denmit

G'day John - ahhh, the primer wars - they never end. I understand that aloding is a great base for subsequent priming, and the combination offers very good corrosion resistance, but the stuff is toxic. I decided, given my inland location, that the aeroplane will outlast me with just careful prep (creating a good key and thoroughly cleaning with Stewart's Ecoclean) and the Stewart Systems primer/sealer.

If I was living on the coast I might have taken a different view.

Cheers, Mitch

Not yet flying John, working on the fuse at the moment - work and family takes a toll on building time.

I'm waiting until we can order Skyview for avionics. I thought about doing it all myself like Crashley did - which is a beautiful job - but decided on the easy way, given other time commitments.

Cheers, Mitch

G'day Jon, most (including me) are priming mating surfaces only. I used rattle cans on the empennage and tailcone, but moved to the Stewart primer/sealer for the wings. I will also do the finish coats using the Stewart system (red - already sitting on my shelf). Don't yet know about the finish coat application ease and finish, but the primer/sealer sprayed on beautifully with a touch-up gun bought cheap from GasWeld, and I'm a first time user of spray guns.

Good luck with your building, it can be tricky in some areas but there is plenty of help out there.

Cheers, Mitch

As many know, I'm building an RV-12. Empennage, tail cone, wings and flaperons are complete and I've just started on the forward fuse. During the wing build I went to install the Vans supplied Aeroled strobe/nav light combos, but discovered that one lousy little allen keyed set screw about 2mm X 10mm, which holds the Aeroled unit to its mounting frame, was missing from the lighting kit. Don't you hate it when you can't say that the job is done for the want of little set screw. And its specialist nature meant that I couldn't just drop into Bunnings or Blackwoods aerospace outlets and pick one up.

Three emails to Vans asking them to send me one finally elicited a response along the lines of "we just buy 'em as a kit and ship 'em out complete" which is aeronautical code for "your problem".

So I got on to the Australian Aeroled agent, David Nashed at Pure Vision Aviation, but he didn't have any lying around either, as he only bought in complete kits too. But what he did do was add a few mounting set screws to his next order to Aeroleds. They duly arrived and David posted them out to me express mail. He wouldn't take any money from me, not even for postage. His helpful service and willingness to solve my problem (sadly lacking from Vans) is a credit to the companies he represents and to his own company.

So its 3 thumbs up from me for David's service, and NOW I can say, that wing is finished.

Dennis Mitchell

RV-12 #120398

Me too Eightyknots, half the price of the Vans FWF Rotax package for my RV-12, more power (you can never have too much), EFI, etc. However, it is a bit heavier and as yet the ancillaries are unproven. I do like the fact that the PSRU runs in its own gear oil bath, not engine oil. I will be buying my engine for the 12 early in 2012, so I hope there are plenty of Vikings flying by then to provide some real world experience on longevity and reliability, in which case I will seriously consider it. I note that Jan's factory testbed aircraft now has over 300 hours up without problems (reported problems anyway).

One downside for me is that it would preclude me from controlled airspace, which will be difficult for operations if we don't get our second airfield for Canberra up - though that is progressing well now.

Very entertaining, thanks Thruster

Thanks for pointing that out Don. We'll get on to it.

Cheers,

Dennis Mitchell

From the Canberra Region Aviators' Association (CRAA):

Dennis Mitchell and Michael Monck (Treasurer and Vice-President respectively of CRAA) met with a team from the ACT Government on Tuesday 9 August to discuss the Canberra secondary airfield proposal and its progress. Given the recent changes in the ACT government and associated cabinet shuffles, the people in attendance were new to the project, however, we feel that this is a positive change in the sense that we now have departments who are about project delivery getting involved and showing interest. Present at the meeting were senior representatives from the Chief Ministers Office, Andrew Barr's Office (as Minister for Economic Development) and the Executive Director of Major Projects.

