Scotty 1

Don't get down there as much as I would like these days but I will try to keep you all up to date with the build with as many pics as I can. Don't forget though if you have any questions just give Ole a ring and you will find he is very helpful. Nice bloke too but don't tell him I said that or he'll get a swelled head.

G Got the spelling wrong Sam, it's Jabatax. The SubSonex is more sci fi.

Ole and Guy checking out the quick build kit for the SubSonex. As You can see Guy does get a bit excited. If the truth be known I can't wait to see and smell it fly too. Now are they real tyres Sam?

As promised here are some pics of the J230 now fitted with a Rotax by Ole and the tea at AAK. Just waiting on the red tape now.

Define the "Note" at the end of the instructions for checking the oil level from the Operators Manual. 1 Check oil level and replenish as required. 2 NOTE: Propeller shouldn't be turned exces- sively reverse the normal direction of engine rotation. Remove oil tank cover, turn the propeller slowly by hand in direction of engine rotation several times to pump oil from the engine into the oil tank. 3 It is essential to build up compression in the combustion chamber. Maintain the pressure for a few seconds to let the gas flow via the piston rings into the crankcase. The speed of rotation is not important as the pressure and the amount of gas which is transfered into the crankcase 4 This process is finished when air is returning back to the oil tank and can be noticed by a gurgle from the open oil tank. 5 Install oil tank cap. NOTE: The oil level should be in the upper half (be- tween the “50%“ and the “max“ mark) and should never falls below the “min“ mark. Prior to long flights oil should be added so that the oil level reaches the “max“ mark. Avoid oil levels exceeding the “max“ mark, since excess oil could be poured out through the venting system. Difference between max.- and min.- mark = 0.45 litre (0.95 liq pt).

Ah yes, I can see it now.

Spent some more time at Ole's yesterday but forgot the camera. Interesting day though. Ole finished of the replacement of a sparg clutch and gearbox inspection on a Gyro and another happy customer flew it home yesterday. The Jabatax (my naming) is all finished and the paperwork was sent off so waiting for the red tape now. I'll get some photos next week cause it's a neat job, very impressed. Then the quick build kit for the SubSonex arrived in the afternoon so helped unload that. The owner is real keen to get stuck into that so I'll try a keep you all up to date with pics. Can't wait to see that fly. Definitely going to be a rocket ship, and the smell! Put the kit beside the Flamingo and you could'nt have two planes any more different. A tiny speed machine tucked in under the massive wing of a beast that flys with full control at 28knts. Mind blowing.

That's it Nev, own it and walk away. After all, stress is only a figment of someone else's imagination! Or so they say.

And there lies the problem that I hope has been addressed by now. If Andy doesn't remember doing this in his training and myself and others do, where is the consistentsey in our training. And not just this one issue.

If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without alcohol, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, Then You Are Probably The Family Dog! And you thought I was going to get all spiritual ... Handle every Stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, Piss on it and walk away.

Still might be a good idea to check, does anyone know where you can buy a testing kit in Australia? I can only find them in the US online (where ethanol doesn't need to be labeled on bowsers). I bought a test kits from a marine shop a few years back ( I think they were from Mercury). Can't find them now but might pay to check.

Thanks for that info Downunder, did not know you could get them. Sounds like you have yours set up well, phone up on the way and it's warm by the time you get there. I think the longest it has taken to get mine to 50deg was about 6 minutes which gives me plenty of time to do my checks. It seemed to be a pain in the trike, sitting and waiting for temp to come up, but in the Hornet have more to set up and check ( IPad & GPS etc ) so don"t seem to be waiting too long. Getting soft these days too so don't get out of bed to early. Wait for it to warm up a bit.

Tell us more about the pre-heater you use. Would like to get the warm up time down a bit, but it does give plenty of time for checks (and double checks).

Can't go too many thousands of foots high Sam course I'm scared of them high foots...........Maybe I've been kicked up the bum too many times with them high foots.

