Bigglesworth

The official term for mistaken song lyrics is a Mondegreen, coined by an english radio announcer because she used to think an old folk song said " they slew lord (can't remember name) and Lady Mondegeen", it actually said " and laid him on the green" Though you might like to know. The ants are my friends, they're blowing in the wind.

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Stall is rated at 37kts (loaded) I was coming in at 40kts over the fence, and still floating forever, ended up slipping it to slow down just above the ground. And as for high idle; jab says it should be 900rpm, but I am here to tell you that below 1000 it dies. Ever had to restart a motor about 20 feet off the ground? Next time you are flying, try to reach the start button while on approach. Then you will know why I am going to have to adjust that idle a bit up.

Garry is currently developing electric flaps for the Sierra, which could also go on the Cheetah or Diamond. This is a very good idea, a cheetah will float about 500m if the approach speed is 50 kts. coming from a plane which can cruise at 110kts this is pretty good. But not good when trying to land short with one up and half fuel. The flaps will require at least part of the wing to be metal covered which is probably a good thing, despite being a bit heavier. I also hear that they are going to try a 2.2 jab in a Sierra, the nose will be made longer yet to balance it, that will make it a very long nosed plane.

Do you have something against us rednecks? :pig:

Like many of us, I operate out of a paddock. This paddock is normally home to a herd of Black Angus. This leads to 2 problems: A: Cows**t sprayed underneath on every t/o and landing, B: I can't leave the plane there overnight for fear of it being eaten; it is part fabric. Does anyone know of any way do discourage cows from eating aeroplanes, and does anyone know if just roughly scraping the decorations off the plane has any detrimental effects? I am not overly concerned from a looks point of view. Any ideas?

I don't get airsick, and have been able to eat salami and cheese sandwiches in front of my friends when we were fishing in rough conditions. They were not impressed. But I have found with others that placebo pills and solutions are often very effective. As long as you are sure you will not get airsick, you are fine. Also try to give her a job to concentrate on, like get her to watch something outside the plane just in case, or help land somehow. No-one is seasick when they have a fish on the line, and I don't think people get airsick when fishing either.

That is a good idea, however I always wanted to put in a contact labeled ICE which rang the nearest refrigerator shop, but I doubt the joke would be appreciated in the circumstances. In any case I haven't got a mobile; it died and I was glad of the silence and left it that way. Don't let me put anyone off though.

Sorry to have caused you any trouble Ian, I will admit there are a few things which sort of bug my conscience. Lots of people were depending on me in a way, Garry didn't need any story of one of his planes crashing, my last instructor who checked me out before I left would have had a bad conscience if I got injured, and more more like that, so while I wasn't too concerned about risking my life for my own sake, I was more worried for the sake of others. Also there are those who read these forums and might be tempted to copy what they mistakenly think I acted like. Also I should not have made a low level, slow steep turn. I got out of it fine, but I called myself a few names for bad airmanship. But as for your points Listening to others: I had a simulated test fly where the instructor did all he could to make it hard on me and simulate all the possible problems he could think of. He passed me as fine pilot-wise, even though he thought I should get some type experience. The inspector has test flown many planes and rebuilds, and having seen me and my plane thought there should be no problem. The instructor who I got my RAA licence with has built and test flown a number of planes, he had nothing but incouragement and procedural advice for me, the airport manager at Moruya taught my to fly to solo standard when I was 14-15 and still too young to go solo, and he has built planes, not sure of him test flying them, and he gave me some pointers and thought it OK. So I think I was listening to experts there, who knew both me and new planes. As for wind, again I asked other's opinion, and only went because it was close to straight down, and not gusting, just slowly changing, and in the end I parked her for a couple of hours until it died down. (Just before a storm wasn't too smart, but I know local weather pretty well, there was only danger of water) Leaving area. OK you have a point but the airport was closed for 2.5 hours anyway, so I either had to wait it out, or leave, and that was a calculated risk, and I don't think it too bad, motors can fail at any time, higher risk yes, but on the other hand, how many people don't check filters anyway, and they might have an accumulation of dirt in them. Manufactures scrap, well I was the manufacturer and have seen this too often to leave enough dirt to clog up the filter. (I might have to eat my words there) Also, others fly a plane home just to make it more accessible during test flying: I had to take the plane back to base where I could get to it with a real arsenal of tools to fix problems, and store it until parts get here, which is about the same thing. Right now she is packed away and grounded until I get some heat insulation to stop the muffler burning a hole in the cowl, today I also modified the oil cooler, but wasn't game to test it since it was a hot day, and if it wasn't working as good as it should, I would overheat the motor, also with the singed cowl I didn't want to go any further. So really, I would like to know what others would have done differently, and the feasibility and cost. As for Safe and Professional: Safe I think I have demonstrated a certain amount of safety even if it was not immediately apparent, and professional, well, I abbreviate that to GA. Recreational is as the name says, the fun side; or will I have to take up Base Jumping if I want to enjoy myself I regret that anything that happens to me might be linked to others, and I would sincerely hope that no-one comes to any harm through what I might write or do. Maybe I should have put a disclaimer in: This is a one sided account of test-flying, do not attempt to copy, unless you know the full story and even then I would not advise it for anyone other than myself. in all due respect, Joshua

