Blue Drifter

That was when sex was safe and hang gliders were dangerous.

It is always good to see another Drifter pilot enjoying his machine. You can't beat flying them on a warm summers evening, or fully rugged up in the middle of winter. I have had my machine for 8 years and enjoy flying it as often as possible. They are and easy aircraft to fly and a capable cross country machine.

Doing your job correctly is one thing, but when you are working in GA and the owner wants to do the work so he can save money. Or he has done something while the aircraft is at home. The guy that signs the MR is the one who is responsible. But it won't stop the owner from taking you to court if something happens. These are some of the reasons that I don't work in GA.

I have been watching this thread since it started, trying to work out how or whether I should reply. I am a LAME (avionics) and I have worked in Military,GA, Airlines and Offshore. Getting the Licence isn't easy and it is expensive (you pay for the exam pass or fail). Under the new Part145 it is now a money making exercise for the few approved schools. Except in the RAAF, maintenance is seen as a wasted expense ( they don't fly the hours). Accountants (and some owners) can't understand how it can fly in, cost all this money and fly out afterwards. I have been asked (more than once) "Really - What did you do". I have had the Engineering Manager of a large regional airline (guess) say to me "If I could get rid of avionics altogether - I would". So unless you really have a passion for aviation, it is a long road (4yrs) with poor pay until you are licenced. Then you get to be responsible for multiple lives (one of the few jobs you can go to jail for making a mistake), work under some appalling conditions (heat, cold, noise, dust, oil, grease, solvents, outside,inside etc), work on aircraft that will be older than you are, trouble getting spares/test equip (they cost money) all to be told that the owner or company isn't going to pay for your overtime. But Qantas don't mind. They are closing 747 maintenance, they didn't train anyone on the A380 so now they can justify sending maintenance overseas. I now work in the Pilbara (FIFO) and when I am there I am one of the lower paid members of the community. And management are telling us that we earn too much. (and they have just pulled our allowances). Unfortunately for me I enjoy what I do, otherwise I would be one of the "Rig Pigs" that we fly out to the platforms. (seen these guys earn 1500 a day)

Try one of these. Good for 30000lb. Aust company and about $8000. itowbot.com.au

Ever wonder what HR stands for in HR Pufnstuf? Google it and it and you will stands for Hand Rolled. Well it was the 60's/70's.

G'day, Last week I submitted my renewal for my 583WB Drifter. The letter they sent out required me to provide, Photos of the placards in the cockpit, Photos of the registration markings on the wing and boom. ( I was worried they would reject that the first zero isn't present in my rego.) Statement of Compliance ? ( I rang the RA Aus and was told it can be supplied by the manufacturer, but when I said Austflight doesn't exist anymore, she told me she would work it out for me.) MTOW documentation. For the MTOW my renewal said that it currently weighs in at 517kg. Might be why they asked for a weight and balance. I rang the tech director for advice. I was told to read the latest Tech report that he had written in the current magazine. This left me a little lost as to how to proceed. Weighing the Drifter isn't difficult. 3 sets of scales, level the aircraft on the tailboom. The Form for Weight and balance is on the RA Aus website for aircraft less than 600 kg. The datum point to use is where the front vertical support meets the boom. The C.G. needs to be between 4o6mm and 533mm from this point. The maths isn't difficult and you need to measure the distance from this Datum to the tailwheel. ( in mm). Mine worked out at 235kg empty (5l unusable), 75kg pilot gave a C.G at 470mm from datum. It weighed about 48kg on the tailwheel with 75kg in the front seat. Anyway it was submitted last week, we can wait and see. Any questions PM me and I will give you a call. Enjoy.

My Condolences to the family as well. But are the RA Aus ever going to tell us what happened so some one else might not make the same mistake.

Warm summer evening flying in a Drifter cannot be beaten.

The ATSB publish all of their investigations on their website. Even down to the boring level where the only thing that got a mild scare was the TCAS. For some reason the RA Aus don't publish the results of an investigation even when the ATSB give it to them. Your first comment also mentioned losing friends. I lost 2 good friends a while ago ( and they were good friends) Maybe if the RA Aus published that fact that it was almost dark when they took off it might slow some one else from doing the same thing. If you don't learn from history it is destined to repeat itself.

Flying around Canowindra at the balloon festival. Had to take off just after sunrise to get these pictures. Cold night in a tent but well worth the effort.

The RAA has a tendency not to publish the accident reports from any accident. How are we suppose to learn from the mistakes of others so that history doesn't repeat itself.

Never directly anyway

One thing people should remember is that different aircraft have different performance. 2 years running I been nearly run over by the following aircraft to take off. If you are flying a high performance aircraft and there is a Rag n Tube in front of you, make sure they are well clear before you start rolling.

RIP Wayne, you will be missed.

Skins on my Drifter are 7 years old. They are treated every 6 months with Aerospace 303. They still look like new.

Congrats, Always good to see Drifters out and about. You need to post some photos when you get her home. This is me at my place.

Just replaced the propeller with a new Bolly prop. Makes a noticeable difference. Still trying to work out what pitch setting to keep it at. But had a little fun while trying it out. Take off from my home field. Cruising past my favourite ridge. Turning finals at home.

After the dribble commentary with the first accident, I stopped watching.

I normally use Aviation parts & Equip. They are happy to supply small orders at a respectable price and they are prompt with their postage. Call 02 97962733

Spend the extra dollars and buy a Drifter. Loads of FUN.

You guys should try looking up the "Dos Gringos" for some flying songs. They sing a good one about long distance flying.

I flew mine from Lismore to Holbrook when I bought it. The guys from Boonah have taken theirs to Avalon airshow. It all depends on how much time you have.

While my Drifter was hangared at Holbrook (4yrs) my wife only saw it 4 times. The day I flew in, 1 Natfly, 1 15min flight (and complained about the cold) and the day I flew it out of Holbrook to it's current home. At least my youngest enjoys coming with me.