Vorticity

I don't aero mine because it's RAA registered and I would most likely kill myself given my relativly low hours and lack of aero training. Drifter driver and I both have clones of VSI, exact same design. Mine has a canopy and a few other bits. The good thing is they are still very light while having double sleeves and thicker cables than the normal fisher mk 1 where nessesary. The handling is also very nice! These things go go exactly where you tell them too and stay there as they are pretty much neutrally stable. When I sold my austflight drifter I had to move it to another airfield to have it shipped to hawaii, it really reminded me how much more sprittly the fisher sport is. The fisher also glides way further than the austflight, I get caught out every now and then because I go into drifter mode when cutting power and drift over the top of the field.... Wayne can still sell you a fisher sport kit but the 503 has been replaced by the 582...another 15hp....:clap:I would love to take one for a run!!!

Fisher mk1 sport, do a youtube search for wayne fisher.

Brett, have a great flight. If you are flying the aircraft from your picture than you have 100kts yes? Thats roughly 20 minutes for 25nm?, if you cannot look outside the cockpit, see bad weather and get your self home than we are getting into human factors and poor decision making territory. This is what you are actually exercising and developing by using your 25nm area of operation. Your a new pilot so I'd say you will be paranoid about the weather, I know that I still am. 25nm is a fantastic little bubble to get out and learn heaps about being PIC and settling into the aircraft so that you get the most out of your navs. Unless your home strip is woomerra I cant see how you wouldnt have some prominant land marks to keep you on track. Get out and have fun, dont let the 'hypothetic VFR pilot' scare you out of it. Chances are you will rock up and there wont be any clouds for 200nm, thats if the weather gods are happy with you!:thumb_up:

Thanks very much guys, the precote sounds great. I'll chase up those susuppliers.

I was interested in the practicalities of the process; I'm interested in what people are actually using, I know that 6061 will corode. There has to be plenty of Savannah builders out there who had to face this decision?

G'day, I am trying to get my head around corrosion protection options for aircraft built with 6061 T6. There has to be plenty of savannah/701 builders around SEQLD in particular that can help me out. There are a range of options being provided. Some people will not budge on the etch/alodine/zinc chromate or zinc oxide process. I contacted sonex and they said not to do anything, 6061 T6 is corrosion resistant. They back this up with the fact that none of their aircraft are treated and they have had no issues. I dont know if ohio is a good judge for the conditions of heat and humidity found along the QLD coast. My preference at the moment would be to prep with precote and then treat mating surfaces with zinc oxide. I noticed on the canzac video on building a 701 rudder they used a product called cortec 373, which sounds great but I cant find any local info on it. So I guess my questions are: - What are people using on their 6061 built kits and why? - Where have you sources the supplies, if possible in SEQLD? All responses would be greatly appreciated!

If your in the hanger next to spectrum aviation and are willing to pay for the odd bit of help from wayne I'd definatley get a drifter. They are a strange aircraft in some ways and there are many 'tricks' when working on them. I dont know if it is your first aircraft but I know that on my first I found that cheap wasnt the best value! That said, if you have the time, space and advice close by (and a source for all the parts you will need) than an old workhourse may be the go. I'm assuming your learning in a drifter? if you are than it is another good reason. The other reason is just becasue being out the front of one is awsome!:thumb_up: Sorry I dont know of any, last time I spoke to wayne he mentioned there where a heap for sale, what are they like?

You've talked to Wayne? Drifters are tricky to work on and can become expensive fast. I paid $10k for my first drifter and it cost another $8k and lots of work before I had what I wanted.

no worries, it had me puzzled at first. I have been meaning to write up the whole story. Maybe this weekend if it is too wet to fly...

There is a christmas island near Hawaii and that is where the dirfter is now being pu together. The move was a great success, very much thanks to wayne fisher at spectrum aviation.

