farri

Hi Merv,

My Maxair wire braced Drifter has had 1,Rotax 503 and 4 ,582 engines, I used it for instruction for almost 12 years,I`m retired from teaching and have now gone back to a new 503,hasn`t been started yet.

From experience,the first 503 was a bit under powered on a hot day with a heavy guy in the front seat,on an anaverage day,doing circuits at sea level it would use anywhere between 13 to 15 lts phr.

For instructing the 582 is the way to go,in 2 strokes,again, at sea level with standard jet needle and needle jet in the carby,doing circuits on an average day I would get between,12 and 14 lts phr.

Keep in mind that fuel burn is determined by the jeting of the carbies,the way the throttle is used and air density on any particular day,there are other factors also and it is better to be running a bit rich than too lean because lean will burn the pistons.

Cheers,

Frank.

Cause-Effect.

If firemen cause fires,do sailors cause floods.

Frank.

Recreational Instructors.

Providing incentives is the key here, not taking them away.

I`m only looking at Recreational Instructors here.

 

I want to congratulate anyone Instructing or thinking of instructing in Recreational aircraft, for their passion and courage in wanting to help others learn the joys of flying, because there is very little incentive to become an instructor other than the satisfaction that instructing brings.

 

Because of the high risk of litigation it is difficult for a junior instructor to find a school to employ him or her and if they get a foot in the door it may take forever to get flying hours up and at the end of the day there is very little,if any, money to be made,What are the incentives here?,it basically is a labour of love.

 

So good onya guys,we`re lucky to have you.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

Global Change.

Hi Everyone,

My opinion for what it`s worth.

Where is it written in stone that the climate must remain the same,year after year,for ever more.

The earth has continued to heat and cool since the beginning of time,where were humans then?.

It will probably continue to do so until the end of time.

Stay Cool,

Frank.

Adequate Insurance Cover

HI djpacro,

I hope you can find insurance at a reasonable rate however what is "adequate cover"these days:question:

We live in an enviroment where anyone can sue on anyone`s behalf for almost any reason and for almost any amount.

I don`t think the average recreational pilot can afford "adequate insurance cover", we must find an alternative way of insurance cover that will cover all members at a reasonable cost like the third party cover does,there must be a way.

Cheers

Frank.

Some good thoughts there. Some extra input. If a bare certificate is just so you can go out there and have a good chance of becoming a good pilot as you gain experience,

Then the first few hundred hours of instruction might be regarded similarly, ( that you are learning from the students.) NOT how to fly of course, because you already think that you can do that, but to cover the UNEXPECTED. How far do you let the student go.? Is he/she likely to freeze on the controls, panic interfere?. Is there ANY confusion in the way that the message has come across. Do you set a good example with airmanship, How do you treat a particularly talented student, or at the other end of the spectrum, some one who is definately a worry, but loves flying? The miriad ways of getting across to the vastly different people that you will encounter, An on-going process that never ends. You are never perfect at it, humans being humans. The ab-initio instructor will be on a steep learning curve.

 

...... Another thing to bear in mind is that you operate under the direct supervision of the CFI till you upgrade to a Senior instructor so he/ she has an ongoing proactive role in your development. Work closely with them. Nev..

Knowing the answers to these questions is what makes a ( SUCCESSFUL INSTRUCTOR ),it is not something that can be easily taught.

Frank.

RAA Third Party Insurance.

Facthunter,

The way I understand the RAA third party insurance is, that it covers the RAA member regardless of aircraft rego.

Third party does not mean a passenger,only damage caused by the aircraft to other persons or property.

Anyone, please correct me if I`m wrong.

Frank.

If you are instructing in a plane fitted with a GPS, do you teach the student how to use it.I was taught in GA aircraft that had VOR and ADF fitted but never got any instruction on them. Had to read it up and teach myself. I havn't flown a plane with an installed GPS, but I guess it would take a lot of learning to teach yourself while flying and also be unsafe. I hvn't found out yet how to use the GPS in Flightsim.

Hi Yen,

I keep asuming we`re talking about, ( Ultralight ) , recreational aircraft.

I havn`t seen any of these aircraft come with a GPS system,they a normaly fitted later.

GPS come in different makes and models and it would be a difficult subject to teach,on,how to use the particular model, however there are some basic rules to follow so as to stay out of trouble,as you know, and this can and should be taught.

Do Instructors know the pitfalls of the GPS.

Cheers,

Frank.

Whiz Wheel.

Hi ahlocks,

I love the whiz wheel :thumb_up:.

Cheers,

Frank.

GPS Instruction.

As far as I`m aware the standard "Dead Reckoning" method of navigating,which is, Map Compass and Watch is still taught in GA and must continue to be taught to Recreational pilot also,a GPS is a back up only and can fail at any time.

I think it is up to the individual who wants to use a GPS, to learn how to use it properly and seek help and advice if needed,however, I think it would be an advantage to the student, if those instructors who are proficient in it`s use were to teach on it`s use.

I have been using a GPS for many years, for reef fishing at night and it can`t be done safely without it ,but I rearly use it for flying prefering the exercise of planing my flight which a GPS can`t do.

