dodo

If you can't get it to form an emulsion, try adding a drop of detergent (just one should be enough). It sounds like the problem is that some factor or additive is allowing the water to form an emulsion with the fuel. A little water in fuel is not that unusual. Maybe ethanol would do it? dodo PS I don't know much about fuels - it is just a hypothesis!

Umm.. that's saltbush country. Not much grass involved. Look at the bloke on the left - he is knee deep in it. Think of it as a lot of foot high road bumps scattered around the place. dodo

From gossip/rumour, I got the impression the plaintiff wasn't after money, but would settle for blood or substantial change (or something!). If so, the plaintiffs main motivation may have been that the accident was unnecessary, and that either people should be held accountable, or that change should happen to ensure a similar accident did not occur in future, or something along those lines. If so, any settlement may not have involved money. Either way, now that it has been settled, our board can now tell us what we got for our money, or what any consequences are. I would be very disappointed if we are now told it is a confidential settlement blah, blah, blah, after having been told that a case in progress can't be reported to the membership in any meaningful way. That sort of expenditure does require meaningful reporting to the membership. And my post assumes the bulk of the expense was on a single case...I wonder if there are there any others coming along? dodo

The financial statements raise a few questions. Interesting that our employee expenses and key personnel expenses haven't changed much, but some of the related costs have. Legal costs... And just from a quick look, some of the other expenses and revenues are interesting. dodo

The draft financial statements are on the RA site now. Definitely interesting! dodo

J170 is about 260kg useful, which is getting close, dodo

Sounds like a Jabiru - the 160, 170, and 230 would be a close fit. As to getting a Rotax onto a factory Jabiru...... dodo

I think you are right. I have no CTA experience at all. I don't intend needing that knowledge, but it might be useful. You could always come over to the Oaks for some solo practice. dodo

Interesting - Avayner has taken the approach I did - get the nav first, then the passenger will come, but I can see the sense in getting some practice in and getting the passenger before the x-country. I still haven't chased up the passenger endorsement, but after that there is still the tailwheel, low perf (if it still exists by then) and possibly the 2 stroke endorsements. I think this will take me a while! dodo

Well...I'll say it again: Myles quit to pursue other opportunities. A couple of days later he got a job offer from RA, That's what the membership was told. Is it true? dodo

He gave up his position on the board to pursue other opportunities. The position was offered to him a day or two later. As to no information, it is disappointing that we don't know what is happening regarding the SMS implementation, but consistent with the usual communications from the board. I imagine Myles is probably quite happy not to have to report what he is doing now - he is now just a member with no particular need to inform anyone of anything. dodo

The removal of our ability to register aircraft was because we failed four audits. The underlying cause of failing four audits appears to be poor record keeping, some poor decisions, and no oversight by the board. In other words: poor governance. As to your comments on communication, I agree, except your time frames appear odd: the communication problem has existed for years, and the complaints in loud volume have been since November 2012 when it became apparent how bad the situation was. dodo

The RA-Aus equivalent would be aircraft registrations. Poor governance is a direct cause of the lack of ability to register aircraft. As to the silence - nothing has changed, as far as I know. If the board is now working better together, we would not know. dodo

I suspect the used car market is more influenced by other factors. It would be interesting to see how the market for used yachts in the same sort of price range is going, as yachts have similar costs (purchase and ongoing), also a similar lack of economic function. dodo

The x-country turned up today. Wednesday I don't have to work, so I may get to enjoy it! dodo

Well done. Enjoy it! (Oh...bugger! Where's mine?) dodo

Nothing in the mail so far... how about you? dodo

Nitropil would be nitroprill - ammonium nitrate in small pellets. You mix it with diesel on site, and blow stuff up. Good stuff, very safe, and cheap. Explosive of choice for any normal ag blasting. It's what I had been using when I tested negative! dodo

I'll race you! ...the x-country is hopefully in the mail. dodo

Well done. Took me nearly four years - and then a bit longer for the Nav & Met. It's a good feeling. dodo

I have been tested negative - wearing clothes I was handling and wearing ammonium nitrate with the day before. I commented politely that I had expected the device to go 'ping', but only got a weary (or wary) smile from the operator. I didn't explain, I just got on the plane. dodo

I do not think so. I suspect it is why it has taken so long to get an executive sorted. We have had a board divided for a while, but my guess is Myles resignation produced an even split. Unintended, unfortunate. I think the board divided has been going on for a while, but a 5:5 split makes it unworkable. So...will the board resolve it? dodo

I think Middo probably quit out of frustration. Must be pretty hard working through all this, with a board divided against itself. He has a lot of knowledge, and a lot of history. He was part of the board that let things slide until we were in trouble, but also part of the board that made things happen before that, and he didn't walk away when it all went wrong and got hard. So I would like a board that works together, preferably with Middo, but most importantly, one that works together. I have no idea what is happening, but I am pretty sure that the 5:5 split on the board must be resolved, if we are to make any progress. Either that will be done by discussion, or by election. I hope we don't have to wait for it to be (hopefully) resolved by election. dodo

I think the problem in the recent (and perhaps more distant) past has been the board not working together, so any election of office holders is a plus. That we have people with varying views...if they can work together, it will all be fine. Otherwise, we will need a change in the composition of the board to get a majority one way or the other (the current split seems to be 5:5) for any progress to be made, which may happen with the next elections. If the board cannot work together, then little or no progress will be made, and we may run out of time to fix our problems. dodo

You have asked the right question.... I'd like to know as well, and I have read the various threads. dodo