Soleair

Gosh, thanks chaps! So I guess I'll attempt the path of least resistance initially, & go for the GP letter stating fitness to drive/fly. One of the doctors in the outfit I attend flies a trike, so I would hope for a sympathetic response from him. I had already learned, from a previous life, that no aeroplane can fly until it has generated its own weight in paperwork. I had not, until now, realized this also applied to its pilot. Lucky I've lost a lot of weight recently to be kind to my MiniMax! Bruce

I remember looking around an SR71 after hours at a Farnborough airshow. It was a warm evening (yes, rare but not unknown in UK), and there was a strong smell of fuel. On closer examination, various rivets were ooozing juice. Apparently the whole fuselage is mostly fuel tank, and with the thermal stresses on the body, the rivets loosen and allow fuel seepage. Great. But watching it take off from close by the runway was truly awe-inspiring - and bloody deafening! Bruce

Thanks guys. It's very hard to get a definitive answer. From my research on the web, I cannot get a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's certificate, as a pacemaker (no, it's not a defibulator) precludes this. But CASA's website doesn't give any indication of what options are open after that. I've had all sorts of contradictory advice from websites, DAMEs, & flying instructors. It's not easy. As I understand it, I am fit to drive a 12 seater minbus on the highway but evidently CASA requires more input than this to allow me to fly a single seat homebuilt low & slow. CASA's website instructs me to enquire of a DAME if I cannot meet the RAMP criteria, but as I say, I've had 2 contradictory answers from 2 different DAMEs. Not very helpful, CASA. Bruce

Has anybody had a pacemaker implant? Are you still allowed to fly as PIC in RAA aircraft? Any restrictions? TIA Bruce

Enjoy your training, Kodiak - it's a fun time, and so satisfying as you master the Art. I've never lost an element of fear - or at least a healthy respect - for this whole flying business. Which is great, because it both keeps flying fun & exciting, and just maybe will keep me alive. Happy landings Bruce

A bit off topic, this, but may be of passing interest. In a previous life, I worked on the automation of lighthouses around the British Isles. I spent several months (not consecutively!) on the tallest of these, Bishop Rock, which was on the migration route for some bird species. Every morning I used to walk around the gallery outside the lantern, and hurl the unfortunates that had flown into the glass (nav system confused by light?) over the rail. These birds would invariably descend in a flat spin. There not being a great deal to do on a lighthouse after work, I attempted to improve the flight characteristics of these deceased aviators, to get them to glide. I tried extending their wings by affixing a coathanger - same result. Then it occurred to me that since birds are all fly-by-wire they don't need a vertical tail surface. So the judicious application of a fairly large cardboard fin, fixed to the tail with some difficulty, improved the flightpath. Still needed some work on pitch control, though. Bruce

Thanks Daz. Sorry, missed your post. I'll call you Monday. Bruce I AM BRUCE

Yes, good point Yenn. I'm happy to have any inspections - indeed would welcome criticism on my build - but my concern is cost & availability of suitable inspectors in rural NSW. So if I only need a final pre-cover inspection for RAA, that problem would be smaller.

Thanks to all. As regards VH versus 95.55, sounds like I need to do a bit more research. I'm only interested in local flying, with occasional transits to other country airfields - I have no desire to mix it with the big boys, and the MiniMax - doughty aeroplane though it is - is not the craft for controlled airspace. As in my Vne is somewhere around commercials' Vs. . . Bruce

Thanks, Dave. What do you see as the pros/cons of going the VH route as opposed to the 95.55 way? Bruce

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'll look forward to getting my builders' pack (eventually), & take it from there. I'd definitely rather build than do paperwork, but it always used to be said that no aeroplane can fly until it has generated its own weight in paper. It seems there's no escape even under 95.55! Not sure how I can apply for a number & get the plane inspected within 90 days - it might not be finished! Maybe I'll wait a bit longer to apply for a number. Incidentally, I can't find the regulations that specify the size of the numbers to be displayed, or whether the ones on the fuse can go on the fin. Can anyone point me in the right direction for this? Thanks again Bruce