Can anyone calculate their fuel requirements with a GPS

Frank.

Frank..ok, so mabye there's more to it then that, but basically i believe i summed up the standard use of gps.. What ive found is guys that use the gps all the time get very lazy, to the point that they even stop doing flight plans.. They just jump, hit a few buttons and off they go.. While a gps is a very complicated device it isn't complicated to use..My nanna has one in her car for cryin out loud.Sure teach them to use it, but navigation training should be that, how to navigate, not how to dial up a gps (INHO)..Something i stress strongly to my guys is that useing the gps is fine, it makes for a less stressfull flight, but still do a flight plan, carry all the maps and gear, and mark on the map or wherever some points as you fly over them..time and position.. so that if the yanks turn the lights out or the gps packsup, you have at least kept ontop of things..

cheers;)

I Couldn`t agree more with what you`ve said this time, :thumb_up: It`s what I meant when I said I was frustrated by the attitude of some students.

Dead Reckoning navigation has to be learnt before using any GPS and no cross country endorsement should be issued,otherwise.

A GPS is only an aid to navigating.

Cheers,

Frank.

It`s better to be down here wishing you were up there than to be up there wishing you were down here.

Ultralights, not many rec acft have radio nav equipment anyway.. We teach the good old fashioned eyeballs, a map and a watch method.. Having a gps is great, but when teaching navigation i think it should be an afterthought, and i don't have it switched on during nav x's.. I mean how hard is it to hit page, select location and hit goto...there, briefing over, your now rated to use the gps..

Hi Motzartmerv,

I mostly agree with you, however, I also agree with Ultralights about the GPS.

I taught standard "good old fasfioned,eyeballs map and watch method",also, and became frustrated when some students decided they didn`t need it because they could now use their, new,trusty, GPS.

The GPS is here to stay for a while and it does make navigating far easier for those who understand it`s use and missuse,properly.

Pilots are going to use them regardless however it does have it`s pitfalls to those who are not aware of them so would it not be better to instruct on how to use them correctly ,because it is "NOT" as easy to use a GPS as you have put it.

Cheers,

Frank.

Hi everyone,

Electric engines would be great, I get sick of the noise of Rotax engines.

Frank.

Hi facthunter,

As far as I`m aware,a part of the RAA membership fee is for third party insurance and every member is covered for third party damage,regardless of aircraft registration.

The insurance cover I have had in mind would be for pilot injury or death only,not hull damage.

With the membership numbers the RAA now has,it should be possible to obtain a cover by the RAA,on behalf of it`s members, at a reasonable rate,to the individual member.

It could not be possible that all member pilots would be claiming at one time,therefore it should be feasible, should the members want it and an Insurance company willing to take it on, the details would have to be dealt with.

Frank.

Hi Everyone,

I`m interested to know,what the feeling out there is,on the subject of insurance for us as pilots,the Insurance I`m thinking of would be taken out through the RAA.

I took part in the first meeting, in the North Queensland Region,on third party insurance, when the AUF was looking at implementing the Insurance.

Third party Insurance is fine but what about us,the guys who fly the aircraft,any ideas.

Frank.

Pete,

You certainly are not rambling, it`s others experiences I like to read about.

Forgive my ignorance but what is a CNC machine.

Cheers,

Frank.

Gods Own Country.

Hi Yen,

If all Aissies are not smiling they should be.

I was born in Italy,60 years ago and my parents migrated here,with next to nothing, 59 years ago, from what was then, a war torn Italy and I thank God and my parents every day for it.

We have one of the best countries on the planet and we need to try and keep it so.

Cheers,

Frank.

Ken DeVos,

Decided to check it out on the web and there it was, found it.

Frank.

You know what I like about QLD? Whenever I go there - everyone's always smiling!

 

:big_grin::big_grin::big_grin:

 

That's because they don't know what's really happening!!!

 

Bruce

You know why we`re realy always smiling,up here?.

It`s because we do know what`s happening. ;) .

Cheers,

Frank.

Hi Ken DeVos,

I havn`t heard of The Lightweight Aircraft Association,could you please tell me a bit about it.

Cheers,

Frank.

Magic Carpet Ride.

Hi Ken,

I`ve always refered to a flight in my Austflight Drifter as a, Magic Carpet Ride,glad someone else agrees.

Cheers,

Frank.

Hi Everyone,

Here`s a site that might be of interest.

http:/www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/index.html

Cheers,

Frank.

Hi Paul,

I thought it was you but wasn`t sure,good to have another local from this area,on the forum.

Weekend before last 4 trikes flew over heading out to Russell Heads,were you and your wife in one of them.

Cheers,

Frank.

Paul,

You`re correct in what you say,I`ve enjoyed the view, from the air,for the last 20 years.

I`m the guy with the strip,just north of where the Mulgrave and the Russell rivers flow into one.

I`ve attached a photo of a group of Trikes that flew in on their way to the tip of cape York..

Cheers,

Frank.

Kevin,

Good to see someone still using a Drifter for training.

Frank.