AVOCET

Yes, I saw this up in bundy , theres no danger to pilot /pass.the avocets got a different wing position , it would make pilot & pas. And engines in front of the leading edge , even so the twin jabs need a fair bit of tail ballast I would think .

I guess they are , but most twins are a lot bigger than the avocet , so they would seem a lot closer , I've set it out & you carnt even get out of the door without passing through the prop arch . I've had a look at the c/g and it will work as a pusher , better assametrics as well . Pushers work well ,especially with liquid cooling,

That's on my short list , needs a lighter fuse , One waiting for the batteries to get cheeper & lighter , & more reliable ,

Yes I agree , it's possible to modify the 250 wing to mount engine pods , however as a tractor the prop arch's a bit close to the cockpit , same with the turret mounted tractor ( this my original design , but the prop arch was right over the top of you head ,not a good sales piont !) So as a twin IDE go for a pusher setup , Could be 2x rotax , or D motors , or 2x 2200 liquid cooled , It's a great idea , just need some one to put up the $$ (maybe a few more ) and we are off , any time your ready , Cheers ,mike

Hi Phil , good to hear from you , I've got an insurance job at the moment so ill have a bit of materhorn white jabiru . I painted the avocet with materhorn white Cessna , it slightly creamier , and not as glairy as the jab paint , come over for a cuppa and I can do some touch ups for you . The 250 wing can lift a lot more weight than the 230 wing and has a lower stall speed 38 kt They are prity much the same price Cheers Mike

Avocet , an aboriginal name for a bird that crashes into trees when landing . My wife an I carnt stop laughing That's funny ,:roflmao:we'll done . Why carnt come out with stuff like that ?

Yes , there are 25 moulds for the fusalerge & vertical stab , I've used the jabiru 250 wings and undercarriage , wing struts are theirs but 30 mm longer , also had to have control cables made to length , Cabin width is 50" & with the rounded fusalerge & has plenty of elbow room , 8 inches between pilot & passenger , Duel control columns ,throttle in the center . Fuel injected , liquid cooled ,dynon skyview, Cruise 105 kt at 2950 rpm ,22 lt/hr stall 42kt MTOW empty weight 375kg . 62" wood prop ( Brent Thompson , only one I could get to make a pusher , does a great job) The take off & landing are pretty much the same as a j230

Sorry about the bad photos , ill take some more tomorrow with the prop on & the cowels, What looks like a spinner is a 30 amp alt that bolts onto the vac pump attach spline on the 3300 . Not the belt version , this leaves the jabiru alt intact for a backup . Yes it's got a new turret , got some help from an aeronautical engineer to design the basic structure , but it's just like a wing on its edge with a spar , a lot better looking than my first attemp Cheers mike

I googeled " boom prop " and there's a guy in America who's made a similar assembly and used a 3D printer to make it . It's with a look .i don't know how to set up a link so you'll have to google it Cheers & thanks Mike .

You could try pirtek (google it) you have to make sure the temp & max pressures are right for your application I'm using oil hose to cooler ,the hose is rated to 125c & 250 psi . I found a lot of oil hose was only rated to 80c & 250psi . I found pirtek have good range of fittings as well , I ended up going with the alum push lock fittings for oil as well as fuel . I assume these figures are max temp at max pressure .My application is a 3300 jab. Hope this helps Cheers mike

Go to forums ( top left ), then pilots just landed & and you'll see Avocet flys again Good luck

GeForce , check out the avocet posts , Happy to answer any questions Cheers mike

That makes 3 H/H I know ?!! Geees!

Howard , if your. Looking for cheep , I'm prepared to let you come and use my moulds and build yourself an Avocet , you have the Floats , it will only cost you time & materials , be a good way to get another one out there , the 6 cyl D motor would be my choice for the next one , its the right H/P for amphib.

Hi there , are you still working on this boom prop idea , I've been out of the loop for a while , I found this concept from the late 60s of a boom prop design and was one of the designs that inspired the Avocet . I have worked out how to do the boom prop & it looks very similar , I also looked at large ring ball bearings but didn't like the weight or maintaince issues Have alook at this concept by Paul MacCready igot from an old Smithsonian book Cheers ,Mike Sharples

Gee , that brings back memories , seems such a long time ago , Give my regards to every one . Cheers , Mike ,&Ncholas says hello. Also thanks Alan ,encouraging words ,make a big difference. Cheers mate. What do you think of this for a lightweight cheep to run ( maybe electric ) project , checkout the prop thru the fuse ,!

