pudestcon

G'day Fellow Aviators,

Drifters seem to be 'light on the ground' here in Western Australia so I was wondering if there are any here and where they are situated?

Can anyone tell me if there is a Drifter anywhere in Western Australia available to train in? I did my training in one at Narrogin many years ago, still have my licence (not current) and want t get back to 'wind in your face' flying after doing some hours in Gazelles and Lightwings. If I can't find a Drifter to get current in then I'll settle for the Thruster at Northam with Steve Vette.

Cheers,

Pud

G'day Fellow Aviators,

Can anyone tell me if there is a Drifter anywhere in Western Australia available to train in. I did my training in one at Narrogin many years ago, still have my licence (not current) and want t get back to 'wind in your face' flying after doing some hours in Gazelles and Lightwings. If I can't find a Drifter to get current in then I'll settle for the Thruster at Northam with Steve Vette.

Cheers,

Pud

I voted YES

Why? Well the motion detectors on the conveyor will indeed make the conveyor move at the aircraft speed (nothing to do with wheel speed) and in the opposite direction but the conveyor cannot influence the movement of the aircraft because of the FREEWHEELING wheels. What would happen if the aircraft was suspended above the conveyor (ala hovercraft uplift) and then ran up the engine to provide forward thrust? I say the aircraft would accelerate to lift off speed and leave the conveyor behind furiously rotating backwards.

Pud

What's going on???

This from the Western Australian Newspaper web site.

It's another sad day for the families involved and recreational flying generally. My condolences to the families left to get on with life.

Two feared dead in light plane crash

21st December 2007, 16:45 WST

Two people are feared dead after the ultra-plight plane they were flying crashed between Bindoon and Toodyay this afternoon.

Police and emergency crews were notified the plane was missing about 1pm when it failed to return from a trip Northam around midday.

It is understood the two people on board, both qualified pilots, left Bindoon about 7am to pick up another aircraft from Northam.

Rescue crews found the wreckage in a heavily timbered area shortly after 3pm and are still at the scene.

No further details have been released.

RACHEL DONKIN

Got this off the Western Australian Newspaper web site.....

Two men survive plane crash in Eneabba

16th December 2007, 15:45 WST

Two men have escaped serious injury after their light plane ripped apart in a crash landing in Western Australia’s northern wheatbelt.

Insp John Gibson said the two men from Eneabba, about 280km north of Perth, crash landed in a paddock at the Rainbow Valley Farm, about 7km north of the small farming and mining town about 1pm today.

Police and emergency services were called to the crash scene in WA’s midwest.

Insp Gibson said it was understood the plane crashed as the men, aged in their 50s, approached a farm airstrip.

“The very early indication is that it was coming in to land, it may have hit power lines and the fuselage has been ripped in half,†he said.

A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said the men were being airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital in Perth this afternoon with non-life-threatening injuries.

She said one of the men had injured his right ankle and sustained head injuries and the other had minor injuries.

AAP

So what do you get for your money?

I've always thought that wire braced was inferior to strut braced both from a strength point of view (I assume the wing is beefed up to account for the strut attachment points) and from the drag point of view; not to mention the better look of the SB Drifters. I did all my initial training on a SB Drifter in Narrogin but have not flown one since. I must add here that I am a very inexperienced student of aeronautics so would like other's opinions of why you think wire braced is better.

Cheers,

Pud

What a great event!!

G'day All,

I'm just home from the Red Bull Air Race and watched the last bit on TV as well. I've gotta say the grandstand seat was excellent with an uninterrupted view of the flying circuit and a big screen on the waters edge directly in front but below the field of vision. A superb afternoon of exciting racing; those guys certainly know how to have fun coming through the start gate at a tad under 400kms per hour and pulling close to 10gs at times.

Well worth the effort if you can spare the time next year. I believe it will be coming to Perth until 2011 so I'm happy about that.

Cheers,

Pud.

Goodonya Westcoast,

I heard there were 100,000 people there today.

