Patrick Normoyle

Maj and Ian, I flew a drifter with a rotax 582 strut braced on Lotus Floats from the Gold Coast, the takeoff run is a bit longer but the ride onto the step is smooth and just takes a stiff pull back ( only small ) to break the surface tension and you are away, the one I flew had stearable rudders on the floats and handled very well at low speed. You loose about 8 or so knots in the cruise and side slipping is diminished a little, more drag more weight and the need to land on hard surfaces softly should all be on mind. I'm sure you will have a blast, the tail does get a little more contact with salt water, but very little, the tail is always kept high except at rotation and the flare, the landing distance is great, comes up short and controllable and will even take the 15 knot cross wind like normal. If you want to off load the floats, I'll take them from you !

Mines a Fisher Mk1, I built in 2001, I decided that either could go, the transfer pump or the Rotax pulse pump, I'd rather neither go, but if the Rotax pump goes, the engine will stop real quick, if the transfer pump goes I should still have an hour or more before I run out of fuel. My situation now is that I have 65l in the main tank and for really long flights I have a 40 litre tank for the rear seat that I transfer pump to the main tank, I have a fuel gauge and a sight gauge to confirm the levels of both systems, I have done about 7 long flights without any problems. Maintain your equipment and treat it with respect and it will look after you.

Seb, re the engine swap, yeat you are right, it is just a straight swap, I'd get new rubber mounts ( red bits that sit between the engine mount blocks and tube, the carbies will just pull off one and go on the other ( with adjustments and jetting ), adjust the prop pitch / blade setup, weight and balance and then the paperwork, ground run and make adjustments, test fly and done. I doubt it would be that hard to get the main engine tube replaced but certified, well that's another hurdle ?

Just make sure the lower tank seals air tight at the filling point, and the breather tube is higher than the top tank.

Seb, when I had a small 18L belly tank, I had a similar setup, draw from the top tank and after 1 1/2 hours, pump up the belly tank. Worked fine for years. Now I have 65 L main top tank and no need to pump it, when I go really long distance ( Adelaide to Avalon non stop ), I have a 40 L transfer tank for the back seat and pump it when needed to the main tank. Gives me a good 5 hours with 1 hour reserve.

Just a novice answer but what is the GPS using in the way of language and data rate, this sometimes can be important, some devices don't need. It to be "set" as it will just be constantly looking for any possible data.

It's a really good job, great pay and very easy work, for what you have to do, you'll be manipulating pretend aircraft with basic keyboard commands to follow ATC instructions in a training environment, flying knowledge is helpful but not necessary, computer skill very necessary.

VFH ? A few too many scotches ?

Yes the Thruster is a great little aircraft, good trainer, good all rounder, easy to maintain, will take short fields really well, good in the side slip, easy on the fuel, will carry two reasonably sized pilots, great little performer. The drifter is another great first aircraft as it the bantam and xAir. The Thruster is a little noisy in the cockpit so if it dosen't have a good radio and intercom, invest in those, otherwise great aircraft.

I had to buy mine separate from the engine, but I have two, one on the head and another at the top of the system and they work just great

I have a pair that I'm not using, what's your offer ? I'll get a photo tomorrow !

Tex, where did you get your mount from ?

I had a fella in an Sr22 Cirrus with full glass instruments have a main BUS (power system) fail that took out every instrument either totally or partially, no radio, no ASI no ALT, declared an emergency via his mobile phone, returned through Melbournes busy airspace to land at Essendon. He landed well above his usual landing speed as he had no idea how fast he was going. So it can and does happen, if you can manage without them good luck to you but I'll have a backup to my electronic stuff, in the Drifter maps don't last long but if I'm on a long NAV I'll have what I think I need to survive.

Yes, I've done several, and yes, make sure you get the dispensation to drop items from an aircraft, you'll need a CAR157 dispensation or a low level endorsement, well plan it and make sure you think it out very well, high school ovals are ideal or areas that have a clear approach and departure with few obstacles, have ground helpers to clear the drop area and approaches, have some streamers for wind strength and direction and account for this, I did a few practise runs at the strip before the day.

I like this new look, easy to read, has plenty on the page and easy to use on the iPad, nice change.

Drifter circuits, are less than 1/2 mile upwind or final and just 500 feet, 3 minutes per. Go the drifter.

Good luck to him, safe landings and a ball of fun. I hope the weather plays into his hands on the day.

I'm a very big fan of Ozrunways, I fly a drifter and I loose paper real easy, si the iPad is a great second sorce. I use a few other apps for tracking my flight by my wife and NAIPS as well as weather radars and google earth and FlightPlan.

Looking forward to it, hopefully I'll have the wife and kids with me.

Phil, this is very similar to what I do, I'll often plan a trip via an enroute position that I "presume" is off the beaten track. When I came to Loxton for your wonderful event some months back, I did this. It wasn't that necessary as I was on my own for the trip there, but I was one of about 10 aircraft all departing for Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn or Aldinga, all within minutes of each other, this is when I think it pays to be off the nominal track by a portion. Looking forward to the next Loxton flyin.

Seb7701, when you get your lady up flying, I hope you have days like today, the air was cool but sweet, the sun on the face was warming as was the folks I popped into to have a chat. Drifter flying is just awesome, I had two hours of just buzzing about with a few circuits and two visits to neighbouring fields, always puts a smile on my face. Enjoy.

Enough said, I agree with everyone above, go the drag Queen first and the rest will follow without much trouble. Good luck, once you get the certificate all the time and expense will be well worth it.

I often fly with no shoes on so I can really feel the peddles and brakes for this very same reason, I have had a few occasions flying GA and a few ultralights where it really helped, I have differential brakes but prefer a hand operated brake system, a bit more to do with my hands but if I'm at a flying speed I use my hands on the controls and only really use the brakes for ground manipulation and holding still on bitumen or concrete. Mark, congratulations on selecting a very good aircraft, the damage looks relatively easy to repair, hope to see or hear about the aircraft a return to active service. But mostly to the pilot for his honesty and quick post here with the details, letting everyone know they are both safe and well, and what were the contributing factors, this information could lead to saving someone's life without you realising. Good luck.

Let us know how you get on, I would fly before I buy, that's just me, I'd want a really good inspection, it's very open so easy to see everything.

I could fly direct from here to YTOC, just 100l of fuel, I carry that for long rang flights, 5-6 hours away. Just make sure all the rego stuff is well sorted before you plan anything.