NT5224

Glad somebody else saw this. Is it clear how this subsidy will work? Is more information to come? Will this be good for a cheap Skyecho unit or is it worth investing in something more sophiscated? Opinions? Alan

Hi Yenn Yes, the ball was off and I was applying a noticeable left rudder to keep straight. However, prior to takeoff the issue of the uneven ailerons seems to have been remedied. At least they looked level. My LAME has since confirmed he adjusted them. I have no idea if my sensation of flying crooked and the unusual airspeed readings are related but one would assume they were. My aircraft flew perfectly before the annual inspection and ailerion adjustment, but slightly crabbed afterwards. However my LAME confirmed neither the Airspeed indicator or the GPS has been touched during the inspection. On my LAMES suggestion (and on yours too) I will try to clear the Pitot tube outward from the cockpit. Then I'll go up for a test fly, get up high, try flying slow see what indicated speed I get to just before stall. This would be no big deal, but for the GPS reading the same as the airspeed indicator. Baffling! Alan

Hi folks! Im just putting a query out there to the brains trust. Many of you are much more experienced than I and can bring a second (and additional) opinions to my own conclusions regarding an incident over the weekend. Here's the story. Sorry if its long but I'm including all potentially relevant details to give context So my bird went in for its annual this weekend. Its a great aircraft but I mentioned to my LAME that the last time the wings were detached for work the control lines hadn't been accurately tensioned, so the ailerons did not appear level when the stick was centered. And to maintain wings level in the air I was flying with the stick very slightly to the left of centre. I showed him this minor issue and asked if he could adjust during the inspection. Everything else was fine. I picked up the aircraft over the weekend. Doing my walk around I saw the ailerons appeared my level with the stick centred. But I didn't see my LAME, just took off and flew home. In the air I immediately noticed it wasn't flying quite straight. It felt like I was flying with rudder in just to keep straight. It made be wonder whether he had overcorrected the tensioning, or I was just feeling the difference because I was used to flying it as it had been before. Not sure. It was nothing dangerous, but we just seemed to be crabbing a little. Retrospectively I also recall my airspeed was rather low on the flight home. But things got really interesting when I came into land. Landing at my place in the wet season is kinda like landing on an aircraft carrier. On the approach you are at 300ft then you are suddenly at tree top height as you fly across the edge of the escarpment (the strip is on an escarpment). Flying my approach everything seemed quite normal but checking my airspeed I saw I was at 45 knots coming onto final and as I slowed for landing this fell to 35 knots! Normally I cross the threshold at about 50 knots and land touch down at 45 knots, so 35-40 knots seemed much too low. According to the operating handbook my Rebel will fly 34 knots with full flap, but I don't want to test that at 10ft over the trees, so I put on power and went around. My first thought was that maybe there was a headwind or something. so on my second approach I watched airspeed both on my panel and on the GPS (ground speed). Now, if the issue was a headwind ( and there was no evidence for a headwind on my windsock), surely my airspeed would read true? But both sets of data read consistently and again I was over the trees at 35 knots indicated. Again this was too slow and I was spooked and went around for a third time. I was actually worried and wondering whether i should head back to an alternate (less challenging), airfield to land at, so to figure out the problem. But then something occurred to me. On my approaches indicated at 35 knots, the landscape didn't seem to be moving any more slowly than usual. If I didn't have the instruments and flew looking outside the cockpit the 'picture' on approach looked quite normal. So I wondered if my gauge and GPS could be inaccurate (although it seems strange that both could be reading wrong by the same margin). So on my third approach I just flew like I always do, and didn't really look at the airspeed. I landed fine. I actually ballooned slightly and so it was a long landing because I subconsciously landed fast (worried about the low indicated airspeed). So ladies and gents, what's going on? I have thought this through over and over. The aircraft incorrectly configured, crabbing and flying slow, the mysterious 'gulley winds' for which our district is famous, or somehow both my pitot steam gauge and GPS both reading incorrectly. I struggle to believe my aircraft was actually flying at 35 knots, its never flown that slow before and it didn't feel sluggish or on the point of stall. And on my final landing I actually slightly ballooned which was unlikely to occur under 40 knots. But to my knowledge the LAME didn't so anything to the airspeed indicator. Very strange indeed. Any ideas or suggestions? Obviously I will discuss with my LAME Cheers Alan

What are the merits of dropping it into the surf just offshore rather than a beach landing? Was it because of people on the beach or concern about digging wheels into sand and flipping? In this instance maybe the pilot couldn't safely make the beach? Don't know the circumstances of this particular incident, but often thought a water landing close to shore in a low wing might be safer, although of course after saltwater gets into systems the aircraft belongs to the insurers. Thoughts? Alan

Ok just read the article and am somewhat relieved as it seems to be a long term engine wear issue, rather than bad fuel that can result in sudden engine failure in flight. Also I appreciate that as a fixed wing, even flying STOL operations over tiger country in the Territory, im not thrashing my Lycoming like those whirly birds which operate at constant high revs. I'll flag this with my LAME at some stage and try not to lose sleep! Cheers Alan

Unfortunately I live in the Territory and fly behind the same Lycoming 0320 as you find in Robbo 22s. I fuel out of drums the same as other remote operators... I remember seeing an article on this in Flight Safety but don't recall the conclusion. Am I doomed? Alan

Oh dear. Don't want that. Again. Anyway to test fuel? Alan

Hi Glen Is this just an issue of additional engine wear or could it lead to performance issues in flight? Cheers Alan

According to the RAA pitch what would be the benefit of transferring a VH experimental rego to RAA? And do you have to swap letters for numbers? Alan

Measure pressure with a gauge on my hose. Balloon tyres are designed to be run at very low pressures. 4WD tyres would probably come off the rim, obviously..

