skeptic36

Hi all,

The following is a message posted on a Yahoo group list.

(I hope the bloke doesn't mind me shifting it over here.):

Hi all, I'm not a very regular contributor (or communicator) but I thought some might be interested in an update from an Aussie flying in Africa.

I have arrived here in Zambia to resume flying at Batoka Sky, which conducts scenic flights above Victoria Falls and nearby national parks of the Zambezi river system, along with flight instruction It's good to be back again, I did 2 years from 06 till late in 07, and first flew here in 1995 just 2 years after the company first started doing flights here.

After the usual delays in validating my Australian license and getting the work permit I'm back flying the French DTA and Aero Cobra / 912 Trikes and again "working" daily above the biggest waterfall in the world, (volume).We also do game viewing flights and some film work which involves formation flying , mainly for documentary film makers from all over the globe.

When above the Falls we operate in controlled airspace in a special area, which straddles the Zimbabwe/ Zambian border,(the Zambezi River),from 1500'AGL up to 2500', and is 2NM in Dia, With just 200 feet vertical separation between 5 levels of rotary and various fixed wing aircraft , it can be a very busy piece of airspace, as we arrange our own separation, it takes some time to develop a mental map of each aircraft in the area, by either call sign or voice, and the pattern that each is holding to enable you to make the correct decent when a lower craft vacates ,(you soon get the hint to descend when a Eurocopter closes to within 100 feet above).

We also take photographs of the aircraft/pax and scenery from digital wing mounted camera, the images are burnt to CD upon landing.

There are 3 other air operators permitted within the special area, running fixed wing and rotary, our company operates 3 choppers as well as the 4 mocrolights, from a dirt strip just 2 miles from the Falls.

We are not yet near the peak tourist season but even now we are doing over 50 hours each per month, busy days are quiet tiring after 12 or so 15 or 30 minute flights in the morning and another 8 in the late afternoon, 3 trikes work on a busy day., and with the predominant winds coming from the North East our main runway (11) gives us good cross wind experience, compounded by turbulence from the high forest on 2 sides of the aerodrome, sometimes we cancel flights if the windsock goes stiff or if it is gusting well above horizontal, or when an isolated storm cell is closing in, the study of local micro meteorology is very important here.

Other challenges come when Elephants decide to cross the runway (or linger as they are prone to do), our brave ground crew have to try to usher them along as we orbit above waiting to land, much to the wonder of our pax, baboons are a problem also, they squat on the runway to dig up roots and are oblivious to the dangers. Anyway that's a rough guide to this microlight activity in Zambia, will mail again through the year.

Regards John Henshall.

A bit too much pressure for me I think ;).

Regards Bill

• If starting a glide approach - (pulling off the revs when before turning base) it is going to be a while before you land, so icing is a concern. In PFLs I think I probably add power between 1-3 times in that period. I think the plan that crash landed near Camden a few months back was practicing PFLs and did use carby heat or cycle the throttle - so when he needed power it wasn't there. I know I want power available immediately on finals just to counter drafts, unexpected events and be ready to go-around.
   
   
  

 

 

I don't know a lot about this sort of thing:confused:, but I thought carb ice would be more likely to form with power on due to more vacuum in the throttle body.

 

Am I wrong about this ?

 

Regards Bill

Perhaps an un-intended but very welcome 'heads up' from Bill's post is that it points out the downside of wearing flying apparel made of synthetic fabrics. If momentary contact with a hot exhaust component can melt it, one has to think about how quick that same flying suit (and it's occupant) would combust if accelerated by spilled fuel and open flame in an accident. .

Does anyone know what the Hi-Vis freezer suits a lot of people are wearing are made from?

Does anybody have a brand name/link for flame retardent types?

Regards Bill

;)hi all my name is john i got my ticket 2years back with P.W at tumut have now clocked 100 hrs of pure enjoyment i fly a redback trike with 3 other local guys found this site and addicted no1 on my first landing stop hoping to pick up lots of good info regards to all and safe flying JOHN.:thumb_up:

Hi John,

It's good to have another trike-aholic on board.