<edit> thanks Blueshed, I didn't see that while I was writing, Good Luck to you <edit> OK ok ok OK Ok oK and more to that effect. Her I was thinking that readers had finally realised that behind most of my seemingly crazy actions is actually a lot of common sense. For starters, I had been up to 3000 feet and practised stalls of all types, steep turns of varied speeds, slow flying etc. I can fly Cowboy Up at 35kts straight and level, and even slower as soon as I add power, but then I am climbing. Same with just about everything on her, as soon as power is on, everything works again quickly. Stall is a very gentle wing drop, by the time it is noticeably down, I have long since recovered. I can recover from a power off stall by simply adding power will give me another about 20 seconds before it turns into a power on stall. When I landed in such a strange sounding way, I said to Lex, "hope you weren't watching" knowing full well he was, and he said it didn't look too bad. And it wasn't really; I could have picked it back off at any time if I wasn't happy that I could make it make sense. Although I will say if I had a passenger, he/she would have been praying hard. But they do that when I drive dirt roads as well, and despite comments from many people, I have yet to hurt my ute. (My sister ran it into the fence stay about the first time I lent it to her, though:black_eye:). So really I am not all that dangerous, I just act that way. Just like when I first flew her; read all the nay-sayers and yet, it all went sweet in not the best conditions. Simply because (Gods grace mainly) and the fact that I have a pretty good idea of what I am capable of. so yeah, right, well, I hear you loud and clear, but since you are talking about me, and none of you know me; it could be said that you............... I won't finish that since it might be offensive. But you get what I mean. Oh well, Keep the tone high, life is better than. Love, light and peace Joshua

The pilot was sitting in his seat and pulled out a .38 revolver. He placed it on top of the instrument panel, then asked the navigator, "Do you know what I use this for?" The navigator replied timidly, "No, what's it for?" The pilot responded, "I use this on navigators who get me lost!" The navigator proceeded to pull out a .45 and placed it on his chart table. The pilot asked, "What's that for?" "To be honest sir," the navigator replied, "I'll know we're lost before you will."

I am guilty of some of that, but tell me; does a plane engine bay get hotter than a car bay? and what about the battery and electricals which are rated a lot lower than cable ties. The oil temp max for a jab is 150 degrees, so the bay should stay cooler than this, and cable ties certainly can stand 150 degrees. So can nylock nuts. My opinion; probably wrong as usual.

Day 2 Has 6.8hrs on the clock now, still have to fix the oil cooler because it was getting hot, and the muffler is trying to burn a hole in the cowl, but they had to wait until it was home again. Was flying all this morning, practising short field, then came to home strip (1hr by car, 17mins at 2500rpm in plane) did a few runs there, thought I could get it down but wasn't sure I could stop. So flew back to Moruya, had to wait until the airport reopened (was closed for 2.5hrs today) then rang home and asked Lex if he could kindly remove some trees. He said he would, so I waited a bit and headed back. He hadn't finished by the time I got back so I did a few low passes, climbing to clear the tractor he was driving at the time. But the problem was the the wind had come up to about 10kts, that was ok, but there are trees on the approach side, and it is hard enough to clear them and land a slippery plane on a short strip, let alone add some turbulence:black_eye:. So once the trees were clear, I came as low as I could, first time too fast, went around, 2nd time in at about 40kts, just cleared the trees, slipped her again, and there was the ground, didn't have time to straighten her up fully, got rid of the roll, but touched at about 15 degrees to the right, not to worry, strip has a bump there, was back in the air and turned straight before I bumped down again. Wasn't too hard on the undercarriage, (very nice undercarriage it is too, very forgiving) and I only used minimal brakes and would have made it trees and all. Then I noticed the down side of paddock strips: Cowsh*t sprayed up under both wings and one side. Oh well, you can't have it all. Then I had to hitchhike up to Moruya to get my car back, a 17 minute plane trip took me a couple of hours. did it in 4 lifts. There is still some good in people. PS Garry told me I would take about 6 months to learn to fly it good enough to get it home, which was wrong; and when I told him it needs larger ailerons, he told me I shouldn't be doing steep turns on a go round at low speed. which is probably right, come to think of it.

