farri

They just keep coming...This is Jonas...Jonas is from Switzerland, backpacking around the world and this was his first time flight in an Ultralight!...After the flight Jonas said and I quote, " Just Stunning! Beautiful! Best thing I`ve done in Australia." Frank.

Goodonya Alexi!!!...If you get the opportunity, have a fly in a Drifter! If you`re in the Cairns area, any time, come in and say G`Day! may be able to take you up! Frank.

Probably be OK then!....Cheers. Frank.

Hello to you also, Alexi! ....What are you training in? Frank.

I`ve just watched the video replay and unless it was mechanical failure, it certainly looked to me as though the inside wing stalled!...Absolutely tragic! Edit: ABC TV news up here now reporting, the aircraft stalled.

Just got footage of it on the ABC TV news!........I`m sorry for whoever it was, but I hope it was a legally conducted flight, if not, I hope it wasn`t an RA-Aus registered AC and pilot!

Frans! All the best.

Hello bentframe, from Franco ( Frank) at Deeral North Queensland! I`ve got quite a few hours as pic in a Zenith 701, powered by a Rotax 80 hp 912 engine, good, easy AC to fly but a couple of things I didn`t like about the one I was flying, were, the large flat side panels which would rattle in turbulence and when practicing stalls, also, the flap lever handle which was flat on the floor, making it hard to get my fingers under it....Is yours like that?...I modified the flap lever so the handle was off the floor with enough clearance to easily get my fingers under it.

If it is correct that the Tech manager has conducted a thorough investigation, I would say it is now the responsibility of the Tech manager and RA-Aus to do whatever is required. Frank.

Exactly! So why would you design something like that?

In the early days of the Far North Queensland Ultralight Association, the majority of our fly-in`s took place here on my property, at Deeral and anyone was welcome to attend, however, we never put up any signs inviting the general public because by doing so, the fly-in was considered to be an airshow ( probably still the same) and an airshow had completely different regulations and requirements. Those days have long gone!.. These days, I wouldn`t even consider a fly-in on the property, the legal implications are horrendous! Frank.

Short answer! I wouldn`t fly it!!! Franco.

G`Day Adam !........No RPL, PPL, CPL or any other type of L for me!......I prefer flying my Drifter, off my property, here at Deeral...Have held an AUF CFI rating and operated my own school, until I retired from instructing,several years ago...Still a current flying member of RA-Aus! For affordable fun flying, have a go at the Drifter if you get a chance....Cheers and all the best....Franco.

Todd, Try ATA! As far as I know, they are at Blue Water, North of Townsville, and operate one or two Drifters! ATA, Recreational Flying School... 3 Axis...S, O'Donnell 0414 304 893...Email [/url] List of RA-Aus registered flying schools...QLD - RAAus Franco.

Todd, It was a pleasure to take you up!.....Again anytime! Franco.

Guys,please excuse my ignorance but wing struts attached to the stub axels? How does the suspension work? Franco.

G`Day Murray, !!! Frank.

Kev, A bit more info that might help you....I was able to make it all happen for myself and the Far North Queensland Ultralight Association, because I had the land and made it available to the FNQUA, free of charge...Once I had obtained my AUF CFI rating, I instructed for the club and was paid by the club for the time I was in the seat of the Drifter!...Eventually, the club decided they only wanted to be a social club, so I bought the Drifter from the club, had my own school approved and continued to instruct, off our property, until I retired from instructing. The cost of training needs to be at a rate that it is attractive to all those who would like to learn!...If you create a good reputation, students will turn up...You need to determine exactly what it is you would like to get out of it!...To me the $$$ were just to keep the wheels turning. I`m happy to try and answer any questions you have. Frank.

Goodonya Kev and thank you! it`s guys like you who keep me motivated to keep posting!.... I do, what I do!....Been doing it for a very long time....Can`t recall how many people I`ve taken up but it`s one hell of a lot,excluding those I instructed. When I retired from instructing, a few years ago, I made way for a guy I`d taken flying when he was in his mid teens! He caught the flying bug,eventually became a Trike pilot and instructor, also 3 axis instructor, got his own Drifter and started his own school, unfortunately, it failed. After me,there`s been a couple of guys, in the Cairns area, tried to establish an AUF/RA`Aus flying school, with the Drifter but failed.....My opinion! overheads (expenses) too high and too much bullsh!t in the regulations, but it is it what it is and I put too much time and effort into it in the early days to want to do it all over again....Shame!!! Frank (Franco)

Thanks Bob, I appreciate the offer but there`s no need....Cheers.

Bob, This morning I paid for parts I`d ordered, by direct bank transfer, into the bank account of the supplier of the parts! Total cost: The cost of the parts! I`ve done this type of transaction numerous times and I`m not aware of any fees charged by either bank. I wouldn`t supply a scan of my driver`s licence or passport to anyone, over the net!

However! Unfortunately,it`s the one they don`t see or forget that was there, that get`s them!

Regardless of the time of year, rain or no rain, during daylight, nothing to be of concern! it`s after dark they come out to play.......

took out the power lines (and their lives) That`s it!...So many other lives involved, not only the pilot`s. A guy I know very well and who was also a member of our club at the time, hit the only power line, crossing the Russell river, about 1 km from home, here. He held a PPL, was in an AC on floats,with 4 persons on board, coming in to land on the river, didn`t know the line was there, didn`t see it, caught it with the floats, nosed straight over into the river, fortunately, it was low tide and everyone got out ok.....I did some SCUBA diving to help him retrieve it. Franco.