One thing with the Hornets they are designed to run in the tropics with the open cowl so I have the oil cooler half covered all the time. Even in summer and a full power climb temp still only gets just over the 100deg mark (as the manual says) and on cruise settles back down to between 80 & 90deg. Have thought about the thermostats, but as it is, it is working ok and is one less thing to go wrong. Main reason I looked at the thermostats was to reduce the warmup to less than 5 to 6 minutes, but I don't think they reduce the time by much at all do they?

Hi Sam, Still got the oil cooler partially covered? Low level and working harder it might need uncovering a bit. What temp was the oil at?

Right handed but I thought I had similar problems to you at one stage when learning. Started with centre sticks and left hand throttle so all good. Latter on went to do the tail wheel endo in the Hornet with centre throttle and left hand on the stick. I thought I had totally lost the feel and went looking for reasons. Changing hands seemed logical so to prove it I drove home(2 hours) with only my left hand on the steering wheel. Didn't crash so I was pleased one side of my brain had not gone missing so I just pushed on through and it all seems natural now. Another problem was learning in the trike. Bar left to bank right. So same trick to just steer the car from the bottom of the steering wheel, bottom of the wheel to the left to steer right. Right handed but most of the time now when driving I steer with my left hand on the bottom of the wheel. Go figure.

Think I might prefer a hot Jenny, Jane or even a Sue than a Billy but ........errrr......oh you mean a cuppa........sorry you had me a bit worried about you folks there at Quirindi for a bit.......between you and that other bloke, no worries I'll have mine black with one thanks.

Is this what you are looking for Guernsey? USB-stick for seniors Soon it will be compulsory for the elderly to not only carry their ID with them, but also their insurance papers, their list of medication and a compact version of their medical history, their views about resuscitation after a cardiac arrest etc, etc. So, when an older person wants to go out he or she will need to carry a lot of paperwork!! That is why there has been developed a special USB stick for seniors. Have a look - - - - - - Available soon, but only on prescription! This way you always have your USB handy?.

Spent some time with Ole again yesterday and was talking about the Free Bee. He has come across these, http://www.polini.com/en/page_719.html. 36.5 HP @ under 20kg, water cooled and duel ignition. Neat looking unit. Has anyone had any experience with them? Used on para motors. Also found this while looking. [MEDIA=vimeo]86765652[/MEDIA]. Some people have to much fun.

Hi Bex. Ole won't design and build to a price. Maybe cheap is the wrong wording to use. Affordability is something different to different people as Sam said. The same as the Hornet Cub is a smaller plane to the Hornet STOL so it costs less to produce. So it's sells at a cheaper price. The traditional, proven all metal build is not compromised at all so strength and safety are not forsaken to lower the cost. Less material...less weight....less cost but same strength. You would understand that. With the Free Bee this is a 95-10 low MTOW, single seat, open cockpit, low HP engine means lower cost to build, so those cost savings are passed on to the purchaser. But you still ad in the responsive light controls and manuverable handling that Ole's planes are renowned for and have been proven in the field over the years and that is were I claim the fun comes into the equation. The Free Bee is R&D so to pay the bills Ole must continue with the two planes under construction at present as well as the repair and maintainance jobs and modification jobs like the Jab. But I'm sure if he gets the interest I think he will in a "cheap, fun" machine he will get back onto it and will be able to give us all a firm price. Ring him, talk to him let him know what you want and you might get a surprise.

Bit hard to come up with a firm price at this stage of development but it's the same with any of Ole's aircraft. There is no such thing as a standard plane. You want this or that in on or around it, it can be done at a cost. Look at Sam's plane, he has a bigger property than me so he got a bigger hat compartment and fishing rod locker than I did. I know Ole is definitely looking to keep the price as low as possible with the Bee Free without compromising any of his build quality or strength. Trouble is he is not getting enough time to spend on the project yet so give him a call and get him working on it a bit more cause I think this will be a winner.

Winsor is going to be pissed if you get it before him. But I guess it's to late now. Better this than seeing a majestic old lady sitting on the scrap heap.

Could be sweet music if it turns out like I think it will. Affordable, fun and cheap. Seems just the thing some have been calling for. Oh and it's Australian too.

Start with a well know and respected older machine, take the front seat out, stick in a 912, take the canopy off and change the undercarriage a bit and you have a Condor. Come on winsor, you know it.