farri

Aviad's Reimagined Zigolo Ultralight for 2022; Welcome to Mg21 - ByDanJohnson.com

Franco

56 minutes ago, phlegm said:

Thanks Franco! Interesting about the different Drifter versions, I didn't know that. Is there a particular one I should be looking out for? 

To my knowledge, here in Australia, there is the 95-10 version.

The wire braced (WB), 95-25 version, built by Austflight Aviation, which is now in with the 95-55 category.

The 95-55 strut braced version, also built by Austflight Aviation.

The Wayne Fisher built, Drifters that come under 19-xxxx category.

Then there`s the American, Lockwood Super Drifter https://www.kitplanes.com/lockwood-super-drifter/ , I don`t know of any Super Drifters` in Australia.

My reason for posting the photo of Ron sitting in his, is to show that because you are much the same size, you could fly that version, but you`d be flying solo as ANO 95-10 doesn`t allow for twin seats! if you want to take a passenger, you`d need the 95-25 or 95-55 category. The first 3 I`ve listed can either be fitted with a small or large nose pod! the large pod would give you more leg room.

Franco.

Wasn`t the first flight! he`d done several circuits! engine was idling well when I flew it the day before...I wasn`t there when it happened, just got a call to help get it out.

More important than making sure the engine is idling well before take-off is being high enough on final, to be able to safely glide to the runway. 

7 minutes ago, RossK said:

Seems to be missing some wings 😁

.... Wondered how long it`d be ! No damage to the wings!!!  Sugar Cane can be very forgiving! how do I know? 🤣....Franco.

And, another one I`ve flown!!! that`s the owner/pilot, kneeling down! me, (White Cap), and Ron Biondi, holding the prop.

There`s a story to this one! New plane for the owner and he wanted me to test fly it for him so I did! plane and engine performed well, so the next day the owner was doing a couple of circuits from Arthur Stroud`s, private strip, was on final, pulled the power off to idle and the engine stopped! unfortunately! he wasn`t high enough to glide to the strip and that was the result.

He`d just made it across a fairly large drain that ran 90% to his flight path! the AC landed just a couple of meters past the drain! had he hit the bank of the drain, the outcome here could have been very much different...Only minor damage to the under carriage.

Franco.

On 07/02/2022 at 6:17 PM, phlegm said:

Hi all,

Thinking about taking the plunge into aircraft ownership, but not sure how practical it would be given my size. I'm about 6'2" and 105kg, but could probably lose a bit of weight if I need to for the right aircraft. Would I fit in a Drifter or Thruster? 


Cheers.

Hi phlegm, This is Ron Biondi! he`s probably a bit bigger than you and his aircraft was the 95-10 registered version of the Drifter... Ron began flying his Drifter around 1982 right up until retiring from flying a couple of years ago at 90 years of age.

Keep in mind that when thinking about the Drifter, there are several different versions.

Franco,

Ps, I took the photo! Ron would come to see me, land on the strip then Taxi up to the house.

Just another one I`ve flown... Way back, when I did a lot of flying from Pioneer Valley on the Atherton Tablelands, taking TIF`s for our local club, The Far North Queensland Ultralight Association.   

Well! the Drifter is still pulling the young ladies! This is Emma Tait, current Principal of our little, local, state primary school, where my 3 children got their primary education...I did the flight, this last Saturday morning.

Franco. Franco Arri | Facebook

Rotax ceased production of the 503 DCDI engine, around 2010.

19 hours ago, facthunter said:

We are unlikely to get many more "high hours in Drifter (or Thruster) Pilots". You usually get such hours instructing and this was probably the GO in the late 80's. Didn't DUAL seat make their debut about 1986?. Nev

Yeah! from memory, around that time...I don`t know about the Thrusters but I do know there still is a demand for the Drifters! 

16 hours ago, SSCBD said:

Frank you old basta** - tell the truth - how many real engine failures in total - including the toys before the drifter you have had. I know the real you so no fibs.

happy new year to you and Fran 

SSCBD

Hey, Old Buddy Old Pall!!! Engine failures!... More than you can count on two hands with five fingers on each hand! but don`t forget! I`m on my 6th, Rotax, 2 stroke engine on the Drifter and in the early days, we were learning as we went along...Havn`t had engine failure for many years now! I`ve done over 600 hrs. with my current 503, DCDI. 

The Truth! I was practicing dead-stick landings in my scratch built Chinook WT2, copy, before I even started logging hours or flying the Drifter.

The Truth! I recall, Barry Hughes, AUF, CFI, from the Gold Coast, up here to check me out, so I went up to around 300 feet, shut it down and glided in! he said, " do you always do that when you go flying", I said, "yes, that way I know I can put it down"! Barry never said another word about it! I kid you not.

By the way! These days, the real me is the guy you see in my videos! Happy New year to you and the rest of the family.

Franco,

Ps, SSCBD, Tell the truth! How many engine failures have you had?

As an A.U.F., C.F.I., I instructed dead stick landings, when I was running my own C.A.A/A.U.F., approved, flight training facility, off my home property, here at Deeral.

For me, by far the most important safety issue is to maintain my skills! and by the way! I`ve flown over a dozen different types of Ultralights and have accumulated over 3,000 hrs, the majority of them in my Drifter, which is the AC I instructed with.

Franco.

Engine failure practice, from 4,000`, amsl, onto my home strip, on this glorious, Australia day!!!

Thank you, Nev! Happy and peaceful New Year to you and everyone else on here!!! 

Taking Marissa Ellis for her first-ever, Ultralight flight! Marissa`s father has been flying with me, also.

Just one of the numerous, similar flights I did, with family, friends and visitors, over this last Christmas, New Year, period.

Last night, I was chatting to the owner/pilot of the Drifter, on 'Woodgate beach'! hopefully! I`ll have some facts about the accident, next week.

1 injured in Highlands County ultralight crash (fox13news.com)

23 hours ago, WayneL said:

 Looking at possible failure of fuselage tube before the impact.

Anything`s possible, but very unlikely!!!

One thing I repeatedly notice is the amount of hi tech instruments, in some of these light aircraft that basically! can be flown by the seat of the pants.

I wonder how many close calls there are by pilots fixated on these instruments rather than focusing on keeping a sharp look out and flying the aircraft. 

We all can stall at any attitude, at any airspeed, so, airspeed alone won`t prevent a stall!!!!

..........."Ear, Ear"! 

Hey Nev! Would that be in the pitch of, E, E#, G# or A flat? 

49 minutes ago, Flightrite said:

Too upbeat now😂

Shucks!!! I`ll just have to keep trying then. ...

Flying a stretch of the Mulgrave river, in North Queensland, Australia!

On 12/10/2021 at 3:38 PM, Flightrite said:

Your music puts me to sleep😂

How about this music, then? 

45 minutes ago, biggles said:

 

Yeah, good one Frank. Even got the tick from the girl. I used to get ‘those’ too 😥. Regards to Fran...... Bob
 

 

Thank you Bob! Regards to Sal, for Fran and Me...All the best to both of you.

Yeah! I knew it!.......... I only fly within gliding distance of a suitable landing area! always have, always will! that`s why I`m still around to enjoy my flying and make videos! I can talk from experience.

What you don`t see in a lot of the footage, is all the farming land behind me that you could land a 747 on and I never point the aircraft where I can`t turn away, if the engine stops ...After all these years, I still practice dead stick landings, regularly! who else does?

onetrack, I`m using a GoPro, Hero 8 black, with a wide lens and hyper smooth, stability! needs to be extremely turbulent to show it, in the video.

 Flightrite! at least I got your attention! Cheers.

Franco.