Riley

Provided that the resultant information is used to benefit/improve RAA's ongoing operations and does not just become cannon-fodder for more forums crappola, I'm up for the cost of access to one year's worth of financial info. For those members who are genuinely interested in getting RAA/AUF back on track now is the time put your hand in your pocket and buy Powerin some extra work. If a scenario of historical financial impropriety is indicated, it needs to be tabled at the Feb meeting. This mess ain't gonna self-cleanse. Tell me how and where to send the dosh Pow and yer on!

John PLEASE DON'T BE CALLING FOR MEMBERS TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD and I make no apologies for shouting! There are more than enough problems on our plate at present and unless you have a miracle up your sleeve, any talk of sacking the board at the Feb meeting can only serve to further hasten the demise of what we already have or hope to achieve. Your enthusiasm and input is very necessary, much appreciated and totally required (how great it would be if a majority of RAA members could share some of your fervour and interest about their future prospects) however, if a resolution to our current untenable situation is to be found, let it be a result of a clear and well planned course of action not simply "out with the old - in with the ......what?" A hell of a lot of calm, cool, calculated efforts by unsatisfied members at the Feb meeting hopefully will get us started on the road to recovery. Jumping into muddy waters without a recovery plan is not a plan. Let's not just win the battle - let's win the whole damn war. With respects

Perhaps a blessing in disguise. With his obvious talent and resourcefullness, he's now in a position to concentrate his abilities towards a more flyable project rather than chase-the-dragon attempting to 'civilize' his initial efforts. I fully expect him to survive the 'baptism by fire' and carry on to bigger & better things. That kind of personality doesn't give up easily. Go Solomon!

It's agreed that Solomon's little homebrew is a result of a lot more enthusiasm and inventiveness than technical prowess but ya gotta dip your lid to the lad for carrying a devotion thru to it's current state considering his youth, his lack of product experience, no funding, no serious industrial equipment/process access, etc etc etc. With much help from some of Rec Flying's forumites he achieved his RAA Pilot's Certificate recently and I have absolutely no doubt that we'll be hearing more of this young man's achievements as time goes on. Well done Solomon - you can taxi it down my street any old day and I'll walk the wings.

Rans S7???

Loved it Winsor! (in fact, just about spat my dentures into my coffee when I read it). "Sing like a canary. sxxt like a GM" should get us into the spotlight eh?

I'm with dodo. Correct me if I've got it wrong but F2F presumably will be screening the masses of applicants, shaking them down and ultimately recommending to RAA Board those few short-listed hopefuls for the Board's final selection?? At any rate, I'm very suppportive of this revised manner of filling positions in the organization 'cause, let's face it, previous methods in a number of cases haven't been overly productive. Good move Jim. There are a good lot of us miserable old complaining bastards out in the swamps who are waving your's and a few other Board members banners. Hang in for our sake. Despite our ongoing problems, I wish each and everyone on these forums all the very best for the festive season. The New Year has so much promise. Cheers Y'all.

Cripes Pud, you're gonna help me? (like I don't have enough psyche problems already)? New subject. I found those wing brackets at home. Give me a bell if Polly is still interested. cheers

Had an acquaintance from the motor racing scene who succumbed to too many inoperable brain tumors (he used to joke that it was unfair that that was the way he had to go considering his brainless history). At the crematoreum departure ceremony his mortal remains were decked out in nomex racing suit, gloves, bootees and hard hat on his chest. When the official adios' were completed and the subject matter was lowered thru the deck presumably enroute to the furnace, I recall wondering how much longer they would have to keep him on the BBQ to totally combust the flame retardent gear. The evil, wicked side of me still occasionally conjures up the image of the racing suit emerging intact from the furnace with a cupfull of ash somewhere inside. I know, I know, I should continue the counselling.

My score thus far over the past four weeks : - 3 emails to WA Board member listing my expectations and firm requirements for his and the Board's immediate actions..... 3 responses acknowledging my dis-satisfaction and wishes and advising that it was not in his plans to action them. Not what I wanted to hear but 3 marks for communication. - 1 email subsequently to the President copying one of my abv/noted emails and a fresh request that he retract his resignation retraction and go away quietly ... 1 response advising me that it was not his intent to carry out my requirement. Again, not what I wanted to hear but again a tick mark for communication on this one item - 2 emails to the Treasurer with not impolite but decidedly crusty requests for confirmation that the entire period for which I have paid annual rego for my aircraft that I'm unable to fly compliments of RAA (at $0.507/day) will be re-imbursed or credited towards next year's rego.... No acknowledgement that my request was received or logged. No reply with either an acceptance or refusal to my requirement... No reply advising that this area will be dealt with at a later date. Methinks ER's current score card won't get him in front of the selectors next time. Brings to mind that infamous quote of some years back "Can't bat - Can't bowl" Can't to do much of anything it seems. Roll on February!