The discussion covered off on topics including the environmental impact studies done in the area, economic feasibility work undertaken by Access Economics, the planning and development work already undertaken by CRAA and previous studies surrounding the operational feasibility of the airfield (topography, runway siting, prevailing winds, surrounding terrain, flight path options, circuit direction, etc). The reception to our work was positive and a keen interest was shown in the community aspects of the airfield as well as the training, maintenance and other employment opportunities associated with aviation in the Capital region

The Government parties present at the meeting committed to providing feedback on our proposal within a 2 - 4 week time frame which is consistent with making a cabinet submission for a budget allocation by the end of the calendar year. If the outcome of this is positive (and we have no reason to expect otherwise) we should be able to receive funding in the next budget to be handed down in May of 2012. While this is longer than we would all like, it is a good move forward towards a positive outcome for aviation in the region.

Also, see this post on the RV-12 Forums at VAF if you are also seeing fluctuations on other engine readings as well.

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=56156

I understand that Rotax OP fluctuations are an irritant for many using digital instruments. US based Rotax operators are installing a restrictor between the oil pressure take off and the sender unit which smooths out the fluctuations.

And that folks, is why I'm building an aeroplane and we will become grey nomads - only from the air.

Thanks Louise, what a great story.

Dennis M

RV-12 #120398

tail feathers, fuse cone and wings complete

working on fuse centre

Thanks J170 Owner, nice video reminding us of why we fly. I noticed you needed to be quite active on the stick, even in the short cruise portion. Is that a factor of the Jab's stability, or lack of??

Sent a PM to Bubbleboy - thanks OME.

I need a Molex/AMP type crimper. Plenty available on eBay USA but would prefer local supplier. Ian, is it something you carry or can get?

I would like the option of an external antenna to mount up on the glare shield to get the best view of the sky, but with those features and at that price point, you will sell truck loads Ian - including one to me.

I would have bought it from you Ian had I known you stocked it. I am very happy to return the support this site offers. Next time I'll ask you.

Thanks rgmwa and OME. Got it through Skyshop. I appreciate you help.

Anyone know a local supplier of Torque Seal?

If you're the Jake J ex-Canberra, I would certainly attend such a Natfly forum, Jake. I well remember the beautiful work you did when you worked from YSCB, including on your own Experimental.

The Sonex equates more naturally with the Vans RV-12, using pulled rivets and Rotax powered, though the 12 has a much roomier cockpit. I put the Sonex in the "around the patch" aeroplane category, while the RV-12 is a genuine touring aeroplane. BTW, there was a beautifully built and finished Waiex (vee tailed Sonex) at Natfly, complete with countersunk pulled rivets and highly polished. A credit to the builder.

Mick Monck (Airsick on this forum) is selling his Canberra based Virus SW for a very good price. 3 syndicate members @ $25K each would buy it and still have some working capital in the maintenance budget.

For info, empennage and tail cone complete, left wing framed up, stall warning installed and all cabling including nav/strobe lights done (including an extra 18# tefzil wire for separating the nav and strobes light circuits). Waiting on TC inspection before I skin it. Forward Fuselage and Finish kits ship from Vans on 12th May (so they say anyway).

It does go together well.

DM

You're most welcome Dazza - that's what these forums are about. I also found the NZ agent (Rollinson Engineering trading as Hunter Hills Aviation) efficient and helpful with technical stuff like the quantities needed and nozzle sizes, etc.

I'm using the full Stewart Systems for my RV-12. So far I've used the cleaner, acid etch and the primer/sealer. It all works as claimed and the primer sprayed on beautifully - and I'm a novice spray painter. And I can do it at home in my plastic sheeted "spray booth" as its all water based - no nasties to breath in or get into the environment.

Good stuff . . .

G'day again all - I'm not advocating or recommending - just passing on what I chanced upon on VAF forums.

It is true that Jab engines continue to have reliability reputational challenges (if I can spin it that way) and the shorter TBO is certainly an issue too. I'm building AB(E) and will register VH so the MTOW is not an issue for me. I do wonder though, given the preponderance of Jabirus in the training and recreational fleet, if the actual reliability data (as opposed to opinion) bear out the checkered reputation.