right of course. There are also full flying fin/rudder combinations. The Zenith 601/650 comes to mind. Haven't seen a full-flying tail as you describe it, but it doesn't sound good. rgmwa

No, don't start him off! We'll be here forever and none the wiser for it. rgmwa

Perfectly understandable. Somebody had to watch to see what happened, and the designer would clearly be the best person to do that. I'd probably do the same if it was me. rgmwa

In America, some may also say that it was Gustave Whitehead. Not everyone agrees of course. rgmwa

Not sure how this works or whether it would work for everyone, but Valspar (the paint people) have apparently developed glasses that refract light at a different wavelength so people whose eyes normally don't perceive colours correctly finally can. These people can now see reds, greens, orange and pink for the first time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea_xOqNvntA rgmwa

I was fortunate enough to fly in an Ansett DC-3 from Warrnambool to Melbourne when I was about 12 or 13. The décor was basic, I had to walk uphill to my seat, I could see the pilots sitting in the cockpit, it vibrated and it was noisy. I enjoyed every minute. rgmwa

Yes, although I don't think he knows that, but then he goes on to connect pilots flying on a driver's licence medical with: 1. the alleged fears suddenly created in nameless professional pilots as a result of allowing RPL pilots into the air 2. pointing out the `unfortunate timing' just 6 months prior the airbus pilot's murderous suicide (hard to see the connection there, but he's trying to make one anyway) 3. implying that RPL holders may well be nutcases likely to bring airliners down with their winged weapons 4. ignoring the constraints that CASA has applied to prevent many people from actually getting the GP medical (obviously hasn't done his research) 5. Quoting (more likely misquoting) some clinical psychologist saying that while we can't really be sure that depressed commercial pilots won't slip though the screening process, that's not too much of a problem because the real psychopaths will probably be found among the ranks of the recreational fliers 6. That a tougher medical would weed out a third of recreational pilots (wasn't that the reason for introducing the `drivers licence medical'?) 7. Stating (without specific examples of course) that some pilots (presumably not just rec pilots, and maybe not even qualified pilots) have deliberately crashed into buildings and killed people (so he obviously saw the twin towers footage at least) 8. Summing up his enlightening article with a CASA spokesperson's comment that in fact recreational pilots are asked some basic psychological screening questions, thereby helping to refute one of the main points he was trying to make. The whole thing is an incoherent mish-mash, and the less airplay it gets the better. However it wouldn't do any harm, although would probably be a waste of time, to sent this poorly informed reporter an email pointing out a few of his errors. rgmwa

Interesting history of the T35 engine: http://www.enginehistory.org/GasTurbines/Wright/T35/WrightT35.shtml rgmwa

... and on the ground. rgmwa

Hope that hostie isn't on any flight I'm on. Maybe you should ask for an older female hostie next time, Dutch. She'd probably do better. Still, it really shows what a nonsense it is to have an untrained person in the cockpit and say `problem solved'. They should at least be taught how to operate the door locking system to ensure they can always let the other pilot back in, because that's probably about all they could realistically do in an emergency. rgmwa

I think you may be confusing `register' and `certify'. rgmwa

Don't forget the engine and avionics. rgmwa

Agreed, but if they just create drag, off they come. I require the speed to match the looks. rgmwa

Gear doors should make a difference. On the same note, do those stub exhausts work? It looks like the engine exhaust is under the cowl. If they don't, I'd leave them off mine ... if I had one. rgmwa

It's a good looking aircraft alright - particularly the retractable gear version. It would be a great project to have in the shed. Building one would obviously take time and money, but if I had the money I'm sure I could find the time. rgmwa

A C172 for $1,000! SIDS or not, I was about to bid when I looked a bit more closely and noticed there were a couple of parts missing. rgmwa

That puts this little issue in perspective I suppose. The first flight of my aircraft (and others) has been delayed for some time now as apparently CASA is unable to put a signature on an already drafted document that will formalise approval for builders to weigh their own aircraft - something they had been doing for years until someone apparently pointed out to CASA that the regs didn't actually allow it. This from Geoff Danes, the SAAA National Technical Manager in the April news bulletin: I can only report with extreme disappointment that the outcome to this project is still pending. I am lost for words to describe the CASA bureaucracy’s lack of ability to deliver an exemption to permit the agreed permission in a timely fashion, given considerable effort that the SAAA has put into meeting the prerequisite criteria. The SASO office approved our training process in July 2014, but we are still awaiting the permission to exercise the agreed privileges. Indications are that it is now only a signature away for completion. I completed the required training course last November and can only assume they are too busy beavering away on the CASR's to waste time looking for a pen. rgmwa

Good point. Will all flight attendants now have to go through a psychological screening process to make sure they can be trusted not to crash the plane? rgmwa

Welcome Harry and all the best for your venture down under. I assume you mean 2016 and not 2015, or maybe you do mean this year? For flying in the outback, you could do worse than have a look at John Gilpin's blog: http://www.stolspeed.com/id/36 I'm sure others here will add their comments regarding the rules and regulations. The Rockwell looks like a nice aircraft. rgmwa

Hopefully not. Although this isn't the first event of its type, it has certainly put a lot of media focus on pilots' mental health - maybe to the point where the airlines will have to do more than just have a second person in the cockpit to reassure the travelling public. Even if it did satisfy most passengers, you would think that major companies like Lufthansa would also be very aware of the likely ineffectiveness of a second unqualified person in the cockpit for the reasons you mentioned - probably why they haven't bothered before. Even if they said nothing publicly, you would think they would be taking a much more serious look at the issue of pilot mental health. If they had another incident like this one, they would probably be out of business the next day because nobody would fly with them again. The problem is, how do you screen pilots with total reliability - especially if they deliberately set out to conceal the facts? rgmwa

Building is one thing, but you haven't mentioned anything about flying. Might be an idea to look into what's involved there - training, costs, etc before you commit to building anything, unless it's just the building that interests you of course. Maybe take a trial flight if you haven't already. rgmwa

Nev, I think it was something like `Superior pilots use their superior judgement to avoid situations that require superior skills'. rgmwa