skippydiesel

On the first statement - Agreed ! On the second - Staged? As in a plot? I think not. Democratic leaders are, by nature, a timid lot. For fear of offending the electorate by sticking to a strong ethical position, they waft from one toe testing positions, to another. Its absolutly clear that Russia has no legitimate claim on the Ukraine or its democratically inclined population - Does the Free (?) World step in? noooooo and why not ? - Simple our so called leaders are jostling to stay at the back of the crowd, for fear of incurring the displeasure of their electorate and allies. Their hope is that The Donald will suddenly commit the US to boots on the ground and they will crowd in behind heroically yelling support of all kinds. Sort of similar with Israel - No one want to stand up to their big ally, Uncle Sam and no one wants to be labelled an anti-Semite, after the failure of the West to actively appose the Holocaust. Israel has done its own thing for as long as its been in existence. The reality is Israel (not Jews) has been actively nibbling away at the the right of Palestinian's to exist/have a country. You can not oppress a people and not expect a response. Hamas (along with others) is that response. Hamas is no worse or better, than the fundamentalist Jews, who spout biblical text as their right to force Palestinians off their land. The Hamas attacked on Israel 7 October 2023 was just what the Netanyahu religious fundamentalist run government was waiting for, as an excuse to conduct genocide on the Palestinians - the fate of hostages have always been collateral damage to the Netanyahu regime. Rant Rant Rant!!!!!! 😈

We are still the primitive homo sapiens that walked the plains, in small family/tribal groups, thousands of years ago. We support the tribal leader, invariably a psychopathic individual, driven by the belief they are born to lead/superior/ anointed by god . Unfortunatly the characteristics, that drives an individual to seek leadership, are all to often linked to the need for more power and you know the truism about power corrupting etc. Politics, organised religion & tribal identity have always been linked - The leader will seek to enhance his standing by delivering what he (usually male) thinks the tribe wants while also minimising (eliminating in some situations) any opposition. War/conflict has been used by leaders, since the beginning of time (even animals do it) to increase the tribal wealth and unify the tribe against the other. Its not hard to scratch the surface of modern man to reveal the fear of the other (racial/religious/ economic/gender difference's) Religious and political leaders have used this tactic throughout history to the present day. Two current examples - Russia v Ukraine & Israel V Palestine. Russia has no economic need for the territory of the Ukraine but Putin does, in his insatiable hunger for power. The war distracts his poulation from seeking his removal and gives him excuses to supress any descent. Israel, always riven by religious' discord (fundamentalists V liberals). Basically needs external threat (Arabs) to remain united. Netanyahu has remained in power by "stitching together" successive coalitions - To continue, he must meet the demands of his coalition partners, in the current case, the religious fundamentalists (god bothering nutters). Not a history buff but I don't think the Israelis have had a leader, so bereft of ethical/ moral standards, as Bibi. Of course he is finished but determined to go out in the blase, of what he sees as glory, the destruction of Palestine - looks like he will succeed. 😈

I thought the anti retract was a something called an "anti squat switch" - simply a switch, activated by the weight of the aircraft on the suspension, that opened the electrical circuit.😈

Confession time: No I have never measured the spigots (oil/fuel/coolant) just gone with the Rotax specification - my error. It will be a few years (about 2 ) before I get the chance to measure the spigots but will try & remember to do so. Just be a bit careful - some spigots , on the same system, are a diffrent OD. A 16.5mm ID hose should fit a 17 mm OD spigot but as you say, asking a bit much if its actually 18/19mm. My observation still stands - never go for a larger ID hose (even by a little) than the spigot OD - you will be trying to get the clamp to do the sealing for you, rather than the hose/spigot interaction..😈

Russia has a long history of wearing down its enemies by using its own as gun fodder. Ukraine's military are exhausted. By comparison Russia has an almost inexhaustible supply of bodies to soak up bullets. Ukraine can not win or get back its territories, without boots on the ground aid from Europe. Its in Eu's (& the Wests) interest to see Russia put back behind it international boundaries, but as in the past, are hamstrung by democratic disunity. Eu is desperate for a strong unifying leader - who????? Should Russia prevail, all the old satellite countries are at risk. Their relativly young democracies are already being undermined by Putin. Coupled with the above is the "interested" spectators, China & N Korea - failure to support Ukraine will likly be seen as a greenlight for other dictatorships to take whatever territories they please. Putin is very much the old style dictator - power is everything. He can not be trusted to keep his word on anything that does not suit his agenda. In his arrogance, he can not be seen to step back from the Ukraine war. His groupie, The Donal , has been plaid sooooo easily. 😈

Adjacent!!! - Its almost in town😈

Dont forget Daryl was only one corrupt scenario, there was also the sale of land by the Perish family to NSW Gov, at a reported x 10 the market value, the heavy handed CV19 lock down of W Sydney, compared with sh'll be right approach to super rich North Sydney etc etc😈

Dont forget, on any crossing there will be a mid point before / after which you head for the closest land (subject to windspeed/direction). The worst case scenario would be a mid point engine failure - 14Nm. Anyhow you've put the wind up me, so have provisionally changed rout to Renmark- Port Augusta - Kimba - The above change may make Pooncarie my overnight stop,rather than Renmark - will check ULP availabity. 😈

Okay -You want STOLish & speed, in a high wing - the purchase price of good preloved Cessna 180 starts at about $200K Au? Bound to be others 😈

I apologise if the following question has already been answered; In a market place , already crowded with high wing aircraft, what unique selling point(s) does the RV15 (or the similar Sonex HW) have to attract buyers???😈