Last I heard, this aircraft was for sale or coming up for sale Get in quick! :thumb_up: Those out there who know the history of this aircraft will be especially disturbed by the forces being placed upon it.........:ah_oh:

I had the opposite experience with a drifter. I cleaned the skins, dried them out thoroughly and treated the uper surfaces only. I came back after a month or so away with work to find spots of mould underneath the wing; where I had not treated with 303, and no mould on the top. What I did find was pigeon crap on the wing. Thankfully because I had treated them it was easy to get off. I ran over one by accident while leaving the strip so I guess we are even.

So how much would a transponder and a tcas cost for my drifter? I probably should also buy an epirb as well, a strob light may help as well. To be super safe I might start lobbying casa to get rid of G class airspace all together! I know it may sound ridiculous but are we experiencing some serious creep in what we now think is normal? Radios are now pretty much carried by everyone now; but wasn't always the case. I am sure that tcas is great, but for some this equipment would be worth more than the aircraft they fly.

Hi, I'm SEQLD based and very eager to check out a sonex. If there is anyone who can help me out please let me know.

How much better does the drifter perform 1 up! I remember it blew me away for a while :)

Thought I'd add another fisher mkI sport to the mix! They are such a fun machine

I think Bilby might have just re-asked what the original question was. How do the Jabiru perfrom when it is hot? (I avoid a certain temp having read the many worthwhile discussions before hand!). If you go flying on a hot day in a Jab are you going to be white knuckled watching the other end fence coming at you? I am looking around at an aircraft to take to Darwin. The Jab is on my list. This thread, in spite of some of the attitude early on, has been extremely interesting:thumb_up:

As already stated, make calls, get out and talk to people. You may look into a handfull just to find 1 or 2 that are suitable but that's life. Be carefull in search for a bargain though, make sure you understand fully why it is a bargain. You may have to accept some problems, limitations or costs after purchase.

No, you can go direct entry and do 6 weeks or so at RMC and become a Specialist Service Officer pilot. There is of course the option to complete 18 months at Duntroon under the aviation scheme and be assured of graduating as General Service Officer and sent to Tamworth to start your pilot training. Just be carefull. If you go to Duntroon you normally get allocated to a specialist area at the end of your training. if you are not on some special deal you may find that while you want to fly an MRH-90 the army wants you to drive a tank! Have a good look into the three forces before you decide. Flying isnt just flying, they all have very different experiences to offer. Think about the difference in flying a C-17 accross the world to flying a tiger at 20 feet on a 2hr mission. Duntroon is hard but a pretty amazing experience..... once it is over, think VERY carefully. I think someone has alluded to it already, but if you are joining the ADF as a pilot you will be an officer and you need to understand and embrace fully what this involves before you commit.

At this stage I am finalising the plan.... His container will be moved from brisbane to a field near gatton where the drifter will have the wings and wing covers removed, boxed and awaiting loading. We will load it all into the container and the truck will take it back to Brisbane. I'll let you know how it all goes!

Yeah he still sells them but I believe he is going accross to 582s now. As I said, there is a fisher sport with less than 100hrs on it for sale at the moment, these things are so much fun! If you are around gatton sometime I could show you mine. Ive been meaning to head over to cominya sometime, have the low-down from john to call before hand to confirm the airspace.

The certified drifter is still great fun and I enjoyed flying it until the day I sold it for $17,500. There is always a market of people willing to pay fair money for aircraft in good condition and with an unblemished history.

I own a fisher mkI pretty much like VSI that he used to do his aero's in. There is a substantial difference between it and the certified drifter that I just sold. The fisher has symetrical aerofoil, a smaller wingspan and no dehidral on the wing. It is actually lighter in many places but stronger than the normal fisher that he sells in other places to support aerobatics. Even if you are not going to do aerobatics in them they are an amazingly fun machine. Wayne has one the same as VSI for sale at the moment.

I am now waiting for the new owner to get back to me about how he wants to move it. All suggestions are that a 20ft container is the way to go. He is checking up to see if this is a possibility.

The container is a great option because all you have to do is remove the wings and king post. Unfortunatley it is not an option this time as it is being included in a shippment of other stuff in one of the very large containers.