I'll be there tomorrow afternoon with the other 300,000+ people expected and fully expect to have a great time. I've just acquired 2 tickets for the grandstand area (a mate can't go and offered me the tickets free. Thanks Pol) but I'm going on my own. I'll have the spare ticket with me if anyone is game to ask me for it. I'll be the overweight 55 year old in the straw hat:)

Cheers,

Pud

It's arrived!!

I thought I was gonna miss out but it arrived to day in sunny WA

Yep. The mag is late!

I received my copy in the mail yesterday 12th June which is late from my perspective.

This is off thread but the practise in the magazine of starting an article in the front pages and finishing it back on page 40 or whatever drives me insane! I have actually stopped reading other lesser magazines because of this practise but I can't do that with our mag! (Must be some sort of a hold over me:)) My feeling is that if an article deserves a start in the front pages then it deserves to be completed on consecutive pages. I always flip to the back pages "For sale" first anyway.

Off my soapbox now:laugh:

Cheers everyone,

Pud

WA accident at Northam

Yes it's been very sad and cause for concern regarding the spate of light aircraft accidents recently.

Here is the latest I could find on the WA accident in Northam yesterday http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=29246

Condolences to the families of the deceased and a speedy recovery for the injured.

We need to be always vigilant and put safety first.

Pud

Toe curling stuff!!

Jeez!! I was sweating after watching that video. Great clip

Very useful

Thanks Ian,

I have often thought about carby icing and this graph sets out the information very well. I have saved a copy for reference.

Thanks Ian,

Ian Jones

Don't like it at all

G'day Ian,

I don't like it at all!! I reckon you should go back to the drawing board (Paint program) and start the process all over again!! Nah, just trickin'.

It looks really good and I can almost feel your excitement and pleasure in just getting the colour scheme right.

All the best,

Ian Jones

FETCH

G'day All,

I must say this is a good thread. My down wind checks as taught when I did my training in (should that be on!) a Drifter and which I still use now in a Gazelle are as follows...

Fuel on and sufficient

Engine temperatures in the green

Trim set

Circuit area is go for landing, wind direction.

Helmets, (Drifter remember) hatches and harness.

Obviously not comprehensive enough for GA aircraft but I only fly simple RAA registered craft.

Cheers,

Ian Jones

Just button the lip

G'day All,

I have this problem in a couple of areas of my life. One is flying and the other is property investing. I use the same tactic in both; I shut up and say nothing unless I'm asked a question by a genuinely interested person. The most I say to derogatory comments is "You have your view and I have mine". I leave it at that.

Chris, I notice your airstrip is Wyalkatchem; almost my home territory although I now live in Perth. I used to live in Koorda about 45 km North of Wylie.

Sorry I got off topic Guys;)

Ian

Thank you both for replying,

I'll keep your comments in mind and report back after I've attempted control in the Gazelle. It will be some time as I'm out of action for at least another 5 weeks:censored:

Happy flying,

Ian

G'day All,

My question here might be out of left field a bit....

I have recently had an operation to fuse my right ankle at right angles to the leg... That's right!! No ankle movement what so ever. I do have all other joints (knee and toes) fully operational.

I fly a flying school Gazelle out of Beverley WA and am wondering how I will get on with brake operation next time I fly. I have spoken with my instructor Garath Lloyd about it and I may need to swap to the Lightwing. (Heel operated brakes) Has anybody had experience in this situation or have observations or comments to share?

Thanks in advance,

Ian

G'day Everyone,

New here but it's an awesome site.

I'm in the building game, carpenter, Reg Builder, I've had my own building business but now work for the 4th largest residential home builder in Oz based in WA where I work as the group QC manager and OSH officer. Very happy in this role so it will probably see me to retirement although that may be some time off yet.

I first learnt to fly in a Drifter at Narrogin but now mostly fly Gazelles with Bluesky Aviation at Beverley. Still wishing for my own UL.

Cheers,

Ian