Riley

Was this the J230 hangared at Narambeen till recently?

I think perhaps, the long-laboured-on veracity of the statements uttered by the vendor of the trike brings a 'not-relevant-to-the-accident' content to the coroner's report. Ultimately she decreed that the bodgy history (known to the purchaser) had no bearing on the final unfortunate result.

Looks good BD. Will modify my home-brew logbook to something very similar when it runs out. cheers

Just re-read your original post and woke up to the fact that you specified 8mm and have to confess that my dinky little nut plates are too small to fill the gap (but so far the wife hasn't noticed).

A A very interesting read. thanks

I have an abundance od small dia (6-32, 8-32, & I think, 10-32) nut plates but all located up at the hangar so I can only confirm specs after the w/end. Depending on quantity required, they'd be available for cost of postage. cheers

I, like many others , damn sure didn't demand it. Apart from letters to the editor, most of the content is of little interest or information to the original membership of AUF/low & slow. Blurbs about the latest plastic fantastics at ca$125K, and self-promos about how good things are going in Fyshwick is not justification for the magazine expenditure. How many paid advertisers have opted out over the past year? As my crude brother-in-law would say "it's a boil on our ar..se". Ask me how I feel...... Riley

Pity about your better half spending the holiday period in hospital but then, at least she'll be out in a week or so. There are plenty of unfortunates in hospital who won't ever get home for another Xmas. No worries about drinking & flying. I'll have my usual daily libation at 'beer o'clock' at home but flying is not on the menu as the local country shire pulls a 'paddock & machinery ban' every year on Xmas day, boxing day and new year's day to give the local volunteer bushfire boys some small hopes of an un-interupted time with family. Obviously it doesn't always work. Enjoy your pork roast, sausage rolls and the mate's beer. cheers

So, it's been some weeks since your last progress report ...... what's happening? Being in the throes of bringing a Gemini back to life, I've been following your rebuild saga with great interest. Updates welcome.

Gawd, you're a lot deeper thinker than me. It was a simple (tho perhaps miss-placed) attempt at levity. Lighten up boy.

At a fly-in when discussing a fellow aviator I had a very close Chinese friend say to me "I can't remember his name 'cause all you white men look the same". It cracked me up.

Despite it's appearance, it's not a floating hull Kaz. The other float is counterbalanced on the port wingtip out of range of the camera which really makes it odd!

deleted...Mod

PS Should have stated what it cost me ....... "Nada".

Smaller 6-ring binder (150 X 190), dated 1965/6, covering all models of single & twin Beechcraft. Very good clean condition. Will sell to interested party for what it cost me. Contact here or PM me. cheers

I have surplus to my known requirements the following original technical books issued by DH A/C Co in Sydney during the early thirties; - Manual of Instruction for DH Dragon (type 84A). (dwgs dated 1932) - Care & Maintenance for 130HP Gypsy Major Aero Engine. (dwgs dated 1933) Both books are in complete excellent original order with no torn edges or greasy thumb prints. I'd be interested if anyone could give me an idea of collector's value and ultimately, suggest a proper recipient if donated to a preservation society. cheers

If anyone out there has a dynamic or passive interest in The Hovey 'Wing Ding' (not you Flyerme as this package is the same as what I sent to you with the aircraft), I have an original and complete build manual and construction dwgs (ca 1971) for the aircraft available for give away. Give me a holler if interested.

Tell us more. I'm drooling!

Getting a bit jaded with jamming occasional passengers into the rear seat with only peripheral views and/or the back of my grey head, today I securely fixed 70kg of lead ballast on the front seat of the Champ ('Solo from front seat only'), refuelled to 1/2 capacity in scuttle tank with wing tanks dry, and did an hour of bunny hops and circuits driving from the rear seat. It's a toss up which were less impressive - my departures or my arrivals but I neither scared myself nor bent anything so I will perservere. With full control in both positions, the business end of the snub-nosed little Champ still looked awfully far away when viewed from the rear seat economy section. I'll leave the ballast in situ till I either achieve acceptability or end up in my first ground loop. All good fun at a privately-owned quiet country strip. cheers

Thanks for the input BoleroP. Am attempting to identify/locate missing/replacement parts with ball-park pricing on items that I can see will be needed if I can persuade a Club member to take on restoration of a Maxair Drifter that was donated to the SLAC(WA) a couple of weeks back as I hate to see it get parted out. It's premature to twist anyone's arm until I can give them an indication of what they would be facing as regards outlay of dosh. Once I get a sensible (??) reply fm RAA as to it's history and status, then I can get serious about ensuring this old rag & tube doesn't end up at the tip. Either the anticipated new owner (or myself if no other fool exists) will pick up this thread in good time. Thanks again. cheers

Congratulations Greg.

Can anybody advise if the Drifter facility in QLD supplies parts (I'm aware that they aren't currently manufacturing). If so I'd appreciate contact details. Thanks all.

Bruce. Unless I read it wrong, I didn't think Turbo or Roger were commenting on your ability to perform effective and/or correct repairs but in fact, their aspersions were directed towards the 'dodgy brothers' firewall fix which, apparently led to the ultimate destruction of the aircraft.

Bob Llewellyn, (07-4696 4548) might have some idea as he 'took over' TSOG (and let it die) after Tony passed away. About a year prior to his death, Tony referred me to a fellow on Bribie Island who held the moulds and was making them on order for the TSOG. I subsequently placed an order for doors, rear bulkhead, deckhead, landing gear enclosures etc and collected them about April, 2007. If you can't do any good with Llewellyn, I'll dig thru my rat's nest records and try to come up with some contact details. cheers

Apart from some scuffed dope on the empennage extremities, there wasn't any significant damage suffered by the A/C or wings due to 'roaming' around in the container and the 'chaos' of incorrect repairs, aviation non-compliance and absolute BS in lead-up correspondence didn't become evident untill we cleared Customs and got the project home. Now a happily registered RAA cat 19 experimental, the radial-engined Celebrity biplane attracts more favourable comment on it's appearance (3/4 scale Stearman) than what it does for it's useability. Life is such a learning curve (but, Gawd, that radial sounds nice!) cheers