Blackhawk

Sue, Who was your better half talking to, I think he is very misinformed. I know for a fact the current owner is the developer and it is still being delt with at the council and I was speaking to the owner earlier tonight, and he has owned the property for the last 5 years.

David, I think you are right but, an ICE engine also covers a rotary which is not a piston engine. I'm sure the term "Internal Combustion Engine" was never intented to be used for Turbines. Graeme

Sorry David, Standard installation of engines in the port & starboard wing Graeme

Yes HEON that is correct, but you can only have one ICE (internal combustion engine) and one prop. The only way to change these regulations is by constant lobbying of our representatives. Graeme

It would be good if that was the case but ufortunately it's not. It is one (1) only piston engine allowed and one (1) only propeller; you can't even have a single engine driving counter rotating propellers. Until CASA allows twin engine installations up to the equivalent total HP of the maximum allowed for the category, then a lot of engine-out accidents and fatilities will continue to happen which could have been avoided. That's my opinion anyway. Graeme

We had planned to build a twin 2 cylinder 100HP engine for production that would give you redundant safety; the engine was a complete V4 but either side could be shut down in an emergency without compromising the safety of the passangers or aircraft. Essently, our engine is 2 seperate twin cylinder 50HP engines built as a complete V4. RAA and CASA are pouting safety in Recreational Aviation all the time, but when there is a good idea for engine safety they bury there heads in the sand and don't want to know anything about it. (the too hard basket syndrome again) I think they should allow engine configurations that are in the same thrust line whether it be a push/pull, counter rotating props with twin engines, or as our intention was, in the attachments. "SAFETY IS FOREMOST" I would not like to see P&S wing engine installations in RAA, I feel that would be too dangerous. Graeme

Hi Turboplanner, The friend of mine who has this planned airpark has had all the planning and consultation done by a private Town Planner and everything complies with the State and Local Planning Schemes. The property is on the border between the Rural land and Rural Residential land and is well outside the local Future Residential Planning area by about 5km. Attached is a photo of the land when it was purchased by my friend with an existing grass airstrip and old disused cane fields which is where the planned airpark is being built. The development takes up about 60 acres of a 220 acre property and does not require any removal of trees to achieve the finished estate. The Councilors he has had consultation with are receptive to the planned Airpark Estate, it is only one or two in the Planning Department that keeps raising the bar each time a hurdle has been cleared and it looks like they are waiting for him to walk away so they don't have to deal with it. There has been $millions of developments that have walked away from the Fraser Coast that would have been up and running, creating jobs and income to the area if the labour government in Qld hadn't amalgamated the local councils. Out of 4 amalgamated councils, the bulk of expansions and development seems to be done in Hervey Bay. Even Ray Charles could see whats going on.

Hi to all, It looks like the Bureaucratic Desk Jockeys in the Fraser Coast Regional Council have put the skids on another aviation development near Maryborough. The development is an Acreage Airpark Estate of 18 blocks, with a 900m grassed airstrip, with solar powered street lighting, also all the dwellings and hangers would have self contained solar power generation. According to them (FCRC), “the proposal would need to demonstrate overriding need in the public interest” How can we get a petition going to show the Fraser Coast Regional Council and other Local Councils around Australia that we need these types of developments to replace the council owned airfields that they keep closing down for the land to be redeveloped into housing estates. I’ve attached an artist’s impression of the proposed airpark estate near Maryborough in Queensland. Hope you can all have a say and let all Councils know we do have a voice that needs to be heard.

Does anyone know of any badly damaged Jabiru's collecting dust in a shed somewhere. If you do let me know. Graeme

That would sure be the ideal engine for the PC-9, but I'm positive your only allowed a piston engine. The big draw back with a Turbine is the fuel bill, at 14gal an hour you would want shares in a fuel company or a money tree in the backyard. I'll stick to 12 litres an hour and a V4. Graeme

Sorry, Howard I didn't read the question properly. No Turboprop. Not leagal

Hi Howard, Yes, it would. Full size is 2.44m, so 75% would make it 1.83m (72") Graeme

Are there any members who have thought of, or would like to build a Tandem Pilatus PC-9 in either UL or LSA category. I was thinking of 75% scale of the real deal. Any ideas.

Hi Neale, Where is your friend located.

It's a pity that the financial demise of the world over the past 9 months has made investors wary, and will do, for some time yet. There are so many very good opportunities in the Recreational Aviation industry here in Australia and in New Zealand at the moment where investors could make really good returns. I suppose the US will take a strangle hold on this market when things improve and we will end up paying through the nose for our leisure interests. Just having a down moment.

Do any of the Jabiru owners who have upgraded from the short wings to the long wings still have their short wings they would like to offload. Don't we have a For Sale/Wanted section any more, if we do it must be secret because I can't find it. Graeme

Don't get carried away with delusions of Jets as in JETS. If you would all please put your glasses on and read the top thread; it say's in plain english and black and white, JET "TYPE" AIRCRAFT I have not mentioned Jet Engines at all.

YES! It can be done.

“If you had the chance to buy an Ultralight Jet type aircraft, what would your preferred seating arrangement be; (1) side by side seating (with a lower performance); or (2) tandem seating (with a higher performance)" Blackhawk

Unfortunately no-one can control the weather but apart from the cold wind we did have perfect blue skies. I found the day dissapointing with, once again the high rollers blocking nearly all the runway from the view of spectators where most of the action would be seen. I've attended all the Wide Bay Airshow's and nearly all the years at Old Station and as far as spectator involvement and enjoyment with the events and exhibits, Old Station wins hands down, and I know the June long weekend 2010 will be another success for them. If the Wide Bay Airshow organisers want a truly successful airshow they will have to cater for the masses not the priveleged few. It will take a lot of convincing for me to attend another one at Bundaberg if the layout stay's the same as this last effort. And the parking, well, if they put it at Burnett Heads, look at the extra exercise we'll all get.

Hi BLA82, Hope you dodn't mind, I cleaned up your photos a bit to make them not as dark.

The two seat aircraft in the photo was designed and built here (not in the US) in Aus by "Skywise Aviation" who bought the rights and equipment of the single seater from the US. It has flown, with about 5 hours on it by a test pilot and the previous owner in Victoria who renamed it the "Kingfisher". It was noted, as you have, that the tail feathers needed to be larger than the original single seat ones that were on it. The plane was pulled down to have this done but I am guessing it got beyond the previous owners expertise and consequently sat dorment for many years. It was registered VH and that registration was only cancelled in Febuary this year. This would make an ideal LSA aircraft.

Sadler Vampire Here's the original Australian 2 seat Vampire which was built before Ken Garland become involved in the single seater. If anyones interested, it's for sale. Graeme

Talking to the organisers of the Old Station Fly-in at the weekend and unfortunately it has been cancelled again for this year. The Roulettes; the main draw card to the event said they could only send one aircraft this year because of funding cuts. A bit hard to do formation aerobatics with one plane. There were also other factors that led to the cancellation. Very disappointing news.