barandbrew

Hi Mark

I love the Gazelle easy to fly and responsive I am 6'2" and find the Gazelle fine for 1 to 1 1/2 hr flights after that it gets a bit cramped. However I bought the Gazelle for local sorties if I need to go any distance I take a Jet. :)

John

Thanks everyone for the help. Like everything sounds like practice makes perfect.

Am a bit nervous all the same

John

Hi all

I have had to shift my Gazelle due to our airstrip being sold.

The new hanger is very small and I have to swing the wings every time I want to fly.

I know the Gazelle is designed for this but is there any traps I should look out for I dont want to do any damage if it is avoidable. I would appreciate any advice

Thanks

John

Hi Art

I had a Sapphire until some months ago when a mate wrote it off.

Mine had Flaps and a 503. The orginal canope was like yours but I purchased an enclosed one from Steve Dempsey it made flying much better and increased cruise speed. The Sapphire is a really great airplane to fly very responsive and a lot of fun. However be warned if you do not have flaps or air brakes it can be a real pig to land.

Being so clean and light it just wants to keep flying so shallow approaches are a must unless you have heaps of runway. I used to use full flap and a slow approach and still had trouble on occasions. The Sapphire dosent have any vices in the air the stall is very gentle but can result in more hight loss than other aircraft I have flown. 85 knt cruise with little fuel burn and very responsive controls you will love it. Let us know what you think when you have flown her

Best luck

John

I have been using premium unleaded in my Gazelle since I purchased it 5 years ago the reason is that the sticker beside the filler cap ,which look orginal to me says " use mogas min 95 ron"

Hi Coaltrain

Many years ago I purchased a Hornet GEX and flew from Dixilea outside Rockhampton. Having been taught on short and long wing kookaburra's the Hornet was something else and the trailing edge brakes were fantastic. You could adjust approaches easily and with full extention there was some flap effect at low speed. But the thing I really loved was the speed limiting effect with full extention from memory 80kn max in a dive. Well it was a long time ago and I havnt flown gliders for many years ( fly a Gazelle now) but the memory still gives me a warm feeling inside maybee I will get to fly EX again one day

Regards

John

Just a short note to thank Ian and the gang at Rods Bay for their hospitality and great barby yesterday. Flying conditions were fantastic as was the welcome

We would love to have your group visit us so we can return the hospitality

Thanks again

John and the Jim Crow gang

Hi Wigg

I would love to have a copy of the airframe manual would be happy to pay

Thanks

John

Hi Gordon

Have done just over 600 hrs on my Gazelle now this year however has been a bit lean . We have had a lot of rain this year and as I share my strip with cattle they have chopped up the strip to a unservicale condition many times. Winter is just around the corner which normally means great weather in Central Qld looking forward to catching up on some flying. Agree with Brentc keep an eye on those aileron bushers they should have a max of one mil play. They are easy to replace though.

Regards

John

Hi Gordon

I have had my Gazelle for five years now and just love the aeroplane it has never let me down and is easy to get in and out of tight fields. I hope you get just as much fun out of yours

Cheers

John

Hi

Does anyone know how the Gazelle at Caboolture which has 10k hours + has managed to keep flying there must be some inspection that we dont know about. Surley they could not have replaced the whole airframe?

Thanks

John

Thanks Cosmick

based at Rockhampton

John

Hi Cosmic

I have been interested in aeroshutes but worry that wind strength would keep me on the ground to much. Are they really that wind senistive

Thanks John

HI Dexter

You must have nearly 3000 hours on your Gazelle. Have you had to do any work on the aileron hanger bushers

Thanks John

Hi Rick

When did the run on condition come in must have missed it

Hi Mick

I have ben using my Gazelle on a very rough strip for four years now with no problems. Stick with the Gazelle

What is the highest No. hours on a skyfox or Gazelle.

My Gazelle has 1800hrs but I have heard that some gazelles have over 6000 hrs on them. Anyone know?

John

Hi Steve

I have owned a Sapphire for 3 years now and find it to be a delight to own and fly.

Mine is an early model which has had a 503 installed cruise's 90 knt and climbs at 1500 fpm with me (95kg) The only advise I have is to make sure you have plenty of strip for your first few landings as they are very slipery and dont want to come down but you soon get used to that good luck and a great choice.

Regards

John

Hi Brentc

the bushes attached to the aerilon tube from the hangers

Does anyone know what the fix is for the aerilon bushers on the Gazelle/Skyfox when they start to have play?

that makes me drool

Wonder if my Gazelle can do that ?

My Gazelle cruises at 75 knt at 5000rpm and will cruise at 80 knt at flat out.

Both figures backed up by GPS readings

John

Hi Browng

Where and how did you get the country airstrip and ersa data into the airmap?

John

Hi Kev

Min fuel for takeoff is 10 ltr per tank and no individual seat limits

John

Hi Rick

Just an observation on your comment on the wing spar on the kitfox verse the skyfox.

I have seen a kitfox wing disembled and the thing that surprised me was that although the wing looked the same as my Gazelle the kitfox spar which looked the same didn't have the "i" beem running down the centre that the Gazelle has. I am not an engineer but I'd have money that the spar with the "i" beem support would be stronger

Regards

John