Do you part own the Redback with the other three or did you mean there are four trikes at Munjal Grenfell ?

If you log on here regularly you will learn heaps as a matter of course :thumb_up:

Regards Bill

It's a Brolga, and I have just read the care page that came with it and it says it is O.K to clean and degrease with "MEK or similar solvent"

Thanks for your advice gentlemen :thumb_up:

Regards Bill

The 582 Drifter left a black greasy resudue on the prop blades...normal...I used to just clean it off with a fuel soaked rag when it got a bit heavy. Previous owner probabily cleaned it off. It should be right in line with the exhaust outlet.......

Regards Bill

Is it a oily residue? not just moisturized dirt, which I've noticed can sometimes happen in moist conditions...

Moist conditions - never happens down here in Eastern Victoria, if you QLD people could spare us a bit.......:thumb_up:

Regards Bill

Hi all,

I wanted to post this in other trikes and weightshift but that forum seems to have gone away.

When I bought my trike it came with two flying suits, I noticed one had a burn mark on the left sleeve (not that I noticed its location).

Saturday I took my daughter flying which is still a fairly new experience for both of us, this time she bought the camera. Talk about snap happy, snap here, snap there, all good fun :thumb_up: .

When we returned there was a much larger burn hole in the sleeve of her flying suit and a small one in her jumper . On close inspection the other suit has a small mark on the left sleeve from a close encounter with something hot.

It seems that it is quite easy to accidentally rub your arm on the exhaust when turning sideways to get that perfect shot.

Something to be aware of in a 582 equipped Pegasus

Regards Bill

Hi all,

I have a trike powered by a grey head 582. I bought it with 320 hrs on it and it now has about 345 hrs.

As part of my pre flight I run my finger over the leading edge of the prop blades checking for stone damage, never had a problem. Last time my finger came away covered in black grease. :ah_oh:

I recently had a small oil leak from the return line for the rotary valve lubricator but if that had been the cause I think the greasy substance would have been more like clean oil than black goo.

I am thinking it must be from the exhaust but I am wondering why it has never shown up before ?

Does it take awhile ?

Is it a sign of something wrong with the mixture ?

I burn premium petrol pre mixed at 50:1 with Penrite TS40C.

Did the previous owner wash it down with something ?

What did the previous owner wash it with ? :confused:

Thanks in advance

Regards Bill

The mountain moved in Olinda!H

I think the kids toys need to be sold off and with the money you could treat yourself to a new fly toy.

I wonder if these will "take off" if you'll pardon the pun

Projects

Regards Bill

Yep that is (dis) assembled allright.

The seat cushion looks like a 2 seater in the pic is that right? I thought it was only a single.

Thanks for the show and tell and please keep us posted on how it's going, it will be interesting :thumb_up:

Regards Bill

Salt Water

Hi Ian,

I have been interested in the amphib's for a while now, because we have a lot of suitable water around here (Gippsland Lakes) but I don't think I could buy a new one or strap a set of floats on a 60k Airborne then go and splash down in the salt water with it.

Maybe an older one nobody loved anymore would be suitable for a short aquatic life prior to retirement.

Welcome

Welcome Kiwilad,

Good to have another addition to the Trike fraternity around here :thumb_up:

I have recently completed my training at Bright in Victoria (a great place to fly).

I have 24hrs under my belt now and on Thursday I did my passsenger endorsement.

Yesterday evening I took my wife and 2 kids flying for a half hour each and they loved it. :big_grin:

What make of trike will you be flying while you are training?

Regards Bill

I can't think for one second why I would pay $60K to play piggy back in a trike!!!

WOO-HOO,

I've been over to Porpunka today to do my passenger endorsement.

I think I might spend the weekend piggybacking my wife around in the trike ;)

Regards Bill

Hi all,

I need suggestions for a suitable punishment for my children ! :hittinghead:

This morning Alf Jessup landed his Airborne XT912 at my place, while there my kids rode past on their horses and gave it a good look over. After Alf took off the kids came back, unable to hide the awe in thier voices saying "wow his is nice" and then with unbridled disgust "yeah it makes yours look a bit scummy dad"

Now does this look 'scummy' to you?

