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Virago

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Everything posted by Virago

  1. Virago
    Tsk tsk ... picking on Tomo's grammar ... what has she ever done to you?
  2. Virago
    This thread reminds me of something which happened in W.A. around 20 years ago. Four young people in a Beech Musketeer flew down to the Lake Clifton Tavern for an afternoons fun. On the way home, they crashed into a paddock and their were no surviviors. The next day, a farmer discovered a lacerated dead cow in an adjacent paddock. It's possible someone may have forgotten the "bottle to throttle" rule. John.
  3. Virago
    My taildragger endorsement was in an Auster and I can assure you each bounce is higher than the preceding one until you are left at ten or fifteen feet with no airspeed! The only safe way to handle it was to apply power early either to smooth out the bounce or go around. My first solo in the Auster took three circuits before I got it safely back on the ground. The Pawnee was a cake walk after the Auster! John.
  4. Virago
    Engine stumbled eh? I thought the media always used the phrase: "the engine stalled so the plane fell out of the sky"! John.
  5. Virago
    Have someone check the connections to the circuit breaker. If they are loose, you would have a voltage drop across the breaker. I don't think it is a total aircraft power supply problem. I'm not familiar with the Microair radios but some VHF radios are prone to what is called "downward modulation" which may (or may not) be accompanied by RF feedback. That causes distortion and warbling on TX. If you are renting, you could simply refuse to rent that particular aircraft until the owner gets it fixed. RF feedback problems are rarely quick fixes. John.
  6. Virago
    Flying dog, this sounds to me like RF feedback (as mentioned by Andy@coffs). Some radios and headsets are more susceptible to it than others but the biggest factor is the distance (or lack of it) of the antenna from the headset. As the Jabiru is a GRP aircraft, there won't be the same degree of shielding that you would get with a metal aeroplane. Are the mic and phone jacks located behind your head? If so, this can make it even more susceptible. The wires to the jacks should be shielded and so should the headset cord. I have seen headset cords that were unshielded ... that's asking for it! As the aircraft is not yours, it will be difficult for you to experiment. Firstly, try a known good headset. Secondly, try your headset in another plane. In extreme cases, I have had to shift the antenna to the belly and install it with a sizeable ground plane. This usually fixes the problem in aircraft such as Tiger moths which also don't have much natural shielding. Good luck. John (retired avionics LAME).
  7. Virago
    And Christmas wishes from me to you all too! John.
  8. Virago
    TP, if he comes from Ouyen, then he'd be a mate of country singer Chooka Williams! The dunno nothin' clip reminds me of when my son was in his teens. He's 28 now and a very outgoing likeable young man.
  9. Virago
    Hi Alan. I can see that a little bull goes a long way! Merry Christmas buddy! John.
  10. Virago
    Confessions of a hoon pilot: When I was doing my dual navigation training, the instructor took us down to "dot" feet over the Marakai plains east of Darwin where he chased buffalos in the PA-28. Being quite inexperienced, I was very impressed with his courage and skill. So, before the ink was dry on my UPPL, where did I head off to (solo) and what did I do when I got there? ... you guessed it! That was 42 years and 1500 hours ago and I shudder every time I think of it. I'd like to think I've learnt a lot since then. I've been very lucky, I got to learn a lot through other people's misfortunes. As long as we fly we never stop learning.
  11. Virago
    I can visualize the windsock of the future ... just like those electronic traffic advisory signs but showing digital readouts of wind speed and direction ... better still, transmitted to a display in the cockpit.
  12. Virago
    Do windsocks require calibration at regular intervals>
  13. Virago
    Kevin, I've just about driven Garry nuts with questions along the way so I thought I'd spread them them around a bit ... lol! Went to Bunnings and bought the sanding pad for my angle grinder ... and a couple of full coverage hooded throwaway paper overalls. Alan, how many kilometres do you get to the bushel with that avatar plane? John.
  14. Virago
    It was a TBM700 single engine turboprop ... a beautiful aeroplane (was). I had a ride in one a few years back and drooled over them ever since. Many parts of America are experiencing blizzard conditions at the moment so ice buildup on the wings would not be unexpected. I'm pretty sure the TBM700 has leading edge deicer boots but they may not have been enough. John.
  15. Virago
    Was that the Sierra that crashed and burned on it's maiden flight?
  16. Virago
    Hi Kevin, you have been busy! I like the luggage locker ply ... I'll use that myself. I extended my luggage locker aft half a bay so I can fit my guitar in (country singer from way back). I've been making up and fitting the firewall over the last day or two. I'm interested to know what tools you used when you tackled the raw U/C leg. I can't say I'm looking forward to doing that but any hints are most welcome. I'll try and get some pics posted so you can see what progress I've made. Did you have an issue with the controls and flap rods being a bit too close to the fibreglass seat? John.
  17. Virago
    I wonder if the "over pressure" in the crankcase was caused by a hole in a piston? That'll do it every time! John.
  18. Virago
    Not on takeoff but I did get away from 50 ft once after a "beat up"in an ES Boomerang. I had planned to turn the speed into height, do a 600 ft circuit and land. As I pulled up to climb, I noticed the airspeed and climb rate were not dropping off like they normally do. I threw a turn or two (at a safe height) and the next thing I knew I was back at 2000 ft. Great thermal! That was back in 1976 but it's one of those things you never forget. John.
  19. Virago
    Back in my gliding days I used to go looking for those willy willys! John.
  20. Virago
    I saw the coverage on the TV news. It looked like a gyro to me. John.
  21. Virago
    I have been reliably informed the cause turned out to be a speck of dirt lodged in the carby jet. That golf course is walking distance from my house. John.
  22. Virago
    I agree ... well said David! John.
  23. Virago
    Since we are discussing cable ties (zip ties) I would like to put in my ten cents worth. There are plastic cable ties and plastic cable ties. Not all are good quality. Some are total rubbish (the ones you buy from B*nnings and J*ycar for example). Now I am not advocating using cable ties on fuel systems, but where these are used, only use the nylon ties with the metal locking tab. As has been stated earlier, the black ones seem to be more UV tolerant. As a retired radio LAME, I wouldn't mind a dollar for every cable tie I've used over 42 years in the industry (For many of those years, cable ties didn't exist!) Also, if using ties around metal tubing, wrap a turn or two of plastic insulation tape around the tube first because ties will cut into or abraid metal pipe ... even steel. John.
  24. Virago
    Thank goodness it turns out that the FTF and the pilot's credentials may be no longer an issue. Concerns over those matters had the potential for huge legal ramifications. Let's hope that the investigation will pave the way for some game lifting all round without anyone losing their house or livelihood.
  25. Virago
    Thanks for that input Admin. I'll keep the Recreational Flying headsets in mind when my project gets closer to completion. I should also have mentioned that the cheaper quality headsets may serve the weekend aviator well whereas they would be not be a wise choice for the professional pilot. John.
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