Good point - at this stage of planning OzRunways has nominated 4500ft as the most fuel efficient - nothing stopping me going higher, for the overwater section. The direct rout is through R & D areas that if active would force me north (may be best to avoid anyhow) which would make the Port Pirie - Whyalla crossing the natural rout.😈

Why Forest?😈

I figure that if I fly Renmark - Kimba I will only be over water for about a few minutes. I could go Renmark - Port Pirie - Whyalla, for an even shorter water crossing.😈

Well I found it interesting. It nice to see such a capable aircraft & pilot (did wonder about no floaties?). Other than levitating via the same physics, flying my Sonex, on a similar (not overwater) rout will have little comparison with this DA40NG. I will only be flying for 4-5 hrs/day and will have a walk about every 2-3 hrs - good for blood circulation & bladder relief. At this very early stage in planning it looks like an overnight in Renmark, Caiguna & Katanning, prior to taking the coastal rout to Serpentine. I estimate 5 fuel stops and additional 5-7 fatigue mitigation landings. So far (current windspeed/direction) I will never land with less than 33L remaining - well within my comfort zone. Just in case I am listing all possible airfields on/along my rout and noting the availabity of fuel at each. I don't have an autopilot = fly by hand the whole way. 😈

I agree ----, somewhat. In an ideal world, all of us literary giants (not) would be regular contributors. Fair cop, when it comes to writing, I am a bit of talker/winger, not much of a doer. Mr Heath is employed (as in $$$) for his journalistic skills. Her's a thought - he could probably use this Forum as inspirations for some real aviation journalism. Unfortunatly he either missed the tutorial on applied research, to be followed by writen facts, or just couldn't be bothered with such a mundane elements of his trade Seems to be he is either; Not very good at his job OR Couldn't give a rats posterior OR Is of the opinion that RAA & its pilots would not know better. Whatever way you look at it I don't think he is doing a good job of representing RAA or its pilots i.e. why make the effort. Seems to me, he has already achieved a significant millstone - continued employment despite a very poor work record.😈

Even if he paid his way, it should be tax deductable (in part, if not whole). I recon he would have a good case, keep all receipts/literature/photos as evidence of professional activity, etc Likly comes under the heading of business opportunities/education/etc. There is nothing illegal or unethical in trying to minimising your tax. He would be crazy not to give it try.😈

Its bad enough that SP already seems to be dominated by slushy travel logs and kiddie reports - who wants the hear from a spelling challenged old fart fulfilling his dreams???? 😈

As I did however the impression I got was that the objective was to canvas members views on Paper V Digital😈

Since when did ERSA show farm strips?????? 😈

I would add all levels of Government - I only recall two politicians, at any level, being punished for corruption (Ian McDonald & his freind Eddie Obeid). What of all the local councils that have approved development in flood prone areas, etc. State Gov - purchasing land from mates, at many times the market value (Gladys Berejiklian et all) etc???? The democratic government model is supposed to be open, "transparent" yet the Australian governments, at all levels, is far from this ideal. Sure some things must be secret but this should be kept to the minimum - not used to avoid answering to the people, cover up embarrassing/unethical/criminal activity, etc. Is it any wonder so many Australians have little regard/trust for those in power?? 😈

Sport Pilot ISSUE 112 Aside from the the regular homilies delivered by our long suffering RAA staff (always worth a brows) it seems the main contributor to SP is the editor. The SP editor has now reported on his thirds trans Australia trip. The latest self promotion uses approximately 13% of the available SP space (front back covers & advertising included) and delivers less than 1% quality reporting : AIRCRAFT The RV 7 used, is not RAA registered. Possibly could be under the latest regulations but unlikly. Even if RAA registered, is NOT representative of the majority of RAA aircraft, being far more powerful, Faster, Greater Range, Avgas guzzling and likly higher load capacity. The pilot of an aircraft of this type, is very unlikly to encounter the sort of trip challenges most RAA pilots/aircraft would encounter. PILOT Mr Heath is a GA licensed pilot - as we all know this confers entry to controlled airspace (CTA). As yet ,RAA pilots are not so privileged, thus limiting their (rout & landing) options when traveling. Mr Heaths budget (fuel/accommodation/food/etc) would seem to be quit lavish, again not likly to be representative of many RAA pilots. Trip Budget It may be a perc of the job that Mr Heaths travel activities (journalistic research?) are tax deductable, in whole or part. May also be covered by in whole or part by SP? (RAA?). I find Mr Heaths travel stories entertaining, if a tad gushy!. I also find that they have little relevance to what I or my RAA pilot friends might aspire to - something as simple as 95/98 RON ULP availabity is not addressed,. Three trans Australian trips (published in consecutive SP's) of little relevance to RAA pilots, is truly excessive Who is approving these irrelevant jaunts? Who is funding them? Why are we getting travelogues that have little relevance to the sort of flying RAA pilots might aspire to? "TECH TALK" "THE BORE, THE STROKE, AND THE GLORY....." Yea Gads! If it was just Mr heath showing his ignorance I would not be concerned however SP is supposed to be representing RAA & it pilots. This article, in keeping with previous "fluff" from Mr Heath BORDERS ON MISLEADING, CERTAINLY DOES LITTLE TO INFORME, the reader. How long are we going to be subjected to this SP editors incompetence?😈

Survey was all about moving to digital - nothing about quality editorial content.😈

Very interesting. I suspect , many of the phantom roads you are referring to, are actually surveyed and likly appear on Council maps/plans. The big question is; when Google shows what looks to be a nice runway is it true/false?? 😈

It was at Goulburn a few years back - ugly as sin!😈

Thanks for that. DH built many stunning (looks & performance) aircraft. I have flown in a Herron several times. The Drover was a best forgotten modification - so ugly even a mother would reject it. 😈