Yes, I have the talent for acting like that, but just like my building story sounded a bit hit and miss and yet she still flies well, flying is similar.

Mechanic friend of mine was billed $500 instead of $50 by mistake for a part he ordered. Didn't need the part sent it back asking to be credited for $500. Didn't get it.

Thanks for comments, I still think it was ice, idle is out, but it stopped at too high revs for that, and when I pulled the right knob, it got better. Still would die at full back throttle, but now would run at speeds below 1000rpm. Besides, it was practically raining at the time, it was to be expected. Come to think of it it was also thundering and lighning-ing as well. I didn't want to go back down to dreary old earth. I haven't sealed the canopy either, so I was getting a fair bit of spray in, which was nice on a hot day;). I could just seal it with door seal like Garry says, but I had some other ideas, probably will end up with door seal. Here are some pics, it doesn't shine quite like Slarti's, but it is nicer in the sun.

YEEHAA!!!!! As you might be able to guess..... I flew my plane for the first time today..... YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAA.............. I have to thank everyone who wrote with advise. I didn't take any of it but thanks anyway:keen:. So here's the story: The weather report says absolutely awful weather for today, so I ignore that, I get the plane to the airport (Moruya) this morning at about 8:30. (ever seen a plane hung from a Hi-ab, with the pilot dangling from the tail to balance it, very funny:laugh:) So the weather is s**t so I put her together trying to ignore the fact that my hat is blowing off, takes about 1/2 an hour since I was doing it carefully and slowly. The weather is 7-17kts across the main strip, and almost along the cross, I go to taxi on the cross strip. Sounds easy, until I realise that the brakes need to bed in, there is a lot of wind, and not much experience on castoring nose gear is a bad combination. Was running all over the place, pulled the throttle back and the B***d stopped on me. Tried to restart, not enough kick left in the battery. D**M. So I took the battery out, hooked it to the car and ran that for 1/4 hr to charge it. Then I started her up and tried a few turn on the taxiway, and then back onto the cross strip. First really slow, just to be sure I could steer it, the faster to steer with rudder, THEN FASTER TO FEEL ELEVATOR, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN; WHOOPS, 3 FEET OFF THE GROUND!!!!! worked it back down OK. Did that twice, was happy with it but wanted to use the long strip before taking off. Wind was too bad. Waited until the afternoon. 3 taxis and I was happy (and so was the airport manager who happens to be my first instructor) So it was time to cowboy up, say a prayer, and full throttle and farewell Terra Firma. Climbs well, was at 500 by the end of a 1.5km strip, easily. Didn't try for speed. she flys hands off within reason. Did 2 circuits until the rain came and forced me down for the day. Forgot to pull carb heat and had the prop stop on downwind<edit>base<edit>:confused:. Started immediately, not that I needed it, it refuses to leave the air and had to be slipped from 500 feet anyway. So there you have it. More tomorrow. PS Spoke to Garry, he says if it is balanced straight off, I did a good build job, and I told him he did a excellent design job. SO BUY MORE CHEETAHS, I'll help you build them, it was the most fun thing I have done that wasn't flying itself.

I made an online purchase from an electronics store, paid by credit card, and a month later get an account for one dollar, still haven't paid it, wait to see what happens.

