rocket1172

Well everyone, the aircraft in question is now mine!!!!

Thanks to all who have posted here for me, an a special thanks to Gundy, I am privelleged to have you at the forefront of that friendship, and the dream could not have been better without you or your help. See you in a couple of weeks mate, for the pickup!! :big_grin:

Hi all. I'm sure I will find many here, as aircraft owners, to share my news of finally being able to join that club with the purchase of a Savannah VG. Happy, happy, joy, joy!!! Now the journey really begins flying all over this great country, in something I can call my own! Hope to see many of you over the coming years! Rod.:big_grin::clap2:

Your a legend Tomo! Thank you. Rod.

Tomo's definition of commercial.........I like. Can somebody tell me if I am allowed to "hire" my aircraft out to other pilots to fly as long as it is not "commercially"? Or........what if somebody "hire's" the aircraft, but I fly them from A to B etc? Thoughts?

Thanks Vev for your valuable input. It looks as though you could start your own business doing oil samples for us here on the site. I could be your first customer!! Anyway, thanks again. I look forward to a Tyabb visit once I get my purchase finalised. Nice airstrip indeed! Rod.

Location: MOREE (YMOR) Date: 31-Mar-2011 First-light: 1946 UTC Last-light: 0823 UTC I don't think darkness was the issue. In my night spraying experience in the same area, you still have a horizon for a good amount of time after last light, which here was 19:23. Unfortunately, it sounds like mechanical as has been said here before. Just my thoughts. Rod.

Exactly Gribble,.......exactly!! P.S. Bushcaddy, I envy ya ride!! Nice.

Thanks guys for the input. It might be something I would do every 100 or 200 hours. I know in earthmoving, companys like Cat etc, do oil sampling with good results from trending samples over a long period. Cutting oil filters open was something we used to do on our Ag aircraft every 100, and although not much showed up, which was good, it would be nice to know something might be up. I might take the approach of cutting oil filters first, then oil sampling if suspect. Really wanted to know if this was something others practiced or not. Thanks again. Rod.

Has anyone done any scheduled oil sampling on Rotax engines and if so, where? And have the reports been useful? I don't have anything to sample yet, but will shortly, and am after any info please. Rod.

Point Cook Air Museum here in Melbourne. Tuesdays and Thursdays are flying days. Sounds like an awesome trip. Enjoy!! Rod.

As others have said before me, depends on the strength. If its a "normal" x-wind, just crab it down, then kick it out in the flare. However, if I think the strength is mrginal for the x-wind limit of the aircraft, I slip it all the way down, that way you will know early if you don't have enough rudder to complete the landing safely. Rod.

Could of finished at morning tea SP, but had to wait for the truck load of fert. Started at about 10am, finished at 2pm, howling north westerly, 42 degrees. Four hours of intense, rewarding, satisfying flying!! Thanks Dave for your kind words.

Yep David, thats the character building stuff we live for. I had a day like that spreading fert for 50 take-offs, and 50 landings. I was buggered by the end of it!! But loved it!! Rod.

Kaz, you are a champion. Good comments. "Special" we are not. Seperately skilled we are. I don't hear of too many pilots cringing when asked to fly the three wheeled variety. Before I achieved my TW Endo, I admit I was scared after reading all the propagander! But determined I was, if I ever wanted to pursue my Ag career. Endorsements are training and there for a reason, because there are "special needs" that must be understood. Good to hear of things I was taught by the late Col Pay, being brought up in the thread. Taking 5 degrees of your approach path and landing with a bit of a diagonal, when the x-wind is winning the war, is something I have had to use plenty of times. When airstrip length is no problem, keep some speed, fly the aeroplane onto the ground and don't become a passenger to gravity alone. A good exercise we used to practice in the early hours of Ag, was fly along at cruise speed along the strip, gently lower down ever so slightly.........,(chirp!!) find the ground, and fly away. Second exercise, fly along the airstrip with one wheel on the ground all the way, then fly away. You ended up with great aileron control feel. And how many times has one landed the TW aircraft, only to be shot back up into the sky again? When learning in the C180/185 which is bad for bouncing, (which occurs from the change of AoA as the aircraft touches down), Col told me to always put 1 wheel down first, (which comes from the previous exercise I mentioned) and cut your bounce down considerably. Works like a shock absorber! Never did I land my TW on 2 wheels at once, unless it was a 3 pointer to pull up quick (rare on all our strips, unless is was to pull up, straight into the hangar for that nice beer at the end of the day!) A novel I know, but maybe of some help! Rod.

I must say, the way the dollar is (currently 1.02, and rising), I am seriously considering bringing a plane back in a container from the U.S. Has anyone done this and give me some advice? My mother works for DHL, but she has been in the import/export shipping arena for decades. She got me a price of $4800 for a 20 footer from Florida to Melbourne, which I thought was good. Anyway, you seem to be able to get more for your money over there, even after shipping costs!

Good onya 707! Show us a few pics!

I had to pinch myself for a whole day after my first solo, to make sure it was real.....Well done. And you WILL, remember it for a loooooong time.

Good yarns that make one smile.........

It's odd (but correct) that you need 5 hours to fly a low performance aircraft, but just a check ride for high performance. Usually the other way around. I am going through this process now, and am enjoying every bit of my 5 hours. Only had to do 2 hours dual, now clean it up with solo time, then freeeeeeeeee..............

"Duh.......which way did he go George?.......Huh, which way did he go?" Lol.....the music's ok but.

I like the Avid flyer. Can't give you advice, except enjoy!! Rod.

Ouch! Bit fast? Had a couple of opportunties to bail out and try again. ""If in doubt.....bail out...!!"" Anyway, I doubt he/she will do it again.