Methusala

Wow Adam, you get to fly a Beaver and a Thruster! Two of my favorite aircraft. Don

I believe that all involved in recreational aviation are barking up the wrong tree. Rather than trying to portray flying as a relatively safe pastime we should be spruiking the dangers and results if something goes wrong. This would disseminate among the wide community the truth ie. that when something goes wrong it is obvious that people are going to be injured or killed. So people would accept that there is great danger lurking which is quite obvious. The courts and the damn ambulance chasers would be deprived of their fig leaf. Awwww gee, we dint know that this could HURT SOMEBODY!!! Regards, Don

I am not a lawyer. But I recall a report mentioning a case brought before NSW courts relating to a passenger suing the pilot of a light aircraft. The court found (quite reasonably in my opinion) that to a reasonable man flying has to contain a risk of being seriously injured or killed. No surprises there. It therefore found that anyone who flies in a privately operated aircraft has made a judgement and accepted the bleeding obvious. End of case! Get out of here! Regards, Don

If folding sheet metal in a bending break the way to increase the radius of the bend is to clamp an additional piece of metal above the one to be bent. The mandrel (or clamp holding the metal) is then in a raised position which forces a larger radius when the fold is made. Experimenting with this will satisfy you that the radius will be as specified. About 3-4 degrees should be ample allowance for spring back but this also can be tested by experimenting with a small test piece. The radius 3mm equals a diameter of 6mm. Don

I'm pleased to hear it (wish that I lived there - LOVE the sound of round.) Don

Thank you for the info. I simply hadn't seen them around and assumed that the service was discontinued. Don

Recently visited Sydney for an enjoyable weekend. There is no sign of the Beaver and Cessna Caravan on floats that once regularly flew sightseeing tourists over the city. Is this a sign that our tourist economy is less bouyant or, perhaps, the dreadful CASA prevention from aviating agenda at work? Any one wiser than me on this? Don

I had a pneumatic wheelie wheel on my Thruster. I got sick of fixing punctures (not often actually) but it did tend to lose pressure over time so had to re-inflate. The local ,mobility shop had the same type of wheel with a foam centre, cost $34.50. Has a 5/16 hole for axle bolt and steers like a dream through rough grass and boggy patches. Best thing ever. Don

Experimentation and innovation are good. When researching a job that must be done on my aircraft I, (as with Skippy) ask questions of all whom I believe may have an informed opinion. Armed with this knowledge and my own findings I make a decision and go ahead carefully. This 'works for me'. As for the claim that GA always get it right, I remember a case of a Piper that had landed at Temora with a strong smell of avgas in the cockpit. We investigated and found an aluminium fuel line that connected the two wing tanks through the rear of the luggage area had developed a radial crack due to vibration. Being a plumber I used a mini tube cutter to complete the cut and we performed a temporary repair by sleeving with a piece of efi fuel hose and a pair of pipe clamps. This was only to allow the aircraft to return to its base. Absolute safety is an illusion, Don.

This reminds me of a debate raging at the moment regarding broadband. You certainly get a much inferior result by trying to save a few bucks. Don

We were at Mooloolabah Beach on Monday after Easter. There was a paramotor operating over the point. He seemed to be stretching the envelope with some extreme attitudes. I am not sure whether this was normal operations but looked fairly bad. Don

Experience counts more than "hours". Fly as often as you can in as many types as you can. Doing circuits is character building as you try to improve judgement with each approach - not just the landing. I believe that airlines mandate that an approach be abandoned if not stabilised once reaching the inner marker. Fly in challenging conditions.

G'day All, Wayne was an enormous help when he crafted a new set of skins for my Thruster as seen in the Avatar. He was a genuinely nice bloke and very easy to deal with. We will all miss his huge contribution to the movement. Kindest thoughts and sympathy to his family and many friends, regards Don

If "the MARKET" worked as the voodoo economists claim it does then there would be schools that hit the sweet spot and they would be raking it in and the others would be "losers" and would quickly go out of business. However, we know because we are adults and have our eyes open that it doesn't work like that at all. Civil society, or those whose motives are not profit driven, have a secure place doing what they do with expertise and dedication, often for less dollars than true businesses. Also , other factors like geography and personal preference mix the picture up too. Beware of graphs and statistics. Also slickly worded arguments can be confusing when we are seeking the truth. Don

Get an autopilot!

Marketing more doubtful voodoo economics again? Tax the rich and watch the country get poor? Please explain how it is that the last ten years has seen America give a tax holiday to the rich and ends up with the greatest depression in history. Hah. Want to buy a nice bridge? Seriously....... Don

G'day Nev, Owning one wouldn't affect your judgement on such matters of course! RegardsDon

The pictures are quite sad. A friend flys a Cygnet with an 1835cc VW. He installed his propeller using high tensile bolts which broke in flight. On the same day another aircraft with a pusher installation Rotax 477 had 3 out of 6 , again h/t prop bolts fail. Both aircraft were undamaged in the incidents. AN bolts are, I believe annealed to increase ductility. Perhaps the steel used in the failed components is below par? (Don't know what you could do about this.) Don

Thrusters are more suited to the temperate climate of southern Oz! Mine has doors to keep out the chilly winds. Never actually flown a Drifter but I have it on good authority that they are easier to land and a bit faster because of less frontal area drag. Congratulations on your choice and I suppose that you will have earned the respect of Ozzie. Regards, Don

I agree with you MarcK. It is a shame that sometimes "gated communities" are required to combat the criminality that exists (in small numbers) everywhere. Android is a large but vulnerable platform. I also like Ozrunways.

"Do you look around for the cheapest doctor when they mention the big C?" I think that these words carry some imputation. I am merely asking that care is exercised when reputations are on the line. Some doctors bulk bill.

There have always been organisations who's aims are other than commercial. When you THINK about it society has diverse streams. Charity and cooperation are deeply part of human existence It has been propagandised for so long that the MARKET is the only way to measure progress, happiness or reward. Flying is an activity that inspires our nature and so clubs of enthusiastic people form to share the experience. When I learnt to fly, I did it through gliding clubs where there were no paid instructors. I gained my certificate through Holbrook ultralight Club. No commercial interest but a great experience. So don't crap on about "cheaper" clubs such as the Oaks being inferior. Put up your evidence or keep a respectful silence before empty criticism. Don

Hope that this works. My Pteradactyl at Holbrook about 1988 (me in the helmet!). pteradactyl.docx pteradactyl.docx pteradactyl.docx

I'm not such a spelling snob, it just don't look right to my eye. FT - she weren't such a catch! Don

I was down at Moruya one day when a nurse who was training in the Gazelle turned up. I was looking over a Thruster and remarked to her that the Thruster was a great aircraft. She replied with a horrified expression that she had far more respect for her life than to fly in that thing! Perception is most of the problem with the great old ultralights. Don. PS. Could a moderator do something about the spelling error in the title of this thread, please.