Don't read me wrong when I asked for other pilots to be around. I was specifically asking for mechanically minded people who could give useful information, maybe help rig the plane, and give it a check over to see if I might have missed something crucial. I have so far said no spectators to my Dad, my older sister, and goodness knows how many friends (and not friends). When I mentioned to a friend of mine that I was taking it to Moruya to be able to land straight after lift off, he said that wasn't at all like me, and expected me to take off from the farm strip straight off. But I am behaving myself for once, except in one aspect, sorry brentc, as far as insurance goes, DILLIGAF. (not said personally, just to insurance salesmen). Basically without putting myself too high, I can often do what a lot of people find hard. So, when all sorts of people who don't really know me are telling me I have to get some exact type experience, I really felt like putting a full tank of fuel in, flying from home strip to Taree, and saying here I am, now what. And while this is may cause many to freak out, it is safer than many other things I have done. Theoretically it would work. But as I said; I am behaveing myself for the sake of my plane. So don't be over safetyfied in your comments. I have been catching up on a bit of sleep, and am starting to feel bulletproof again. THAT WAS A JOKE. Stop throwing things at me. I am not the bulletproof idiot type, though I can act it really well. Anyway, it all depends on the weather now, but hopefully I will be getting a couple of flights in before I try mine.

Generally I found that that error comes from dirty discs, I'm not sure if Free Easy Burner does closed discs, but it is a good piece of software. CloneDVD from Slysoft is good if you want to pay for it. Try looking on http://www.freewaregenius.com and similar sites.

[quote=timshel; Engine out over inhospitable terrain.. I would risk a fast landing in a place I chose than to be gently placed at the top of a 70m Gum tree, or dangling from a chute caught in a tree.

Yes, I noticed that, I wonder how he feels. I honestly didn't mean to. But I think he has more important things to think of, not letting the cat too far out of the bag, but he has news for us.

You are right Matthew, Everyone is telling me to slow down, including God in the form of the weather, and in RAA not sending me the rego work back. So............... postponement for a week. Then again, the paddock strip will be made on the weekend, and a few taxi tests might still happen. But no flights. It is actually within my assigned test area, as I asked to be able to fly it home. I might even get up to Taree next weekend. So the plan is: Get the flightsim working on my computer again, and get to a stage where I can fly the Extra 300 with the controls out of trim and bad weather. Then turn off the PC, do some taxi tests at home, and see how I feel. Depending on that, I might get to Taree. Does that sound safer?

4 cylinder, which, by my calculations, should have 2/3 the problems of the 6.:confused: As for the green paint; there is still some on my fingernails, and I have had to have a haircut. Cruising speed, it will be interesting to see who gets better. They both should be about 110kts, Slarti has winglets to stop induced drag, but has a higher cabin and a steeper front on his canopy. He has a professional quality build which might make it smoother, so it will be interesting. The winglets on Slarti's are an expensive extra, and were not available when I got my kit. I could always fit them later with a bit of difficulty; maybe when I fit strobes and nav lights. Garry was just talking to me on the phone trying to scare me out of test flying my own plane with very little experience, but I still want to try. If there are any mechanically minded pilots in the Moruya area reading this, I would appreciate it if you would turn up at the airport on Friday evening for the prep. or Saturday early for attempt number one. I'm hopeing Rex the maintenance bloke from Merimbula might turn up, that would be good. In Gods hands. PS Sorry Blueshed, but the 16th happens to be my 21st, so I will probably be in no state to fly.

Thank you Chird65, and posters of similar comments. As to time and money. Time; a bit over 1000 hours. But remember, thats for a first time builder with no previous experience, and no-one to ask for help except via the phone. If I had to do it again, easily less than half that, and a better job to boot. Not that I am criticising my lovely creation, but things could be neater here end there. Money: Estimate roughly $50 000 inc GST on most things. I really don't think it could be done for much less except with a cheaper motor, and then it is not certified and goodbye controlled airspace. It cost me about 25k for the kit with a few extras (disc brakes, an engine mount etc.) 15k for the motor. And the rest in other things which add up quickly. Prop $750 Spinner $125 Radio ~$2000 headsets ~$300 Paint ~$350 Instruments >$1000 Extra sheet of Aluminium $200 Motor hoses and fittings ~$300 Electrical including battery ~$250 (battery is SLA 17AAH from Jaycar $44, turns the jab over easily) And more............... But that should give you a rough idea. and about $200 for special tools: e.g. Clecos, a heat gun, a 5/16 reamer Start saving,,,,, see you in the air soon