I sent off an 'intention to build' form last June, before I started building. Not having heard back from RAA, I sent another completed form about 6 weeks ago, although by now I am over half way through my build. Again, the silence is deafening. Does anyone know what - if anything - needs to be inspected before I get too far along with my build programme? I understand a good look from a knowledgeable person prior to covering is important, and a witnessed W&B is required. No problems with these. But my concern is how far I can go without any official acknowledgement of my project. Also to prove that my 'kit' is more than 51% amateur built. Given that the 'kit' comprised a box of sawn timber & a set of plans, I think it's fair to say the homebuilt content would be in excess of 99% - but how do I prove this after the event? I am of course taking lots of photos as I go, & I am keeping a build log, together with receipts for minor items like sandpaper, paint & varnish, etc. What I don't want is to be told when I present my MiniMax for final rego that I have not satisfied some requirement of which I am unaware. Cheers Bruce

I would think about incorporating a sort of detent spring on the rudder pedal. Light pressure would operate the rudder horn, but heavier pressure would overcome the spring to progressively operate the relevant brake. My Pterodactyl had tip draggers (one way rudders on the wing tips) & it was a great system. If you deployed them both simultaneously, and leant forward to counter the nose up pitch, you could come down at a steep angle for short field landing. I once demonstrated landing across a small grass strip using this technique, which was well received! Bruce

It is easy to prove counter steering to yourself. Just enter a left turn with your right hand off the handlebar, and your left hand held flat BEHIND the left handlebar. Now take the turn - you'll get round fine, and there's no way you could have turned the bars left. This works best on a motorbike, preferably a big one, as there is more gyroscopic energy in the heavier wheels. But it still works on a pushbike. And one final point. Although countersteering is the only way to get round a bend at speed, when you're going really slowly, the steering is opposite - i.e. push left bar, go right. so it follows that at some speed, the handlebars will have no effect! Bruce

For weightshift, just think of your body as the joystick. Push your body left, initiate a left turn. Of course, this is only applicable to 3 axis pilots converting to weightshift. If you learn ab-initio weightshift, control sense seems pretty intuitive (at least it felt that way to me). Bruce

Mutley, you genius! Bruce

Doesn't the Sea Rey u/c retract upwards?

Thanks to all. As ever, lots of differing opinions! Since I only have small amounts of metal to 'paint', if I go the etch prime only route, where can I get some? (I'm in country NSW so has to be posted). Thanks Bruce

I have both aluminium and mild steel items to go on the MiniMax I'm building. What paint should I use as an anti-corrosion primer, and where can I get it (online/mail order)? Many thanks in advance Bruce

Brilliant - sounds like you've got a lot of fun to look forward to. There is something magical about flying, isn't there? 10 years is a long time to wait. Why not consider building one of these while the kids grow up? If you buy & build incrementally, it could be affordable. And one or both of the kids may take an interest, too. Follow the dream. Bruce

I've solved my dilemma by just buying some more T88 from Spruce in the States. Although the shipping was around $45, I ordered several goodies from them (all much cheaper or just not obtainable in Oz) to share the postage. I have no idea why T88 - or so many other aviation related products - should cost SO much more over here, but I for one will not be suckered into paying inflated prices. If I can buy a one-off item from a retailer for substantially less than the asking price in Australia, then why would I buy locally? I have no sympathy with retailers crying foul over foreign competition. They're just too bloody greedy. Bruce

I got shot once when flying around Sandown Airport on the Isle of Wight, UK, in the early 80's. My microlight had tip draggers with spruce internals and thin ply skin. One of these skins had a hole in it after landing, clearly made either by a shotgun pellet or an air rifle slug. At the time there were a group of protesters who mainly lived in a block of houses bordering the airport. They used to make a lot of noise in the local press about airport noise, etc. One person was prosecuted for using a mirror to dazzle approaching pilots. One wonders why people who so dislike light aeroplanes would buy a house next to an active grass airfield?? Bruce

I have nearly used all the T88 epoxy supplied with my MiniMax kit, so need more glue. T88 is eye-wateringly expensive in Oz, so I will use WEST epoxy. I have used 105/205 before, and I actually prefer it to T88, esp when modified with fillers. But I see WEST have now introduced G-Flex, which is more flexible than the 105 resin system. It, too, is much more expensive, but of course only represents a tiny percentage of the build cost. So my question is, has anyone used G-Flex & 105/205 - 6, and if so, any observations? Should I go for the more flexible product, or is this unecessary/undesirable? All input gratefully received. Bruce

Yes, I flew (as a pax) in a 1929 - ISTR - B.A.Swallow with a Pobjoy. Beautiful engine, complete with Piezo electric ignition! (Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose). Bruce

Come on, Nev - where's the romance in you? I saw 4 Moths in formation flying over my place at about 1500' on Wednesday, headed in the direction of the start point. Now I know why. I do like Moths. Bruce