Riley

Thanks OME for the insite! I totally agree on the last point about getting a qualified pre-purchase inspection opinion.Did you bring a plane in from the US?

Beware NjN. I paid royally for a prepurchase inspection on a flying & registered experimental in Florida done by a AIME referred by my Aeronca friend in the local area of purchase. Excerpts from report: "almost like new", " I would buy this myself", etc, etc, No photos- my bad, but I had a jillion from the vendor. Based on the glowing report I consumated the purchase and also contracted the same guy to dis-assemble and pack the aircraft into a container (having given specific instructions on some essential basics). Outcome - container arrived with A/C having 'slipped its moorings and sculling about inside' (fortunately a smooth crossing and no serious damage), no dis-assembly notes, no photos or identification of matching components and almost 18 months of serious shopwork to get the machine to where I was confident to test fly it. Not that I'm ever likely to import another aircraft from anywhere but, were it to happen, I reckon the best money anyone could spend would be to travel to the sales location and inspect the machine personally (perhaps in company with a qualified aviation person). Unfortunately not all aviation personell are as straight-up and honest as the rest of us. Good luck with your searching.

 

 

Hi all ,Have found this drifter on gum tree and seriously considering it , may i ask if the price sounds about right ?

Cheers .

 

ultralight drifter aircraft | Other Automotive | Gumtree Australia Brookton Area - Brookton | 1143426250

I've been around that aircraft for over ten years. You won't get a better deal on one in that condition. cheers Riley

 

 

I'm George and have been flying for 49 years having taken my first lesson in 1968.Have owned three acft during that span starting with a T'Craft BC-12D in 1972 (rebuilt from a basket case), next was a '74 PA-28 Warrior in '97, and ending with a PA-32 "6" in 2004 through 2009. Also have a little time in the right seat of a Douglas A-26 which had been converted to civil executive charter use.

 

Now, due to lack of money, I'm beginning to build a two place WeedHopper to be licensed as an Experimental Light Sport in order to introduce my fiance to flying.

Hey George. I reckon getting out of GA and upgrading to a WeedHopper ultralight must certainly impress your fiance. Welcome to the 'good end of town' and congratulations and best wishes on both ventures. cheers

 

 

G,day Riley we talked via posts a good while back about your fabric tester and the 500 i,m bringing back on line after its wings off hanger storage since 2009 could you contact me please regarding same sir cheers Mick0414607563

Haven't forgotten you Mick. The geezer holding my fabric tester is still visiting with ailing parents over east. Will get unto it as soon as he returns. cheers

 

 

SSCBD Ur post #18 seems a very logical approach towards resolving the ever-growing (but non-existant to most of we old AUF flyer/owners) delemna re the push for more... more... more... by our higher-paid help at Fyshwick. Whilst not excited about putting a LAME on the payroll once a year, I am in total agreement with your suggested classifications of categories 1 & 2 and in reality, cats 3 & 4 would never enter into my sphere of aviation activities. Your closing sentence is unfortunately, so very true and too often witnessed.

 

 

Thankyou , it was the one I read about ! Warning signs were there I believe ! Very sad all the same !

A 'G' meter had been installed in the aircraft a few short weeks before the crash.

 

 

What sort of aircraft was this ? I remember reading about a structural failure in a low wing LSA . If so I understand what you are saying about the dice being rolled ! I have been called a " Whooss" by many, a couple are no longer due to taking risks, when you take a risk or over stress a plane there becomes a chance that an accident will occur but it becomes a point where it is not an accident but intentional, it gets serious if you push too far !

Evektor Sportstar

 

 

The thing is..... this thread is a one sided view.Those who stuffed up bad enough are not here to post. They are dead.

About 10 years ago, an aircraft left Bindoon for Northam. They took off direct for Northam and the engine failed not far from Bindoon.

 

They went down in trees and killed both of them.

 

The passenger was a pilot and briefly a member of this forum and I communicated with him on various topics.

 

It was a big wake up call to me about climbing overhead before departure if required.

 

You roll the dice enough times, your number will come up!

Both of the deceased were personal friends to me and without digging into the Coroner's report, engine failure wasn't the cause of that double fatality in the Julimar Forest. It was assessed that the aircraft broke up at altitude as a result of accumulated undue airframe stress. As you pointed out, in that instance, the dice had been rolled once too often by two experienced pilots.

 

 

'AWC-less' Silver Centenary. It's of interest that this aircraft which was on unrestored static display in the little town of Beverly for many years has been restored to flying condition by, I believe, Ford's grandson and is hangared and been flown from SABC/SAA's Serpentine Airfield near Perth.

 

 

So what else is wrong with the Thruster, that has also been missed, but not yet found? Where there's smoke, there's fire, an old saying goes.

