Litespeed

Welcome aboard.

I just hope that Pyne is not going to be in charge. Given what has hapened in Education, we could see some real chaos. Anyone for a $1000 asic card?

That extra weight could also mean a lot of different suitable engine choices. I look at a Carbon cub and scream at the price, but the same engine could be great in RAA with not having to go mega light and expensive on everything else. Hence more affordable as Nev says. There are lots of great engines out there if only the weight allowed.

If CASA thought that 762 kg's is a good idea, then I for one will happily give them the credit they deserve. We can not stand still, whilst the globe keeps turning.

AS per the comment by Facthunter in related thread- "80K,That is a statement from you. No more than that. CASA suggested the 762 kgs limit where 700 probably will cover it. It allows a build of adequate strength from non exotic materials for 2 people and the fuel and tie downs etc they would normally expect to operate with. More adequate strength means less crashes better brakes and more choice of engines etc. Extra weight doesn't mean higher speeds It's not in any way connected, unless you add weight to an existing design without increasing wing area or lift devices. A Pietenpol is heavier, slower, easier to fly and probably more safe than most things we fly. E = MV2 so speed is the most important and as far as the occupants are concerned the major factor affecting the extent of THEIR injuries at the time something goes wrong. We don't do a lot of building these days. Perhaps we will do more in the future. The major cost in any plane is an expensive specialised engine and the labour component of the build. Nev" Very well said Nev. Good to see some of us actually understand that extra weight can mean a safer aircraft. Not blinkered by some old notion of rag and tube only.

Where did I say I wanted to use CTA? Where did I say I wanted more than two on board? My comments regarded allowance for a stronger and thus safer aircraft, Not a Pseudo GA. I am not whingeing, I thought this was a discussion on safety? The above are my comments on what might improve safety, or do you just want to accept the current situation and slam any suggestion that may have merit? If we have to wear a flame suit to comment on safety or not comment at all- we are not going to improve.

Exactly- I want more weight for safety, not for more speed or gizmos or to crate around heavy stuff or extra heavy people. We should be able to build so that the aircraft is a s safe as possible given technology available to us. Building to a safety standard is very different to building for a weight limit. We only have to look at some aircraft that are very flimsy just to meet the limit. I would rather build a with a very strong cockpit area and strong airframe with balanced controls, and accept the higher G loads in a crash knowing I had a cockpit, tank and seat that will be far safer than something flimsy but light that will crumple around my body. We should be designing and building for safety not a weight limit. We are currently building in many areas like Colin Chapman did his race cars- as light as possible to the detriment of safety. Many drivers died because Colin whorshipped the light weight genie too much. Chassis (generally suspension and attachments) collapsed before even hitting stuff and if a accident happened survival was always a afterthought.

For me I am all for a increase in Mtow for safety reasons not for the luxury of putting more stuff onboard. A good example to me is the Hummelbird which could be built as a much stronger airframe if it was allowed a bit more weight and still have reasonable fuel capacity. I know this is a concern of Spacesailor and also mine. So for example allow it to be 315kg instead of 300kg Mtow might make a considerable safety difference if it meant beefing up the structure in the cabin, mass balancing control surfaces, better fuel tank and seat design etc. Naturally these changes would still need to be gone over by a engineer and approved but it makes sense to have a stronger airframe if the weight penalty is accounted for. Having the ability to actually have two 80kg adults, a small of amount of luggage and full fuel would do wonders for some aircraft as well. fuel on the ground is useless as we all know. I am certainly for compulsory spin training as well. I think we can all learn quite a bit from the glider community.

Yes you did just tell us that and thanks for the info, but........................................it took until the 96th post on this thread for such a important nugget of information to be shared with us. Information is the key and in a timely manner not after the horse has already bolted.

Geoff, Thankyou from the bottom of my heart, what you have just said is very difficult. I have had PTSD for 25 years and it still haunts me. It basically cost me everything I had in life including family- I am still picking up the peices. I hope your son is able to repair his family relationship and heal. Again thankyou

If that is true about a certain board member then he (assuming it is a he) should be taken outback and have his "member" removed. His member could then be goldplated and become a "Darwin Award" for addition to the "Come and get it trophy". Also should be brought to the notice of RAA and dealt with appropriately.

I can certainly agree that the E-tec motors are very good from experience in my brothers boat.

TO ALL Admin- AS a side issue could you please provide on the site Data on how many members are actually registered. I know we have stats on who is on line and those visitors and robots?, but to actually know how big the forum group is would be very helpful. Thanks

If that is correct, and I think that's great if it is- then why the bloody hell did they not tell us. A little bit of information goes a long way and can generate goodwill both for RAAus and CASA. Instead due to a vacuum and the appearance of PR spin we have a lot of members complaining because we lack the simple information to have a informed view. The members can not be blamed for getting pissed if we lack the info and hence feel like mushrooms- kept in the dark and fed what seems like bullshite (PR). It does not matter if great things are been done if we get bugger all info, we can only go on what we know. If CASA is truly helping us move to safer operations and helping fund it- the tell us. Then we will appreciate our organisation and CASA for the work they are doing. It is not that damn hard to do. And not just on some Farcebook page and the 1990's style website but here on this forum where we as members and prospective members gather and chat. It is not rocket science.

