Compulsion

Well done. It is just the best feeling ever.

Hi Andy, Owning a 24 rego aircraft has its draw backs in my humble opinion and this is one. I can only assume that if I fitted 10 ply tyres despite Jabiru I would risk not being insured. I can only hope that I don't get a puncture in the middle of no where.

I have contacted Jabiru about tyres and was told that you cannot fit anything other than a 6 ply tyre if 24 reg. 10 ply tyres are not accepted by Jabiru. I have ordered 2x6 ply tyres from Jabiru at $38 each.

Thanks Frank. Great price. Freight will probably be 3 times that. LOL

I need 2 rear tyres for my Jab170. Does anyone know the best place apart from Jabiru to buy good tyres?

This was about 2 minutes before the accident on downwind passing the end of the airfield.

Hi Herm you are still around. Hope to catch up soon. I will be at YGAW Sunday. I have to do some work to 7314 before Easter.

I have contacted the police today and offered my account of what I saw and photos taken just prior to the accident. I have my opinion on what happened and why but it is exactly that. Only my opinion. I have read of an explosion just before. I have read of structural failure. I have read that the aircraft was performing aerobatics. All in my opinion are wrong. As I have said this is only MY opinion. The thing that is certain is we have lost another aviator and that is a tragedy. There is another air show coming up in a few weeks in the Barossa Valley. I will have to decide if I still want to attend.

If I knew how to put a photo on here I would post a photo of the aircraft seconds before the crash.

You know I have got a lot of help from people on this site but I am sick of reading all the negative issues on Jabiru engines. You dont even know what the plane or engine are. I am just about ready to walk away from this site. Fly Tornado you seem to be batting a 1000 today for comments.

The aircraft flew down wind. Then turned hard right (possibly 60deg bank) then flopped over to the left. I am thinking that the pilot turned right and realized he could not get back to the runway. I can only think that he turned back left to do a loop and get onto short final. This was all done close to the ground(possibly 500 feet or less) with wheels and flaps down and very slow.

I have a photo of the replica seconds before it spun in. Full flaps and wheels down. He flew a slow pass downwind and banked hard turning back to land. He must have realised he was in trouble and rolled back to the left. The left wing went down and must have stalled. The aircraft rolled over and went vertically into the ground behind trees. I still can't believe I watched it all happen. I feel so sorry for his family and friends. A person who had bought or was about to buy the aircraft was watching the display. The whole thing makes me feel ill. I think a lot of people have made statements to the media that are spectators and don't necessarily know what happened. Any pilot could see it happening even before the stall happened. Again my thought and prayers go out to his family and friends.

I don't know if I want to go to an Airshow ever again. Watching the stunt guys today my heart was in my mouth. Before I flew I watched air shows and loved the dare devil flying. Now I fly I am worried watching them in case it goes horribly wrong. Today it went wrong in the worst possible way. We have the Barossa Airshow coming up soon and I will have to think if I want to go now.

I just keep seeing it roll over and dive into the ground. I think I need to get in my plane and fly soon before I think about it too much. As soon as he made the turn low and slow he didn't have a chance. The news will have a field day let alone the locals that would like to see the airfield closed.

I was there at Parafield. I feel sick. I saw the Spitfire replica turn with wheels down and spin in. It is the worst feeling watching a fellow aviator go into the ground vertically. All I will say is Never Never turn for the runway tight when you are low and slow. I really feel numb at the moment. I feel for his family and friends.

It was a sad morning when I received news that my Nav Instructor Daryl had lost his battle with cancer. Daryl was one of the characters of this world. He was a great Instructor and a great guy to share the sky with. I didn't know Daryl for all that long but I certainly enjoyed my time flying with him. I learnt a lot from Daryl especially about Navigation and Human Factors. I bought a Jab170 from the Adelaide Soaring Club around 6 months ago much to Daryl's disgust as 7314 was his favourite aircraft. Daryl there will always be space in 7314 cockpit for you. I am sure I will hear your voice telling me what I have done wrong. RIP my friend.

Congratulations Eric. Well done. It is a great feeling to get it all finished. I am pushing myself flying into new airfields I haven't visited before. As a lot of better people than myself have said " it is a license to learn" Safe flying.

Accommodation all fixed. I must say I am extremely impressed at the helpfulness and friendliness of everyone I have dealt with from Loxton. My wife and I are really looking forward to the weekend.

Booked and paid for. Just need to organize accommodation. If we cant fly in we will drive over. look forward to meeting you Phil.

Hi Phil, If my wife and I fly up on the Saturday and book a room in town can we get in and out of town? I am thinking fly up and go into town then come back out for dinner then back to the hotel for the night. Next morning back out to the airfield for breakfast and fly home to Gawler. I am not familiar with Loxton Airfield.

I am thinking of flying for the day Saturday but not staying. weather permitting.

You are right Phil. I have mine on a RAM mount on my car windscreen. Overheats and shuts down. I have lost my GPS fix twice inflight now so I have purchased a Dual Bluetooth GPS to run with Ozrunways. Just need to mount the damn thing. I don't like knee pad mounts.

Has anyone found a successful method of mounting an ipad2 in the cockpit of a Jabiru 170c other than a knee pad.i have been told that can not mount a suction cup onto any of the windows. Don't know if this is true or not. I have a Ram mount for the iPad which I use on the car windscreen. Any tips would be good.

How many RA AUS pilots use noise cancelling headsets? I currently use the standard set that comes with a Jabiru and also set bought from Ian. I am thinking of buying a Bose A20 but it is a huge amount of money. I do intend to do a reasonable amount of travelling. Interested in your opinions.

ASC at Gawler in SA is around $115 dual in a brand new 170d Jabiru. You have to join the club at around $400 per year. If you have your own aircraft like me then there is no charge for Instructors. Great place to fly.