The beauty of the Thrusters (as ugly as they are) is that every structural component is out in the open (or can be very easily exposed) for visual or dye pentrant inspection. With the photos of the suss welding on the stern post indicating less than acceptable practices, a sharp rap with a hammer in that area would have surely given warning of internal corrosion problems? Not pointing the bone at anyone involved but although being a bit picky at the outset might take longer, it's preferable to hollering 'Oh Shite" on your way to meet mother earth after an in-flight component failure. Very pleased you got out of it with minimal grief Craig.

 

 

It means he knows where there's some BF109 Metchies buried

If SHE knows, I'll be she wouldn't be blatherscathing (in code or not)! Bex, such an oversight for you.

 

 

You lucky, lucky, bastard! My chance at Coltishall was stymied by the aircraft going u/s at the last moment.

Likewise, my chance for a flip across half of Canada in the backseat of a T33 Shooting Star whilst on annual leave as a lowley LAC in the RCAF was thwarted by not holding a 'chit' proving my having done the altitude pressure testing. Offer of back seat on Friday aft @ 15:00 for jet trainer leaving at 07:00 next morning - safety section at the base shut down at 15:00. Have spent the remainder of my days being pissed off at someone. Riley

 

 

this is amazingF111 Disposal from Thiess Pty Ltd on Vimeo

Used to be a time we retained fighter aircraft as gate guards and posterity. This ignominious end has them guarding the gates of hell. Bureacracy again making us look like fools. Sad.

 

 

A problem caused by Australia post has been solved by common sense.

Conversely, a problem caused by lack of forethought and blinkered vison has been exacerbated. Aust Post and RAA appear to operate on about the same degree of inefficiency. Riley

 

 

It would be childish to ask to see the written and agreed rules for this election that allows the extension to be done on the last day of voting ... and it'd would be a hoot to see how this sits with fairness ...

Yes, totally infantile to suggest that documented agreements, fairness, "let's scrap the whole thing and do it again legally and correctly" should be brought into a subject that accords such little importance as elections to a Board of Directors. Kasper, you are a scalliwag! In God we trust????

 

 

No point re-hashing the points about the errors I thought existed but just to be clear - I was not allowed to actually raise a point of order at an agm. Not because it was not about an agenda item - it was - but because ... the answer I got was just our lawyer says no. Against that a reasonable and sane response is just give up and let them run the org into the ground - something will come along to replace it because casa can't handle it and 5000+ pilots and 3400+ airframes is too big to just disappear.

Re your second sentence, I should be reticent (ashamed?) in admitting that I reached that state a year or so back. I haven't rcvd my 'free' magazine containing ballot papers yet but I'm totally unconcerned by the fact that I obviously couldn't get them back in time even if I were wanting to participate in the election. The two Mikeys and their curious management (?) style have destroyed my passion as to where RAA takes us in the future. When it gets too ripe to swallow, sadly I shall quit aviation and go back to vintage cars. Riley

 

 

My name is Paul Malcew, I live in Killarney Ontario Canada. I fly a Challenger CHIICWS.. I found this site as I was researching carb heat. I have just got back into flying after a 12 year hiatus.

Welcome aboard Paul. Living in Killarney, I'd guess you'd probably have both a set of lotus floats and snow skiis for the Challenger? I grew up & went to school in Sudbury so I've eaten the famous Fish & Chips off the jetty in Killarney many years ago. Wandered down to NZ & Australia after I got out of the military 50 years ago & when I found out they didn't have soul-destroying winters down under, made Western Australia my base point ever since. Cabin heat in the Challenger or just three Skidoo suits on at the same time? cheers Riley

 

 

Good luck working out what rules are for any particular election in RAAus. I'm only 100% certain about 1 thing though. The twin Michaels at RAAus will be absolutely certain that it's fully compliant and the results are absolutely exactly what all members want.

Really ? ? ?

 

 

Hi,I'm new on this site and have been planning on starting training i the next few months. I'm returning to Perth Western Australia and am considering importing a home built Streak Shadow 582.

 

The questions I have are can I train in Australia on a home built ultralight?

 

Being a home built from kit aircraft (i did not build it) that is registered in the UK, will it be possible to register it in Australia?

 

As I'm importing it and y suggestions on best methods and bio security? I've looked at self load containers and organising a customs broker in Perth but am concerned the budget may blow out with the related unknown checks, permits, inspections, duty and GST. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The aircraft has done 700 hours with a 582 mtow 408kg built 1990.