Yes Geoff, That is recommended reading and the first thing the Dr I mentioned should be read.

Maj, Thanks for the insight. But i agree communication is really lacking, the farcebook comments on unpgrades for the safety stuff but this should be front and centre not a 'we are also doing....shortly to be released.. That stuff should be given promotion as the focus, and we should all know about it. I congratulate the new focus but not the PR style of doing it.

Which brings up another issue- all the leeches that suck blood on the name of ANZAC. Like the ANZAC football games- disgusting. If they were serious then all involved would donate all ticket and advertising sales, tv rights etc would directly go to funding services for our service men and women. And not just the artificially lowered profits. But the government which controls the rights just pays lip service. If they were not using the ANZAC name none of these games would be run. The same goes for the so called "RSL" clubs just a bunch of gambling/drinking dens, the actual clubs themselves do bugger all for veterans. And even have refused at times to allow certain veteran groups to be recognised. Disgusting hypocrisy- I have always refused to stand for remembrance at a RSL for this very reason.

I have a simple cheap one from Supacheap and a mate has a the Aldi one. Both have a attachable mirror. I used mine to inspect the valves on my 5 valve Yamaha head, worked well. The head is smaller than a Jabiru and valves are tiny. Also used for inspecting the ports and topside of valves. I just bent the mirror mount to suit my needs. Mine is USB so able to use laptop and get a much larger image. I also used it to fish out bits of a broken starter clutch on my bros SV650 (has a attachable magnet). This saved a complete engine rebuild. So was worth its weight in gold to me. Since they are cheap- really is worth giving a go, and you can make mods to attachments if needed. The Aldi one is also good as it has its own monitor and is self contained. The pro style boroscopes I expect are much better but cost a lot more. Are also fun for inspecting anything you wish- mouth, ears, nose or........................I will leave that to imagination. Also great in car mechanical work or even inspections inside wings etc. Mine has a two meter metal snake.

I am with you Geoff, I know a excellent Psychologist who is a specialist in PTSD and works for the military, he knows how poorly the men and women are treated and that includes the very ones fresh from the warzone. The funding is just not available to actually do what is needed. Also the brass and bureaucrats make it next to impossible to get any help, the soldiers are treated as lazy or weaklings. The hoops they must jump through are legendary. They are systematically abused and degraded by those who are meant to care for them, this is not by just neglect but also intent. The politicans know it and just either don't care or are destroyed by whiteanting from within the military and its public servants. They will destroy anyone who confronts the ugly truth and tries to change for the better. They are so ingrained in the dirty system they will do anything to protect themselves- anything but do the right thing. Servicemen are fighting daily for simple recognition of their needs to no avail. The strategy is wait them out til they die or are imprisoned due to their inability to cope when they return. The debt we owe them is staggering. A royal commission is needed but will never happen It makes me ashamed to be Australian at times

So first we have a survey that obviously cost money and appears to have bugger all benefit that could not have been done in a cheaper and far better way. Now we have orange vests and PR spin. Now just wait for the photo ops of orange hard hats. If they were serious about the safety stuff, they would have spent the bucks and effort directly on safety not PR spin. Would anyone like to volunteer a truck, 5 tons of manure and deliver it to HQ......please

Yep your right OME, Black chicks are hot so are white ones. But grey ones - thats called Necrophilia.

That is the hard question? I just don't know- can it be traced back? A problematic situation

Geoff, I hope your son is well and not too badly affected by his tour. I hope he is able to absorb what he has seen and done without too much of the trauma that is so prevalent of our brave men and women. It is truly disgraceful how politicians wave the flag and send our youth to fight and sometimes die. The injuries are rarely just physical and require support and compassion that is often life long. We know so much about the affects of war on those that witness it but defense and governments do so little. I suggest the next pollie who wants to send us to battle should be at the frontline themselves. Once we run out of dishonourable members of warmongering parliaments- peace might have a chance. Unfortunately I expect the 60 minutes story is purely aimed at propaganda to justify why we are over there bombing. I thank your son and all those fine men and women doing such difficult tasks. Phil

I wish to thank all for their contributions especially you Mriya. As a refrain from all this that some consider thread drift and not in the best overall interest of the forum, whether it be religion, politics or my undying love of Alfa Romeos.

Its okay OME , I have decided to enlist a friend to help me out, my arms are sore, I have whiplash. She looks a lot like catwoman and is called Madame Lash