Apologies Yenn, I missed your question a fortnight back. I reluctantly have (eg - am wanting to quit) a 1937, 15/6, dual cockpit, Riley Sports Special - there's photos of it in these Rec Flying Aviation classifieds last Sept. I've been advertising to buy an early ( 1946/49) round-instrumented, 1/2 litre RMA sedan for a Riley Club three-month tour around OZ (Bris, Syd, Mel, Adl, Darwin, Per.) next winter but have had no success to date. May have to end up doing the run in the VW Kombi but will then have to park around the corner from the rest of the Rileys. There's been at least 1 & sometimes up to 3 Rileys of various models & vintage in my shed at all times for over 34 years. Ya think a fellow would learn eh...? cheers

Thanks to all for the refuelling hints and pointers (I particularily like Greg's pressure plan) but I'm curious re the basis of concerns for static-generated fire risks if said risks are catered for. Most certainly the possibilty of static discharge is ever present however, my operational procedure when refuelling from a jerry can (metal or plastic) by using lengths of ss bath plug chains and alligator clips for inter-connnection is: (a) aircraft fuselage earthed to proper grounding point; (b) funnel earthed to fuselage; © jerry can earthed to funnel prior to any fuel being poured/siphoned. Ergo - any static electricity is expected to discharge straight to ground if and when generated. So.. somebody please advise if I've been luckily living in a fool's paradise, (otherwise I'm gonna plagiarize and play with Greg's hook-up). Standing by. cheers

FT, I reckon you're stirring just for the sake of stirring. It serves no purpose at this time to pile more crap on the few of our junior board members that have attempted to show an honest committment and intent to bring RAA/AUF back to something similar to what it once was and I take umbrage with your cheap shot at the WA Board rep. A bit of history - a couple of years back, because I was repeatedly unsuccessful in getting meaningful answers about how I and the rest of WA members were being represented in Canberra from a former board member, I asked Gavin if he would stand at the next election. With his agreement, I nominated him and I like to think that it was my vote that got him on the Board (he romped home with a margin of one). This guy ain't the answer to a maiden's prayers but he is (or has been until lately) very, very sincere in his attempts to bring some sense into that dysfunctional assembly we call a 'Board'. He & I continually agree to disagree on a number of subjects (for example - Runciman's resignation/retraction) however, I sincerely hope that he doesn't get a guts-full and either walk or not stand for WA State rep at the next election. Conversely, I am 100% supportive of David I, Andy and the rest of the 'malcontents' in our attempts at the Feb meeting to get things back on track but.... let's not chuck the baby out with the bathwater. I'm just as pissed off as everyone else (perhaps more so because my new aircraft has been on the ground for over a month now compliments of the current board's inability to produce the necessaries) but I don't see that there's any positive gain in taking pot shots at anybody or anything that moves on the other side. I openly state that I want to see some of the component of the current board replaced however, to alienate and/or dismiss the lot isn't a sensible opening move. Carry on with your non-specific comments and there's a very good probability that those who do eventually get retired unwillingly may well be preceeded by those few potentially good ones who have walked because of the condemnation resultant from the inability to immediately satisfy every single want or requirement of both the statuatory bodies and 13500 disgruntled members. Suggest you be guided by Teddy Roosevelt's quote - "Speak softly and carry a big stick!" cheers

A bit of patience gentlemen. There are pending revelations from that little ole WA country boy that will ring around the aviation world. Thou shalt be in absolute awe, I promise.

I reckon either fuel is getting heavier or I'm getting more rickety as time passes because refuelling my hi wings is becoming a bloody chore. Climbing on step ladders, milk crates, plastic lawn chairs etc with a 20 lt container at head height and then slopping some fuel into the tank and a good measure of it onto the wing is becoming about as attractive as seeing my ex wife at a charity function giving away my ex money. So.... can anyone give me a critique on the Goat Throat GT 100 Pressure Pump as sold by Aircraft Spruce/Skyshop? I'm not enough of a gambler to throw about $175 at a plastic question mark without some advice/encouragement from someone who's been down that road. Can anybody who has used them advise if they are reasonably effective for transferring fuel from a 20 litre jerry can on the ground to a wing fuel tank about 2 meters higher without a whole lot of pumping and poncing around? Speedy assessments would be appropriate please as I'm needing to buy myself a Xmas present. Any other procedures that are old man friendly would also be most acceptable. Cheers