 

Thanks

Unless you are acquiring the Streak Shadow at a give-away purchase price in the UK (like, next to nothing) I'd suggest you investigate what a 27 year old similar ultralight w/ 700 hrs would cost you in OZ dollars on your Perth doorstep. No problems with training in the S.S. here once you've found an instructor, as you would be declared the 1st owner/builder once it's brought on the RAA register. Though I didn't need or plan to flight-train in it, I brought a kit-built biplane from USA into Perth a couple of years back (me being the 4th owner) and had no problems w/ import and RAA registration however, Aust Quarantine have very inflexible (but manageable) regulations re cleanliness and packing for import. Poncing around with export/import agents, container shipping, local transport both ends, clearing fees, etc, etc, ad-infinitum, cost me about (A)$9 grand. If you proceed, I'd suggest you first contact Tech Mgr, Recreational Aviation Aust to get the precise & up-to-date requirements for all aspects of your plans, then get comparative figures from at least two agents who would work on your behalf (then add about 3 grand). As previously said, methinks you'd have to have an extremely specific love for that very aircraft in order to justify the end result. PM me if you need any further discouragement. cheers Riley

 

 

The current approach is very unlikely to see a suitable result. CASA will expect a class 2 medical or RAMPC and a whole lot of unreasonable training.The precedent has been set - simply apply the same limitations as those imposed on the glider and balloon pilots. Amend CAO 95.10/95.55, the limitations imposed are a hangover from the AUF when they were operating Skycraft Scouts etc.

At the very least RAAus should ask why the difference in regulations between RAAOs.

 

For example: a Sinus registered by Gliding Australia can be flown by a pilot into class C and D airspace / airports holding only a Gliding Certificate and self certified medical. The pilot of the same aircraft registered under RAAus needs to hold a GA licence, current flight review and medical in addition to their RAAus pilot certificate to operate into controlled airspace / airports. Why the difference??!!

Because CASA is CASA "and we can!"

 

 

Can I just ask, why the hell wouldn't you at least put the pointy bits of the tinny at the front??

If memory serves me correctly, the drag resultant from 'stern fwd' is of lesser concern than the vortices created by the square stern following (but it's been a long time). Someone will correct me if I'm out in left field. cheers Riley

 

 

Lots of external load photos on the net. Mainly on Otters, which have approved hard points.[ATTACH=full]51122[/ATTACH]

That 'Otter' with the tinnie sure looks like a Beaver (Beavers have flat tails - Otter tails are rat-like, that's how you tell the difference).

 

 

So a bit of a followup to the SAAA saga: I gave up & went back to RAAus.

 

The AP required me to have the RV re-weighed by a CASA WCO, which is fair enough and his prerogative. But despite another email to SAAA HQ when I paid the $400 for the AP service call asking about the MPC datelist, and it being ignored (well, they quite happily charged my CC $400 for the AP call - so they did receive it...) I finally figured enough is enough and why should I reward an organisation who treats their members this way? The only downside is I am still payload-limited, but until the SAAA gets their house in order, publishes and sticks to a list of MPC dates, I will happily fly under RAAus administration with one of the fastest "ultralights" in Australia.

 

Jared S at RAAus could not have been more helpful - and if I ever come across him, I'll gladly shout him a beer. From the time I sent the paperwork in to RAAus HQ to getting my registration certificate? 5 days. The biggest delay? The weekend in the middle of that 5 days. Of course, it helps that the only thing HQ needed was proof I'd removed the VH- marks and SAAA placards and replaced them with RAAus equivalents, but the difference between RAAus & SAAA is mind-blowingly disappointing, to the point that if RAAus is ever able to get approval for 700/750Kg, I'd stay with them indefinitely and wear the 100kg payload loss permanently. There were a couple of SAAA members who were particularly helpful in the process, Darren B and 440032, who certainly deserve recognition for their efforts, and I extend my gratitude publicly for[/] their efforts, but the single overarching issue is the requirement for an MPC to weigh your own plane and issue your own MR, which I don't have, and don't look like being able to get anytime soon due due to a singular lack of planning and communication on the part of the SAAA.

 

 

 

So, looking at the bright side, my RV is back with RAAus, and pending good weather, I should be airborne again by the end of the week.

I totally concur with your evaluation of the Asst Tech Mgr's willingness to stick with and sort out a problem. I (who seems to be in constant conflict with Canberra) have had nothing but exemplary service and assistance from Jared thru a couple of contentious issues. Credit given where credit is due. Riley

 

 

Ailerons are a bit stiff, hows those tie straps?

If it happened to be photoed in OZ, can't you just see CASA crapping themselves in attempts to identify the pilot/cyclist?

 

 

Has anyone got any crystal ball or current information on when we except to get the 700kg MTOW approval from RAA via CASA.I am told by our prime minster of clowns, Turnbull that Australia has to be nimble and be able to rapidly change with the times. However, I have not be able to see any of his government do it, CASA nor the RAA and have not heard of any updates with timing or exactly what is to be done.

At the RAA Q & A evening at Bindoon airfield attended by the RAA CEO and Gen Mgr (Mssrs Linke & Monk) a couple of weeks ago we were advised that CTA access has been the main push by RAA to CASA and it was hoped that it would be ratified by year-end. We were also told by the higher paid help that the weight increase application would sit on RAA's back burner until the CTA access was resolved. Based on the CTA treadmill to date, if you're a lottery ticket believer, don't buy a weight increase ticket till well into next year.