Methusala

VW Tacho

Dear Andy,

Used a Tiny Tach on my VW for years. Just need unshielded leads and a few raps of the sensor wire around will do it. When the battery finally gives up the ghost you can carefully dismantle the case and install a watch battery and go again. No problems.

Regards, Don.

Re re-regulation of the recreational sector.

"If it aint broke...." My friends and I who have been active in the ultralight movement since the (very) early 80's have been dismayed as the AUF (aviation friendly) gradually morphed into the RAAaus. The principals of this organisation have been haranguing the membership with 2 basic messages; 1. That we have never had it so good, and, 2.That we had better try harder or we may find ourselves in gaol, courtesy of CASA and it will serve us right! This leads some in the recreational area to overreact as in the case of an unregistered float equipped scout being found abandoned after a mishap. Who was harmed? It is well to remember that such aircraft struggled to climb much over 300ft!

Now some of you may think that I'm being "a bit harsh" in this judgement but I think that with a large membership base it wouldn't have hurt to be a bit reactive to CASA pressure. I do think that the organisation would have been in order to register some public disapproval when, for example, a CASA run safety briefing used a Drifter photo to illustrate the germ of airspace problems.

I was speaking to an ATPL rated bloke yesterday who told me of a near miss at a major airport which involved senior personnel including ATC. We all know that many aviation disasters occur under the perhaps over regulated public sector. My point is that more regulation leads only in one direction... less aviation.

It is time, I think, to consider splitting recreational aviation, (that is pilots who merely want to fly) from quasi-GA type flying. Increased regulation in the form of ADSB, transponders and glass cockpits could then proceed where it may do some good and we true ultralight pilots could go back to "paddock flying". That is outside controlled airspace and perhaps below 5000' or with 1500' clearance above terrain in weight limited aircraft.

This is my hat in the ring, Don

Would not play...came up with error message in l/h corner every time I tried to play it. Regards, Don

The Earths atmosphere is a layer of gas almost unbelievably thin in comparison with the bulk of the planet. It is isolated from the vacuum of space by way of its mass. It collects heat mainly through convection by contact with the surface of the planet. Once it warms it has little chance to cool except through contact with the cold vacuum at the edge of space. The more energy into the system, the more convection. Call this convection weather. It is more helpful to use the term climate change to describe this increase in meteorology. It is quite irrational to believe as some apparently do that the huge amounts of energy released by the burning of hydrocarbon fuels in the increasingly industrialised world will not have an effect on the weather. I don't think that the use of "greenie" as a descriptor of those who trust the vast majority of scientific opinion in this area is helpful to rational arguement. Yours sincerely, Don

Please note that the earth is a closed weather sphere. The fact is that if you increase the amount of energy contained within a closed system then the activity within that closed system is sure to increase. I refer,of course, to the reclaiming and subsequent release of energy stored for unimaginable time in caboniferous fuels. Whether the latest storm activity in Brizzy is related to this is for time and wise men to determine but if one was forced to make a wager.... well, let's see! Don.

How is the statement,"climate change will continue through the rest of the century", inconsistent with your statement, Ultralights? Don.

If I may be indulgent for a moment I would like to point out to HPD in my most modest way that it is a trap to try to argue against a general theory by citing a particular instant. I ( am not a scientist) believe that GW is a process overlaying the general atmospheric system. Cycles will take place, events contrary to our general expectations will occur. My point is to return (see what I mean about the cyclical nature of this post) to the precautionary principle and take note of what those trained and involved in research are saying. Don.

I agree with the previous poster. Science fantasy should be disregarded as should other theories cobbled up in one's imagination while watching tv. The real things to watch are the disappearance of the north polar and Greenland ice sheets and the seriously constructed opinions of real scientists. This thread has become as Mozartmerv described another thread...circular. One either believes the great wieght of serious science evidence that has been presented by groups such as the CSIRO or you may say I don't want to believe. Trying to support such a position with nebulous,tv-watching theories don't work. Don.