Hi all,

Something I have been vaguely interested in for a while is the difference in flying a trike compared to a 3 axis aircraft.

I have 23 hrs in a trike and zip in 3 axis, I enjoy the trike, it is simple to fly, in good conditions you can take your hands off to take a pic or just relax and the thing just flys itself. It can be a little uncomfortable in rough air, but as I do it for fun I mostly leave it in the hangar when it is too bad.

The perception I have of three axis (based on discussion here as that is the only experience I have) is that you have to be driving a 3 axis all the time, knowing the aircrafts position compared to the horizon, making sure the angle is right for landing so the weight is distributed on the undercarriage correctly etc. (I could be barking up the wrong tree, I'm sure some of you will let me know:big_grin:)

There are the performance capabilities of the inclosed cockpit types which would be good if you want to be somewhere else, but I kinda like being out there with the birds and while the kids are still home :thumb_up:there isn't much opportunity for 2 people to be going too far away

Regards Bill

Incidently there is a 912 microlight with streak wing in the RAA mag for $58000 (save $10000).....I think the 912 SuperDrifter around $40,000 looks value....certianly more delightful to fly.... Trouble is making the decision to get serious and sell....might give it to the grandkids !

Cheers

JL

Hi JL

I've never flown a 3 axis of any sort and I'm very happy in my weight shift, I'm wondering what aspects of flight in a Drifter make it more delightful to fly ?

Regards Bill

Anyone heard anything about this?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/04/2482262.htm?site=gippsland

Wise words of wisdom Hey!

Just wait till your married

I'm not sure what the limiting factor is for VNE on the Jab.

My J400 seems happy at or over VNE

 

Um what does VNE stand for exactly ?

Hi Tim

The HGFA also have schools, here is the link for those:

HGFA - Hang Gliding Federation of Australia

Regards Bill

Hi all,

Like Tomo I got a Lap-Top with all the wireless stuff so I won't get into trouble for spending too much time in the office checking the 'new posts' on Rec Flying :thumb_up:

After spending half an hour trying to set up the wireless router, getting error message after error message:angry: I rang the help line where the recorded message chick told me this is gonna cost ya 40 bucks I spent another half an hour with the heavilly accented tech (I could understand 2 out of every 3 words) before he decided it was a dud and I should take it back and get a replacement.

Now if that has cost me 40 of my hard earned then yeah thats right

Anyways that seems to be my lot in life, if anyone is gonna have a problem with a brand new purchase it's gonna be me. I saw a little polystyrene rc plane on utube, they looked really good so tried to buy a couple for the kids for Xmas but the place was in the U.S and they wouldn't send them to OZ so no probs I find the same thing on E-bay, but they can't be any good for 99 cents plus $25 postage so I just buy 1 to check if it's any good or not before I waste more money ( how careful is that ) it arrived, I had a lot of fun with it for half an hour, deemed it to be O.K put it back in the box, ordered another, then Xmas day the new one works great the tried and proven one is dead

Oh well had a great Christmas, milked the cows a couple of times ate too much and now my thoughts have moved on from computer frustration to when my next opportunity will present to pencil in a few more hours in my log book.

Lifes good aint it.

*A koala was sitting in a gum tree...... smoking a joint when a little lizard walked past, looked up and said:

'Hey Koala! What are you doing?'

The koala said, 'Smoking a joint, come up and have some.' So the little lizard climbed up and sat next to the koala where they enjoyed a few joints.

After a while the little lizard said that his mouth was 'dry' and that he was going to get a drink from the river. The little lizard was so stoned that he leaned too far over and fell into the river.

A crocodile saw this and swam over to the little lizard and helped him to the side. Then he asked the little lizard,

'What's the matter with you?'

The little lizard explained to the crocodile that he

was sitting smoking a joint with the koala in the tree got too stoned and then fell into the river while taking a drink.The crocodile said that he had to check this out and walked

into the rain forest, found the tree where the koala was

sitting finishing a joint. The crocodile looked up and said,

'Hey you!'

So the koala looked down at him and said, 'Sheeeeet, duuuuuude..... How much water did you drink?!!'