Old Koreelah

The Czechs sure pump out lots of aeroplane designs, but this one sure looks like the one sold as a Piper.

Amazing to realize this futuristic aircraft was conceived when most of us old farts were toddlers. Some of its records may never be beaten.

That’s either CGI’d or he’s a flamin’ fruit loop!

Late model Japanese fighters also had water methanol injection. Besides the extra power, I assume they were running short of oil because so many of their tankers had been sunk by US subs, but they could produce methanol in quantity.

That would be very easy to install, Nev. Injecting downstream of the carb would be even easier, because I already have a shut-down oiler setup, which I no longer use.

Just when I was happy to stop fiddling with my little Baby, you blokes have me almost convinced to do some more modifying! Cleaning out the carbon is the argument-clincher. Where can I fill up with methanol?

Glen I’m probably too older and tired, but the thought of replacing a workable engine with a whole different type make me sleepy. How many enjoyable flights will you miss out while you’re transforming your plane? You must have lots of spare time on your hands or not enough challenges. You could spend huge amounts to get a marginal improvement in performance.

My stint in a mining town taught me that some people have no consideration. Each morning I was woken before dawn when the change-of-shift bus reversed around the large car park below my window. There was mobs of room and no reason for any driver to engage reverse gear.

The nonchalant recovery of that bloke trying to use the pedestrian crossing puts this video in Monty Python territory.

Another PITA for the nearby residents is reversing beepers; quite a few end up sounding pretty sick, possibly because they had stuff jammed into them.

What an excellent outcome, Turbs. Shows the value of opening a communication channel. I suspect most noise complains arise from only a portion of a particular activity. My example: It beats me how anyone can tolerate, let alone listen to horse-race callers.

How old is that interview?

That winger has given me an idea. The nearby Kamilaroi Highway is getting pretty noisy; time for me to start a petition demanding that it be closed or relocated away from all residential areas…

Would that category then include the many flying boats that have an aero foil-type hydroplane?

I rely on good planning and dipping tanks before flight. The second-hand Fuel Mizer I bought from Maj Millard yonks ago has also proven to be quite reliable. Unfortunately these skills can go rusty. How many of us have been able to do a long trip in recent times?

I wasted lots of time installing sight tubes on my wing tanks, in the hope they’d be visible in flight (they’re right next to my butte). I imported from USA some special red fuel floats to put in the sight tubes. One is readable, the other sank in the fuel. They’re still impossible to see while flying (a contortionist might be able to).

A work colleague recently died of emphasima, decades after a working life breathing wood dust.

I presume that’s a wink. Anyone who passed a pilot exam should be able to use this clever analogue computer. The sort of the technology that we should keep around for when digits fail us.

Red the old 95:10 category has been largely forgotten, but allows multiple engines. One year at NatFly a bloke had a four engine unit a bit like this one; it even had Lancaster-type spinners off model aircraft!

I wouldn’t be surprised if the worst noise is from a minority of aircraft; addressing that might be a good fall-back position to have. Maybe they could be satisfied with a medium-term plan to replace a noisy aircraft I suspect the worst offenders are GA aircraft with metal props, and not easily modified. Perhaps they are nearing their replacement date. I’ve seen footage of a Cessna flying in Europe with an ugly car-type muffler slung under the belly.

Sweden can do it, with a fraction of Australia’s population. Why can’t we?

A powerful argument against electric flaps.

Detached eddies? That’s all we need out here on the flat country! As others have mentioned, the air can sneak up and smack you. At least during droughts we might get visual warning of a Willy-willy by the dust and crap they carry up.

As you say Glen, it’s not so much their height as the shape of the hills. I’ve met glider pilots who could ride waves up to 19,000’. Those waves were generated by the relatively low Snowy Mts and the ranges east of Warwick. Yesterday I flew for an hour and was surprised by the turbulence generated by the low ridges around our flat Liverpool Plains. Sure diminishes the fun factor. Pre-Covid when flying longer trips I liked to get up above 7,500’ into smooth air. Trouble is, getting down again thru the washing machine is damned uncomfortable, even scary at times. That’s bad enough in a well-tested 24-reg aeroplane, but a home-built might require a bigger margin for error. Luckily, we Rec. Flyers can stay home when its a bit rough.

The KISS principle is important, but simplicity can catch you out. I have a one litre collector tank mounted a poofteenth below the two wing tanks that supply it. Years ago I decided to test the changeover time if one tank was to run dry. I circled our quiet strip until the first sign of fuel starvation (the fuel pressure gauge starts to flicker wildly a few seconds before the engine sound changes). After changing tanks, it took 11 seconds for the engine to recover. I discovered this delay was due to my small collector tank not having a breather line of its own. After installing a separate breather line, all went well for years, until I stupidly started up with the main tank valves closed. The one litre collector, plus a couple of meters of fuel line and the carby bowl, contained enough juice for me to warm up, taxi out and take off. When about 200’ off the ground the engine noise changed and I realized my mistake. This time, the recovery was almost instantaneous.