Sea levels will rise when landbound ice( commonly known as glaciers) reaches the sea and melts. The entire land mass of antarctica is depressed under the weight of an ice sheet which is in places kilometres thick. However these things are never as simple as abc. When ice melts, it requires an energy input (enthalpy) sooo... some cooling is the result. This cooling can mask somewhat the effects of a warming trend. This of course means that the full whammy may not arrive until the end stage of this process of which some of us remain gloriously sceptical. Boy, if I had a wish I would wish you are right about this. I saw a doco on oz BC last year where Tuvaluans( hope I got that right!) were wading around, ankle deep in water. Didnt look like trick photography to me( not happy, Maude). Keep up those swimming lessons, Don.

I did have to go to the dictionary to get a definition of "anthropogenic",so I guess I can't lay claim to being the most literate of posters. But, the number or rarity of words used in an arguement doesn't count. The facts are that when energy is added to a closed system some effects will be observed. Weather is an observable phenomenum, and the earth, as we learned with the launch of satellite based cameras, is a closed system.

I hear reports, through the media that the last 10 years had the 7(or so), hottest summers since records began. Or that the ice sheets covering the west of Greenland are moving at record and accelerating speeds. I hear of polar ice disappearing at record speed and heart rending accounts of polar bears drowning. I hear that the alpine pygmy possums in Oz are in danger because they wake from hibernation too early,(because the winters are too warm), and starve. It's too early for their food source to be ripe. More and more powerful cyclones and hurricanes; longer and deeper droughts; wild fires of huge proportions in Oz, Europe and the US.

The climatologists have the capability, through observed deep cores of ice to test the atmosphere's record of co2 content and that it is higher now than at any time in the past 250,000yrs.

These are the sort of events that lead the majority of scientists to accept the idea that something is happening and that we should take the threat seriously. This is why Al Gore chooses to call it an inconvenient truth. Regards, Don

Tsk...tsk.... I DO wonder where ALL that ice has gone to....

BUT WHERE IS ALL THAT ICE GOING?

The catastrophic melting of the Arctic sea ice and the accelerating loss of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets are predicted to cause sea level rises of 6 meters this century and an ecological catastrophe that will see massive ecocide, species extinctions and the deaths of over 6 billion people (see: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/

16956300/the_prophet_of_climate_change_james_lovelock ; http://climateemergency.blogspot.com/ ).

The politicians refuse to lead – so the People must lead. Tell everyone you can – the catastrophe of accelerating polar ice loss demands an immediate Global Declaration of a State of Climate Emergency, the rapid cessation of coal power and NEGATIVE CO2 emissions.

Dr Gideon Polya

Dear all readers of this thread. I guess that as long as you don't live tooo close to the sea, well just relax. Seriously though, I don't mind discussing political issues on this forum but think that gratuitous sledging of major political parties is a bit too close to the bone. Remember that, even with a split of say 45-55 you still risk an indirect and unasked for slight against a large group of forum members. We the people really must stop holding pitifully weak politicians( of both sides) responsible for our problems. With all good wishes and hope, Don

It is quite clear that those who won't be convinced... well you know about preaching to the converted. There is a precautionary principle stating that lacking knowledge to the contrary we should tread very warily. It is said that the American Indians would not proceed with an idea if it could not be demonstrated to cause no adverse effects over 7 generations. We are told that the North polar ice caps could melt for the 1st time in millions of years. The catastrophe that has been forecast by the majority of informed opinion is so frightening that we should be very wary of media (corporate mouthpieces one and all), telling us to relax. Where did all that ice go? Regards, Don.

We "true believers"( why is it that people resort to in-slang?) have walked through valleys in Switzerland that 10 years ago had glaciers almost to the valley floor. Where are they now? We have seen the massive depletion of ice formations at the Poles; was that ice really there a few years ago? Is it possible that ice melts as the place becomes colder?

The true answer is that average temperatures are getting higher, but climate change overlays cyclical weather. So it is possible to get cold and hot seasons or years but the opinion of most weather students is that we have a problem.

By the way, electric flight is comingevidenced by the electric Moni motorglider at Oshkosh this year.