Thanks onetrack. That's useful info, although I'm guessing a 160km taxi charge might exceed costs associated with flying into Broome itself! The wet season conditions on the ground aren't an issue ...only very deep puddles that could swing my aircraft round on my short take-off roll. I run on 29 inch balloon tyres at 5 pounds/inch. Alan

Hi folks I've got a week off and we've been discussing flight across to Broome. What's the deal there? Do you fly into Broome itself or is there a smaller strip or club nearby with no or lower landing fees and parking fees, without CTA? Cheers Alan

A few showers our way to freshen this up. But the only thing flying on my airstrip at the moment is my boys Frisbee.

So I was just planning a quick hop over to Kununurra -and decided the weather looked a bit dubious. So I decided to pass. 😂 Alan

Oh, and the roos love it, so if you're a 'bunny farmer' like me you might need to chase em away before landing...🤣 Cheers Alan

Hi Jackc I went exactly through the process you describe about three years ago when I established Robin Falls International. I had to clear thick woodlands to get my strip in, but the native grasses grew back thick as soon as the first rains fell. As soon as you remove the canopy the natives want to shoot up.... No idea want your patch is like but why not hang off for a few months to see what pops up? Slashing natives makes them look a lot like grass, and its the best permanent solution to avoid erosion. Introduced grasses might not survive. Cheers Alan

Please lend me your Sea Rey and arrange for my web feet endorsement Flyboy...I'll gladly accept your advice. Alan 🤣

Hi folks.... Thanks for information on the destination. But you seem to miss the point of my original question. Is it a destination you would choose to fly to? Is it the kind of place where you need a car on arrival to best appreciate it? If you fly in are you effectively stranded at the homestead? For example if you flew into my place and wanted to go check out the scenery, visit the swimholes and gorges you'd need transport. Yes you could overfly them but its not the same as swimming with the freshies... So I'd lend you an old ute. But I don't think Al Questro do that. Its a commercial enterprise. Cash only. So should we fly or take our car to best appreciate what the resort has to offer? Cheers Alan

Certainly a fine looking aircraft -the glass cockpit, reclining seats and aircon sound great! Its a four seater? Unfortunately, I'm not sure it would be much use operating out of my bush strip. But i can dream... Alan

Sorry dumb question -but what is that aircraft?

Hi folks. My wife wants to go to El Questro in the Kimberly. Anybody here been? Is it a good fly in destination with interesting local flights or is it better to drive and have a car locally? To put this in context we live about two and a half hours flight time door-to -door from Al Questro. A drive would take nearly two days. Any informed opinions appreciated Alan

Hi folks Yesterday I dropped into the CASA pre-wet season seminar in Darwin. I thought it was quite useful and instructive although not all of the four or five presentations were of equal quality. I believe it was filmed and will be posted on YT. It was my fourth year attending (prior to that I was overseas). The presentations had an industry focus and were aimed at new charter pilots experiencing their first wet rather than private flyers. Lots of pilots assembled and many had obviously come in from the scrub ( together with their operations). I didn't recognise a single other aircraft owner/operator attending. But what caught my attention was the ages of the young pilots. Maybe I'm getting old (I am!) but some looked very young indeed. Like REALLY young.... I noticed higher proportion of young female pilots than in previous years -which is very encouraging, but it was the extremely youthful appearance of some of their male counterparts that surprised me. How young can you hold a CPL? Assuming RPL at 17, PPL at 18 and a VET course leading to CPL could you be flying commercial at 20? Hope I'm not being politically incorrect or 'ageist' here: My old Dad overflew Germany in a Mosquito aged 20, but times change and the attendees yesterday genuinely surprised me. Cheers Alan

Interesting. Are drones operated by 'fighter pilots'? In my recollection teams launching drones didn't seem to include aviators. But not saying there weren't other controllers in other parts of the world who could assume control at different stages of flight and operations. I have no idea... Never asked. But I find it hard to believe 'targets are studied for months before a strike'. Maybe some were but many were targets of opportunity in fast evolving situations... Never drive a white Toyota Corolla 'erratically'. Apparently that's grounds for vaporisation. Nasty business Alan

Interesting. Are drones operated by 'fighter pilots'? In my recollection teams launching drones didn't seem to include aviators. But not saying there weren't other controllers in other parts of the world who could assume control at different stages of flight and operations. I have no idea... Never asked. But I find it hard to believe 'targets are studied for months before a strike'. Maybe some were but many were targets of opportunity in fast evolving situations... Never drive a white Toyota Corolla 'erratically'. Apparently that's grounds for vaporisation. Nasty business Alan

This pic is doing the rounds on the socials. My wife showed me. Apparently its meant to say 'Gary loves Doris' Alan