rgmwa

Looked fairly watery to me. Either way, it was lucky that the cameraman just happened to be set up there to film it, or we would have missed it. rgmwa

Not for me. Imagine the comments you'd get as you climb out of the plane after that really bad landing in front of an audience. Or even worse, when they come to collect the wreckage. rgmwa

Just adding water for the camera if you ask me. rgmwa

The stabilator is cable controlled and the anti-servo tab is electrically actuated with full-up to full-down in around 30 secs. Wouldn't like to have to rely on the electrics to respond fast enough if the cables failed, but it might be possible to get away with it if you were lucky/careful and the conditions were favourable. Hope I never have to find out. Apologies for the thread drift. rgmwa

Thanks Nev, I've seen that video a few times. Pretty scary. My aircraft has a stabilator too, so I hope Van's design proves to be a good one. The RV-12's stabilator is a simple rectangular shape with flat ends, so some builders have added some nice-looking aftermarket stabilator tips that add at least a couple of pounds of extra weight. There are about 350 RV-12's flying now and none have fallen out of the sky yet, but I decided against adding the tips and becoming a test pilot. rgmwa

Thanks Howard. Looks like I won't be ordering this year then. rgmwa

Yes, that Tucano is hard to beat for looks. I'm tempted. Anyone know what the Euro is worth now? rgmwa

What are your concerns with full flying tails, Nev? rgmwa

Reminds me of the old days when prospective sailing ship crew members were questioned about their experience. Apparently making three circuits around a ram's horn perched on a stand meant that the sailor could claim he had made three voyages around Cape Horn. Seems quite reasonable to me. rgmwa

Works for me. Still on the right side of 105 and looking forward to many more good reds ... in moderation of course. rgmwa

This is in the newsletter and looks like it would be worth watching... "IF your telly can pick up BBC Four and you’re twiddling your thumbs at 9.00pm on Tuesday 17 March, you could do worse than tune in to “The Aviatrix”, a documentary of Lady Mary Heath’s epic 1928 flight from Cape Town to London. Tracey Curtis-Taylor retraced the flight in a vintage Boeing Stearman biplane; even better, her adventure was filmed by the cousin of BMAA member Jason Bullock. Click here for a tasty four-minute trailer." rgmwa

Just looked it up. Looks like a collection of leftover aircraft parts - even the wings are on backwards. rgmwa

It's an old thread but the owner (at the time) gave his mobile number in the last post for people to contact him (0407779752, which I think is 61 407779752 if calling from overseas). May be worth a phone call. rgmwa

This thread may help... http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/samba-xl-for-sale.27715/ rgmwa

As far as I know it was still at Bunbury in May 2014, but that probably doesn't help much. Were you thinking of buying it? rgmwa

Yes, I think I remember seeing it now that you mention it. I must say the one that worked looked and sounded pretty impressive. rgmwa

Yes. I guess we only get to see the successful ones. rgmwa

In my previous post I said Vans recommended 4950 static rpm for the RV-12. However, I've just been through the prop adjustment process and their notes actually say 4960-5020 static rpm as a starting point to get good all-round performance. Sounds like your numbers are in the same ballpark, even though it's a different aircraft. rgmwa

... either that or well prepared. rgmwa

Good on her. Nice story, although she's a lucky girl to have parents who are willing and able to buy her an aircraft. rgmwa

Fair enough. I'm GA, not RAA so I won't argue. For me it's AFR, but at least we both know what we mean. rgmwa

I wonder why its maximum bank angle is only 5 degrees? Tight circuits would be challenging. rgmwa

At last I can see where I've been going wrong all these years. Rules 1 - 5 just about cover it. Luckily I'm OK with rule #6. rgmwa

Not according to CAAP 58.1-1(1), although it may still be referred to as BFR in the RAA Ops manual, and probably in various other organisation's manuals as well. However, the stamps in my logbook confirm that in August last year and also two years before that, I passed an Aeroplane Flight Review. (Nothing to do with the `aircraft' by the way). There's nothing particularly wrong with calling a 2-yearly review a BFR (Biennial Flight Review), however CASA obviously now prefers the more general term AFR. http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:OLDASSET::svPath=/main/download/caaps/ops/,svFileName=5_81_1.pdf rgmwa

BFR is now AFR - Aeroplane Flight Review. rgmwa