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Methusala

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Everything posted by Methusala

  1. Methusala
    G'day Coop, you'd best keep radical ideas such as "the elevator doesn't make the aeroplane go up" pretty quiet around here. I remember a thread some years ago that lasted an age . The subject was "does the throttle control ascent/descent or does the elevator?' (By the way, I was arguing on your side). Elevator controls airspeed and throttle controls ascent/descent. Regards Don (And I was "just sayin' ", I don't want to visit that argument again.)
  2. Methusala
    This from the C/T today. Good/bad news. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nsw/ultra-light-plane-crashes-near-lake-jindabyne-20141128-11w9i7.html
  3. Methusala
    I had one of these back in 1981. Sourced from a bloke called, I think, Ron Lang from Dandenong. It was fitted with a cog tooth belt re drive and used Victa ignition and a Tillotson 'pumper' carb. It functioned for about 5 hrs until it broke the crank. I was lucky to land the Pteradactyl in a cow paddock - sure scared the cows! When questioned about the cause of the crank failure, Lang answered that he "probably omitted to instal a spacer washer on the crankshaft. It was a brave attempt back in those days but in reality it should have remained on the ground if not as a boat anchor. Regards, Don. PS. It also was fitted with Victa de-compression valves to help starting.
  4. Methusala
    I have never seen myself as a cheerleader for the AUF (as I still see it in my mind's eye). I have at times even disagreed with their policies and particular decisions. However it is obvious that they play an essential part by liaising with the governing authorities on behalf of we, the members. Any member is free to pursue a more active role in this area by seeking election to the board. They may also petition their rep on the board. I think that launching an anonymous attack on those reps in this forum is a poor dummy spit. Please show due respect to board members such as Major Millard. Don
  5. Methusala
    Horses for courses really. I trained in a Thruster and they take some adjusting to the fact that they are not fully stalled in the 3 point attitude so you needto judge the flair and get the stick right back at that point. A learned trick but Mick Parer at Holbrook said if you could fly a Thruster you could fly anything! And he was one of the initial group on Mirages. I recently had my 1st Drifter ride and found the lack of forward vision disconcerting. That said they climb better than Thrusters (Imho) and they nearly land themselves. Need to do the research. Don. PS Don't go thru a fence in a Drifter!
  6. Methusala
    As I have reported I drove a VP-2 for 550hrs behind a fuel injected 2180 VW using a Halltech ecu and a single Bosch 009 distributor with no problems. No need for heated induction air. Very smooth operation. Don
  7. Methusala
    Stayed 1 night in Lugarno, and have traveled by train through Domadossala. I think this is on Lake Como. Stunning scenery! Don
  8. Methusala
    Good lookin' dog , mate!
  9. Methusala
    Hey! I posted a story about 3 years ago asking exactly the same question. A national Disgrace!!! Don
  10. Methusala
    Yes. That's the one. A beautiful thing but won't be out anytime soon unfortunately. Don
  11. Methusala
    My brother, who lives out of the country , has a Rutan Solitaire stored in John's hanger. This was the winning entrant when the US soaring body held a design comp for best home buildable , self launched sailplane in the 80's. It is a lovely thing but not without problems. It is a monowheel design with in-line skate wheels on outriggers trailing from the wing tips. This gives it very poor ground handling. It is powered by a Zenoah 320 opposed 2 stroke twin which retracts into the nose via a lovely piece of electronic/mechanical leverage. Once in the air it climbs adequately and has an l/d around 38:1. It utilises 'spoil flaps' similar to a club Libelle for glideslope control which induce no pitch change in operation. I, as you know, once had a Pteradactyl, which was lovely in mild conditions and would have been quite safe but for the spar tubes being too light-on in wall thickness. Like every thing aeronautical, there are good and bad sides to most designs. I never would have believed that a Europa could crash so tragically as happened up near Hervey Bay but I don't know the details of that one. As I say,"a million ways that an aeroplane can kill you!" Don
  12. Methusala
    Not stopping...raise flaps, power on and go around! Don
  13. Methusala
    I would guess that the zinc coated ones would be for galvanised wire. The copper against the zinc (galvanising) would make for great electrolytic corrosion. Don
  14. Methusala
    This insultingly amateur bunch of wannabees won't do anything that doesn't involve a) Sticking their noses deeper into the public funds trough; 2) Seeking to defend and extend the "right" of their mates to do the same thing; or 3) Use any means at their reach to try to blacken the image of their political opponents. Don ( BTW what about getting rid of that odious piece of red tape BS the ASIC card?)
  15. Methusala
    Had an Aeropower conversion about 2070cc built by Mike Muninger (snr) with through bolt conversion in my VP-2. Did 350hrs with no trouble. Drove a 56"x30" Sweetapple prop at 3600 max and 3200 continuous. Would cruise at 60kt and climb was gradual (250fpm) from 2500ft but I had a long strip. Aircraft was about 450kg full weight. No cooling issues, although the barrels were out in the breeze with scoops. Efi kept cht's to around 250C and egt's about 1100 F. Oil pressure sat at 38psi and temp at around 75C. Don
  16. Methusala
    The water pump does not open into the crankcase. So the sealing between 2 crankcase halves will not result in a water leak. The water pump will allow water into the labyrinth seal between the two case chambers. As Nev says this will show up as water contamination of the oil in the small reservoir. The problem with sealing the water pump was all but eliminated when the 99 came out with ceramic seals. Therefore the most likely place for a leak is on the gasket sealing the coolant manifold to the case. Don
  17. Methusala
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboencabulator link for anyone interested to follow. Don
  18. Methusala
    Maybe heart attack/natural causes?
  19. Methusala
    Make sure that the engine is well primed before attempting to start. Full choke and pull through 8 blades with throttle closed, switches off. Then open throttle a little and flick. should start within 2-3 tries. If it is flooded then open throttle fully and flick (with some one in the cockpit and chocks in place). As fact hunter says, correct adjustment of tappets is vital. Regards, Don
  20. Methusala
    Bought a 2nd hand TOM TOM today for $50. Loaded with US data. Thanks, Don
  21. Methusala
    Thanks for the info. I have a Samsung Galaxy 2s which should support the apps. Will give it a try. Don
  22. Methusala
    My flying mate and I are in the advanced stages of planning a fly/drive trip across the US in April next year. We will be renting cars at various stages and require a gps based nav system. If anyone would have such a thing and could lend, hire or sell it we would be most pleased. Regards, Don
  23. Methusala
    I didn't wish to make an offence or to intrude into anyone's private business...just couldn't resist the funny side. Don
  24. Methusala
    No Ross, I said that I can't stomach beer brewed by CUB. I think that the wonderful XXXX is brewed by Lion Nathan. Don't have any problems with that (in moderation...of course). Don
  25. Methusala
    John, could you please affix to your list an indication of the type of beer they serve...can't drink anything by CUB. Thanks in advance, Don
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