DGL Fox

Yes it would be fast because it is tandem seating, if you can make the aircraft very slim in profile so it should go fast, although they are saying it has a cruise of 140kts which isn't that fast when you consider the seating arrangements and the general size of the plane and it's weight. I think if we are comparing speeds we should stay with the conventional side by side seating configuration like the majority of LSA aircraft are here in Australia. I think they have gone bust anyway as I can't seem to find a website anyway. David

Skippydiesel..Yes I should have said one of the fastest LSA's.. David

Well done on your solo...which school do you train with out there? David

I think the Carbon Sting would be the fastest LSA registered RA-Aus aircraft...I flew in one when I was looking for something to buy and it was a genuinely fast plane, 2 up and we were cruising at 130knts, it had 100hp Rotax and variable speed prop that wasn't really working...very fast... I have attached a photo of the ASI that day... David

Hi Mike, Yes we are getting ready for Old Station as well...we are going to fly up on the Friday...weather permitting of course....looking forward to it can't wait... David

Hi Brent, Peter can record you a track of your circuits with a moving plane that follows it around each circuit, ask him next time...it shows your speeds and the shape of each circuit...it's quite good.. David

Yes very nice but in UHD you need a fast internet connection to keep in front of the video.... David

Well done Brent, yes this will be exciting for you to start your landing training...going well mate.. David

Hi Robbo, I see there are BAK test exams, could you give me a link for them please, thanks. David

Mike a hard week eh...39.7 hrs...you need another holiday mate.. Tell me, do the public have to pay for flights there or do the villagers have some sort of government subsidy, I would have thought that a lot of the people there would not have the money to fly. David

I am getting the ASI, Altimeter and transponder calibrated tomorrow, one of the instructors was flying my SportStar and he got Brisbane Centre to check his height and they reported that he was at 2800ft and the aircrafts altimeter was reading 2500ft, hence we are getting them all checked tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see how they all read, I have always felt the ASI was reading slow but that may be just me wanting to go faster...I guess I will find out tomorrow.. David

It sounds like both were experienced pilots and with a relatively late model LSA plane and possibly with the latest 912 injected engine...yes I hope that we can find out the cause of this one and the results made public, was it airframe, engine, human factors, out of all the accidents where an LSA has been involved this is one where we really do need to find out the answer...terrible accident...condolences to the families and friends... David

So Mike when are you going to make Captain? David

Ok thanks Mike for letting me know, I will keep looking... David

Fantastic Mike, lets hope it is the right one, thanks mate. David Very difficult Geoff as the canopy has a curve in it and the little flap I am looking for has rebated edges and a very slight curve, I just wouldn't have the tools for make it and after talking to Garry Morgan this afternoon and listening to what he had to do to make his I think it would be to much for me to make... David

Yes thanks Mike, Just called a guy called Joe, he has them but he won't separate the small flap from the whole window vent unfortunately although I can understand that, he wants $500 for the whole thing but I don't need the whole window vent, I also talked to Garry Morgan but he makes his own so no good there, anyway I will keep looking. David

Yes OzJohn I was going to glue the flap back in permanently but when it broke off again it must fell off to the outside and never to been seen again so I really don't even have the flap to glue back in sorry to say.... David

Hi Mike, Yes they are weakness, although the pilots side is ok but the passenger side was broken and then I repaired it and now broken again...guess who the heavy handed person that sits in that seat???? I have told him...please side the window open first before attempting to open the flap...now you think the ha hum.. instructor would realize you need to do this first...now not pointing the finger mind you but hey...if I can find one and I replace it I am going to fit a warning sticker above the sliding window so then there are no excuses..."OPEN THE BLOODY WINDOW FIRST BEFORE OPENING THE FLAP VENT" The cheapest genuine one I have found is for around $240 just for the little flap....must be made of gold Mike... I will keep you informed if I find anything cheaper.... David

Thanks I will have a look.. David

Robbo yes that thought crossed my mind, I have the pilot side one I could use as a template but I don't know any company here that I could contact? I wonder about the price to run a one off... David

Thanks Nobody, I had a close look at the picture, it looks very similar but I don't think it is that same, it seems to have a through bolt where mine has 2 small screws 1 top and 1 bottom and yes they are expensive that's for sure, I really don't understand why ??? David

The small vent flap on the passenger side of the canopy (tinted not clear) has broken and I am finding it very difficult to find one at a reasonable price, would anyone have any ideas where I could get one from apart from Europe, maybe someone building an aircraft has one left over or someone is wrecking a SportStar, any help here would be appreciated. David

Well Bex I hope you can get it up and running in 6 months, I don't know what you are building Bex but I would like to see a factory version of an LSA so it could be RAA registered here as a 24 and be used for training. Yesterday we were doing a 100hr service on the Sportstar and with all the cowls off I look at the Rotax 912 and I still can't see 25k approx in this engine and then you look at the overall aircraft and I can't see $100k plus when new to buy a Sportstar or really any other LSA for that matter.. We were just talking about this the other day as to why someone couldn't come up with a much simpler and cheaper way to build a LSA and an engine so it was reliable in both the engine and airframe.. So good luck you Bex I for one will be looking with interest at what you come up with .. David

The guy that owns that plane has had it for many years I believe and it was his pride and joy, I will add that I don't think he was flying it at the time....he would be heart broken I think to see it like that...I hope he can restore it to it previous condition. David

I tried to find this and I found them on Facebook but I don't see the photo, they could have taken it down, maybe you have a link, thanks