Thanks Planey, that really means a lot to me Just hope the Raa aus gets its act together so I can fly it again , it's been nearly 2 months since the rego ran out . I've just been reading some posts on "Govening bodies "that it all could fall apart , I'm starting to think it might be easier to go experimental with saaa , I'm glad I've been a member for 3years ,at least ill be able to use the MTOW of 700 kg but ill have to finish the ppl Thanks again for your sentiments, it nearly bourght a tear Cheers Mike:nerd:

By all means , although the amphibious version is still only a concept .iam looking for interested parties to develop the amphib. Wollongong / Hobart in one go , maybee with a good tail wind and an empty bladder ? Cheers .

Thanks for the promp Howard , I think Raa registered ,well it was ! ! I'm stating think it might be time to :to:to: too ,two ; (I just carnt bring myself to say what I realy think ???!!!).still waiting, it ran out 7th April ,i paid the renual 3weeks prior ! Ill think ill just talk about the plane , ...... Nose cones for battery x2 (ballast), Back doors open up for cargo , stretcher , motor bike , camping gear ect , It's got a liquid cooled multypoint fuel injection , fuel injected throttle body , Plane power 30 amp alt,(that bolts to vac attach on the 3300jab. That gives 2 of all the important stuff , (wont stop you having a prang though ) I originlyv had the Idea of building a single bed Ariel Ambulance type that could be used in the third word as a cheap alternative to a helli copter . I had 56 hours up on it so far , easy to fly &very stable in the air , lands easy , it was really a nice surprise when I first flu it , doesn't seem to have any great pitching issues , if I can jump in and fly it , (I've only flown jabirus ) It has the same control responses as any pusher , but being biggish , it's not so pronounced . Ill be getting around to the air shows this year , you could easy make a 4seater , and I've got concept drawings for an amphibious version , (See photos) Cheers Mike

I think I was the one living under the rock , at the time I didn't really feel like talking about it . I was on my way to the last wide bay air show and near Willcainia NSW one of the exhaust pipes cracked off and fell against the oil pressure sender wire , shorted it out . So I heard a rattle and no oil pressure , 750 hrs on the 3300 I thought a thru bolt had gone , 7500ft an old station air strip below I glided down to land , got to slow turning base to final 30ft agl , kept banking to left , couldn't lift wing , it all happened that fast and bang the tree . Broken sturnum , cut arm , 5days in Broken hill hospital . Anyway , all history now . Took a while to get over it though .

There was to many good bits that weeny that badly damaged, It cost $100.000 to build the fist one and only $20,000 to rebuild

Some photos of what's been happening

Sounds good , I'm in as well

Just thought IDE say hello again , I've rebuilt the Avocet after my prang aug. 2011.im still waiting for my rego to come through ( it was due 7th April) .no I haven't flown it yet , I'm interested in the admin post about the advertising opportunity that's on offer ,sounds quite reasonable compared to the magazine costs . I have every intention to have a go at building a few to interested parties,although ill need some help; .a bit of feedback on how to go about advertising on the forum would be much appreciated . I've made some mods on the rebuild , a single post turret instead of that ugly 4post thing ,a fatter vert. Stab. and winglets for the j250 wings . I've also put a 30 amp alt.& run the jab alt.as a backup . I found the power requirements with the Fuel injection SDS and the 7 amps the water pump required were a bit much for the jabiru alt ,( thanks to Jake Jensen for his help , interest and patience ,and all those folk how encouraged me to keep going and "chin up" Avocet (mike Sharples) I

Hi ,sounds like the Aussie design team is alive & well, It was this time last year that my design the Avocet was first flown . It took 3 years to design & build the plugs & moulds .i flu to Temora last year &it was well received . It's a great feeling when you finally get to fly something that started as a scribble on a note pad & then watch it develop to a modle. I remember about 4 years ago peddling the balsa modle around the air shows asking everyone what they thourght. Actually , it was quite encouraging , but some folk think your crazy & then you go though a stage that you start thinking you are crazy , but after its finished and up and flying , well ,like I said its a grate feeling . I had to go back to the books and study , but I found it stimulating & well worth the effort . One in particular was A C kamode ,it's basicly a first year aeronautical engineering book that spells out the basics '& is a good place to start . If you google mike Sharples avocet ,there's some info from last year . I'm building the mk. 2 at the moment whith a few mods from the original , like a single post turret, and moving the wings 30 mm forward , I've put a larger ventral fin & mk. 2 should be about thirty kgs. Lighter . Using a differant core mat , & I found through testing that it's over built in a couple of areas, Cheers, Avocet .