Kind regards, Don

Experts employed by "our national carrier" were quoted in a blog devoted to discussing engineering issues as saying that there were serious corrosion problems in the aircraft which suffered a near catastrophic explosion that ruptured the pressure hull at 30,000ft. This resulted in, (to quote one particularly relaxed journalist in the media), the aircraft "dipping" 20,000ft. Most of us on this sight know that when a pressurised a/c suffers explosive decompression the pilot executes a crash dive in order to restore life giving oxygen to the occupants. I saw film of passengers reporting the near suffocation of adults and children. They also complained (whinged?) about the poor repair of emergency oxygen masks. Whether or not the corrosion was limited to seat frames and if so is this not in itself serious I can't judge. I believe that the point of my post was to question in whose best interests the media was acting. Unsafe behaviour is as unacceptable in our airline as in any other. I feel that the media was lax in this matter. Regards to all, Don

I'm not an engineer or an accident investigator. I am a member of the travelling public and I can read. When people involved in the maintenance of these people freighters raise the matter of corrosion in airframes I begin to take a keen interest in this dialogue. I think that there are shareholders who have a particular interest and there are others. All views should be heard and discussed. Free speech is another of the features of our democracy.

It is interesting, not to say passing strange that the dictum, don't speculate on causes of incidents has been well and truly blown away by the main stream media following this spectacular incident. I wonder what happened to the reports of serious corrosion in 747 Longreach? Could this be an attempt by freinds of Qantas boss Geoff Dixon to send the hounds off the scent of possible sub standard maintenance?

Thanks for that Tony, will try to get the bracket that I want to replace up to you this week. Cheers, Don.

S/steel wing to strut fittings

G'day Tony, do you have these in stock? If not, approximately what is the wait on these items? Keep up the good fight, regards, Don.

Mr Badger (not,I assume, related to a mole?), (sorry about that!), I have had an Aeropower 2100 installed in my Volksplane for some 350 hrs. I bought it from a re-engined Lightwing when it had about 400hrs. I stripped it down and sent it to Aeropower in WA who rebuilt the core and I fitted new 82mm barrels and reconditioned heads. It runs with a standard Bosch 009 auto distributer and single spark plugs. I run it mostly on avgas, altho I don't mind unleaded with a bit of lead relacement tonic. No problems in the time I've done. This is only one story and I am aware of at least one other that has had bad problems. There are many, many VW powered planes around and they seem to be a good engine (at least if they are well cared for). If u want to ask any further details please ask or PM me. Kind regards, Don

Tony, as usual another masterful job. More power to your elbow! I have had the considerable benefit of much sage advice over the 24 hrs and, on reflection, I would not repeat my hasty conclusion simply to save some of the overreaction. Otherwise I once again feel indebted to our forum members for their considerate and moderating views. Regards, Don.

Moruya crash...

I was going to leave this alone but feel now the need to defend myself against certain terminology. In my most humble self I must protest innocence against the charge levelled against me : that of "idle speculation". I did NOT speculate. I reported bare facts as agreed by several people who witnessed the event. If an opinion that it could have been prevented is seen by some as offensive then I withdraw my comment but I don't disown it. Every accident I'm aware of in the last 18 months has been debated on this forum. There are always people who say, "leave it alone, don't talk about it". But we always do. There are always at least 2 opinions on every topic, that is natural. What I don't want to see is censorship of appropriate discussion. If you are offended, then just disagree. I kept most of my argument to PM's. Please feel free to PM me if you have strong dissent. Regards to all, Don.:thumb_up:

Dear all, I treat this forum as a semi-private discorse medium for the free interchange of legitimate comment by aviators for aviators. Anything that I post on this site is purely directed in this vein. I don't take any persons death lightly. If a mistake in airmanship is possibly the cause of this dreadful accident then we can all learn from it. why shouild the lesson be any less valuable now than in possibly a year or more time. this forum is not open to the general public and I think that responsible people can treaty these matters with dignity. If you want to insult people I suggest this place is the wrong place for you. Kind regards, Don.

Numptie, this is eye witness account but 2nd hand. was there Sat. and Sun. Sad truth!