peter

The CF I up there, John Marsh, is a fantastic bloke, stacks of local knowledge, a great hangar with accommodation on the airfield. Give him a call at Pro Sky Pt AUgusta, Peter

My Cobra has the main tank (55litres) behind the panel, above my legs, my side of the firewall. Even if you turn the main fuel tap off there are still multiple lines coming from( or going to) the tank that do not have taps in them - fuel return (only applicable with fuel injection) , fuel drain, inlet from wing tanks. It certainly worries me but there is not any alternative with the design. I also have a fuel pressure gauge which means there is a high pressure hose attached to the back of the panel. Peter

submitted my vote The aerobatics talked about are almost exclusively joyrides in the nanchung, performed well away from residential areas at significant height and the noise is incredibly low, far less than that generated by the outboard motors of commercial and recreational fisherman using the Mundoo Channel boat ramp. It will be interesting to see how people are going to report them as I can't even read their rego numbers using binoculars and we live right near the mouth where all this supposed flying is occuring. As for disturbing the wildlife - the only thing that disturbs the birds is people walking quietly and kayaking quietly - loud outboards and fishing boats don't disturb them at all - they are so used to them but people approaching gently scares them - I know - have been kayaking/walking/skiing/fishing in this exact area for the past 9 years.

I live close by the island strip and we drive past there daily, the numbers of aircraft quoted are clearly overstated. The vast majority of days there is no-one flying from HI "international". The other strips on the island are used only rarely. If I can be of any help give me a call 0428779699. Cheers Peter

IF you check out the yahoo aviatin subaru users forums there is a heap of information on the topic. You can certainly use an EJ22 direct drive - check out Jon Finley's website. It all depends on how much horsepower you are looking for. I am currently in the process of attempting to repower my plane with an EJ22 and have fitted an autoflight reduction PSRU, I am hoping to get 120+ horsepower out of it and want to run it at around 5000rpm Cheers Peter

Hi Chris, and conratulations. The sierra is a nice easy plane to fly and I believe John is an excellent instructor and it is a nice group up at Pt Augusta. I see you are from Cleve, I have done some work there in the past -- excellent strips, I have had my little bird in there a few times. Peter

There is always Goolwa now -- Sportstar and jabiru - with 3 runways something is always into wind, and the scenery is the best you get in Adelaide - school is new so they are out to please. I have dealt with Murray Bridge and Aldinga -- they are all different and good in their own ways. Just get out there and have fun.

The greatest benefit for me in ownership is convenience - I fly when I want to, not when the plane is "available". I work away a lot and the ability to come home and just pop out for a fly -- to me priceless. 6am on a summer morning, crystal clear skies, not a breath of wind, just pop up for a 20 minute scenic before breakfast -- priceless. Clear winter morning, cold, still, clear - 10 minutes to check out that Southern wright whale lolling about in the shallows - priceless. Financially viable, nope, good value for money - nope. great fun, great satisfaction, great pride - yep - you only live once, go for it Peter

I download and print the pages relevant to my flight, and have even laminated a few that I use commonly - I can then add personal notes on them, vary the size etc, and makes heading for an alternate really easy, just pull out the page you need and clip it on the knee board, no balancing bulky books Peter

yes Geoff has been very proactive in improving the airport - lengthening the crosswind strips etc and is very supportive of ultralights - designed and builds the tyros, flies his replica spitfire, and supports the flying club. I have a half share in a hangar and it has been just great. Goolwa is a great place to have a plane - scenery is magic ( whale season soon as well) and weather generally good, with strips for all conditions, and there is generally always someone around without ever being over busy. Cheers Pete

Ring Geoff Eastwood at Goolwa - there are new hangars going up all the time and often people are looking to share or rent space out. Geoff may be able to put you in touch with someone. Peter

a Cobra arrow with carbon fibre fuselage would give great performance with a jab 3300, is Australian made, and looks sensational - but I am totally biased Peter

Hi Adrian, i run a Subie EA 81 in the COBRA, I had it fully rebuilt by a performance workshop in Adelaide, has modified cam, twin bings and custom exhaust, using an amax redrive and inflight adjustable bolly prop -- engine time 70+ hours since rebuild. To keep the plane in balance I have 15kgs of lead in the nose. I like the Subies so much I am currently rebuilding an EJ22 which I intend to swap over and lose the lead out of the nose -- more horse power same overall weight -- I am going to use an autoflight redrive -- I will begin the changeover next month I think. If you are interested in the EA81 +redrive give me a call - it will be going pretty cheap!!! It runs very well, spins up to 6000rpm on takeoff, remaining smooth as...,.sounds amazing. Cheers Peter mobile 0428779699

I have a full set of covers, also made by Punkin Head for the Cobra - velcro tabs and quickclick straps - covers the whole plane right down to 3 "socks" over the prop blades. I use them everytime I go away and occasionally in the hangar as well if not flying for a while. They have survived 40+ knot dust storms on Eyre peninsula undamaged and have to say I am really happy with them - they fit perfectly Peter

sorry but not sure of the installed weight -I bought it 2nd hand. Fuel burn is 17-19 litres per hour depending on throttle settings, prop loading, etc If I was installing an engine now and was not going the certified route I would look at the EJ22 -- a lot more horsepower for not a lot more weight Peter

try this website www.autoflight.co.nz I run an Amax redrive on my subaru EA81 in the cobra arrow - it has never given any trouble, is smooth and quiet, Cheers Peter

Hi Ian, Can you please let us know where we are up to with these. How do we order and pay for them and any idea when they will be available? thanks Peter

I will take one, if you could PM me I can arrange a direct funds transfer etc thanks for doing the leg work Peter

I will take one please Ian, could you let us know when available by email please thanks peter

very interested in reading these, incidents happening at 50 feet or so-- what happens if you do a bad "bounce" and have to apply full power with full flaps? You are only a metre or so off the ground and not in a position to retract flap. I know (unfortunately from experience) that I have dropped the Cobra pretty hard with full flap, bounced, and simply rammed the throttle home and held the stick neutral -- it just sits in a level attitude and starts climbing slowly away and I wait for a few hundred feet before retracting flap. I thought that was what I had been taught in training in the Jab - am i missing something?

hi and welcome, How about the Australian designed and built Cobra? Looks great, flys well and the performance can be as good as you want -- depending on the power plant. Check out the website www.tomair.com.au Checkout the photos in the gallery here - just search on cobra Peter

I went up with Martyn Smith at Aldinga in their super decathlon and spent an hour doing stalls in steep turns, spin recovery etc and felt it was really worthwhile and will probably go back and do it again every couple of years.

Flying Nyngan to Goolwa in the Jab a couple of years ago with stop at Mildura. On landing at Mildura the left main was absoulutely flat and finished on the side of the runway. Turned out I had picked up a three corner jack taxiing at Nyngan -- Qantas ground crew were amazing. they brought out a compressor then helped me walk it back to their hangar and fix the tube using a patch from the kits they use on the antifreeze wing sections. Got me back to Goolwa that day. Got to say RPT has always been very couteous and helpful for me.

Hi Di, I would recommend buying -- you get to fly a whole heap more and to places that are hard to take a hire and fly -- my first purchase was Jab 5678, known originally as Priscilla and I put it on line at MBD, am now on plane number three!! If you want to see and experience other planes join our club at Goolwa or just come and visit on BBQ days -- anyone is always welcome cheers Peter