As we all know, an unrestricted RAA level 2 is permitted to perform work and sign off on any aircraft registered in the RAA system without holding a type-specific endorsement. In the early days L2 certs were awarded based on an applicant's general airframe/engine knowledge/experience plus an AUF requirement for technical authority in an un-represented locality - certifications weren't handed out just because someone fancied a title. This scenario does have the potential for a 'lower-than-required' standard of service/repair to occur however, my experience over 12 years of AUF/RAA involvement is that 'bad' or shonky' L2s (and thankfully I'm aware of very few) have been quickly identified for their lack of worth within the rec flying community and accordingly didn't/don't get much of a look in. All that said, I guess it comes down to establishing a trust with your Level 2 that he knows what he doesn't know and therefore, will refrain from getting involved in an operation that he isn't confident with. Works for me. cheers

Welcome to the forum Westy. Considering you're just up the line at Dongara, why not fuel up the little Jab and chuff on down south to Bindoon some weekend for an overnight stop? We'd feed ya & fluid ya and flop ya and even fix up some fuel for you to get back home. Looking forward to meeting you in the future. cheers y'all

So you're telling me I'm wrong?? OMG, what to do now?? Mayans, Nostradamus, Help!

Bloody ripper!

Attached is but one of my feeble attempts to extract a response (any bloody response) from our illustrious relevant Board member. Despite the fact that, if successful I'd be shooting myself (and the rest of the members) in the foot, whaddaya reckon my chances are? I'm getting more & more pissed off by the minute which isn't a good look because pissed off people traditionally make irrational decisions.

Perhaps that dysfunctional portion of the Board should go on a loooooong, loooooong holiday (at least long enough to facilitate others to repair the damage that accumulated during their tenureship)!

I reckon that it's more productive to eradicate weeds, fix the fences and spread some super on a tired paddock than it is to walk off the farm and go back to the bush to clear and break new land. The ever-increasing upsurge of member awareness and involvement in forcing the changes required to get RAA back on track has the potential to give us (thru worthy area reps) far more participation in the controlling of our sport than we have ever held. To side-track or devote the talent & efforts of the 'marvelous malcontents' (David I, Andy, Cap'n Rat, Nev, Turbs and the rest) in a parallel movement at this time has an identifiable down-side in that the current non-productive portion of the Board would be handed a get-out-of-jail-free card while continuing to retain the brief fm Casa to oversee/overlook our future freedoms. I suggest that any and all immediate efforts by we concerned members would be best exerted towards planning and achieving a meaningful agreement (ultimatum if necessary) with that part of the Board at the Feb meeting that convinces the proletariat of their ability and intention to serve the movement as it should be. RAA is bruised, it's bent, it's a bit broken but it ain't totally buggered and it can be fixed once we get some good people in place to change the Board ideology that's evolved over the past decade. So I gotta give a New Movement the 'thumbs down' but I congratulate, laud and give a 'Thumbs Up" to every one who is participating in forcing a more responsible 'New RAA' management style.

Your choice of wording "expect/demand" is interesting in that my emails to both my area board representative and the president last week seeking the president's consumation of his resignation contained the nearly same phrase ("expect/require"). Needless to say, I got hand-balled by both (but they both did respond). In the meantime, no matter who does what in RAA Canberra or how hard they do it, my aircraft still sits on the ground despite that I have done everything that I was required to by the RAA. Not happy Jan.

Onya FT. Would that all Eastern States'ers and Kiwis shared your opinion. Most real Sand Gropers reckon the authorities should never have fixed the road across the Nullarbor Plain which might have kept most of the nancy Eastern States oddities (like it's widely known that Victorians hate even their immediate family; Taswegians have only one eyebrow; Queenslanders drag their knuckles when they walk & New South Welshmen - well, what can I say??) on the other side of the rabbit proof fence. West Ozzies cherish their geographical distinction from the remaining small part of this nation and obviously the winds make us better (bruised?) pilots. Any aspersions cast at paradise could spark a decision to secede from the rest of you common lot whereby you'll have to dig holes in your own backyard to get rich and famous. Be careful, be very, very careful and tread lightly , nay - REPENT! for Prince Leonard of Hutt River Principality has shown us the way! (all said in jest - I have nothing better to do as my aircraft is grounded until further notice by some Eastern States blighters) cheers Riley

BHT you have a PM.