robinsm

Just my 2c worth. I have an Xair that has an Xcom radio installed. Notwithstanding the feelings about Mr Coates expressed above, the aircraft and the radio stand on their own feet and I have had much pleasure out of them. Knock the person, not the products please. We went to war with Germany but we drive mercedes.

Was down at the Oaks a few weeks ago as a nav from Goulburn in my Xair. Not metro but close if that helps

Cheers

Maynard

You can get an xair at the moment 2nd hand for less than 18k. May not be a plastic fantastic but it gets you flying which is the important thing!!

Still plenty of "basic" ultralights (thrusters, xairs, drifters, gazelles etc) out there. Not all of us need or want $130000 plus machines that do 140 plus knots. My 582 gets serviced regularly by me. Costs about what a second car does to run. If you enjoy just flying then there is plenty of opportunity without going the GA way. Jeez, the only IFR I get is I Follow Roads when I get lost. Consider my cage rattled.

Always. Remember a lot of people haven't flown in a small aircraft before and I think it helps their enjoyment and confidence to understand what to do, and what not to do.

And the cost is? (surely it wont be free).

Where did you get the 35k figure from??. For that price I would be tempted to get one of the second hand ones that are up for sale, get it checked out properly and go on an overseas holiday with the change.

I fly an xair std and didn't pay any where near that complete. My Xair std is great fun. Bought and put it together myself, now has 50 hrs up and going great. Great support from Michael Coates and really good on line fo users forum. (I am biased). The suspension is a lifesaver. (got into trouble the other day on short final, easterly gusts (knocked the headset off my head!!!). Landed fairly hard but no damage to the frame or suspension (believe me I checked). They are not a speed machine and are designed for fun.

Just my opinion

Maynard

I am looking for information on building a fibreglass fuel tank. I have a 55 Lt tank at the moment and am looking at expanding it or making a new one to hold more fuel (up to 80+ lts. The cost of a new larger one for my Xair std is prohibitive. I don't have experience in fibre glassing and am chasing instructional material and measurements, ideas etc.

All ideas greatfully received

Hey Pete,

Going through the same thing at the moment. My instructor says working it through at home is the go. Set your self some theoretical navs and do the calcs as if you were flying it. (I know the whizz wheel is a pain to manipulate and turbulence always appears the moment you take your eyes off the sky.)

The actual plan is fine, I assume that like me you have problems with the checkpoint calculations in flight.

If anyone has an easy way to do this I will put my hand up also. That being said,

cheers

Maynard

My main concern was for the retention of the airport by the local council. If managed properly then the money would be a long tern gain for the people of Goulburn. The comment was made at the council meeting that the airport was a mess and if we wanted it then we should clean it up. I agree. We (the flying club) offered to mow the runways and keep the council areas maintained, (this obviously went against someone's vested interest in the future of the area) and council rejected the idea. I would not presume to tell the private hanger and business owners at the airport what they can and can't do with their holdings, but I bet the council could drop some very loaded hints (if they were so inclined) to get the area tidied up. The biggest mess is owned by one of the friends of the latest proposed buyer.

The next best thing would be to sell the airport but still have a covenant protecting the local flyers and their access to the runnways. Obviously without the developer pricing GA and ultralight access off the planet. The developer (Domain Rael estate Pty Ltd , Owned by Mr George Tsovaras) would not commit to looking after the locals and appeared to be an umbrella for all sorts of interested companies. Very little is known about this company.

The sale of the airport seems to be a straight money grab (this from a council that has admitted to loosing a million dollars in the stock market downturn.) What a council is doing investing public money instead of using it in local projects is another matter all together. We have now had initially, an open market attempt at sale, an austion that realised 3 bids (including the vendors) and now this offer, but what is offered money wise is not clear. (ICAC???)

Just my thoughts as an interested party

Maynard

Any chance of getting a drawing of the jig???

Cheers

Maynard

Ian, I for one think that this is a very valuable resource and anyone trying to bring it down obviously does not have the interests of the majority in mind. Small minded people suck. Nil Carborundum!!! (don't let the bastards grind you down).

This is Ians site, how he edits it is his business and his business only. If you don't like it, don't read it. I think this site is one of the most valuable for the hobby around.

I'm sick of being diplomatic

Maynard

what about the xair in its variations, i.e std, F and Hanuman.?

Just a thought, why not sit the full ppl exams instead then you have all the different Raa exams covered, ie bak, navs etc. Theory Course cost me $300, no fancy computers, lots of paper and wizz wheel. Great instructor. Did ppl just in case of later transition but not on the cards yet, having to much fun with the rag and tube.

Just my 0.2c worth

Maynard

Got mine today also:thumb_up:

Have to get the magazine first, 16th of the month and still no show. Date rewview perhaps?

16th of the month, no magazine and no disc. Maybe the August start date should be reviewed?

does anyone have an xair std model, or link to one, that can be used for MS FS 2004 or MS FS x.

Thanks

Maynard

Thanks for the help everyone. After reading your replies and doing some heavy thinking, I have come to the conclusion that the piston failure was the result of the fuel leaning out. The only change I made was to the main jets. I have a bad habit of trying to improve things when they are obviously going fine as they are. (The xair was going well, the only problem was the EGT readings being low.) Now if I had accepted those readings then I may have been ok. I do not believe the small scuff marks contributed to the failure, I think they are a result of the failure. (cold engine, pre igniting fuel = overheated and expanded piston touching cylinder walls. (as a point of interest, nothing shows on the rear piston or cylinder wall).

I think the lesson I have learned from this is that good performance as opposed to perfect performance is acceptable and ... leave the @#!@#*@#!! thing alone, don't fiddle!!!!! Thanks again for the help. This group is great

Thanks

Maynard

forget the last, pushed the wrong button,

now as I was saying, I am leaning towards fuel problem, as you say, maybe a partially blocked jet, or possibly (not sure how) seperating fuel,? old fuel? etc. When I find out I will let the group know. Help and ideas greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Maynard

Knighty, the investigation continues, I am leaning towards fuel (

Sorry Dave, EGT is in degrees F (range is 950 to 1150 I beleive. Sorry for the confusion. Kfowler, plugs are BR8ES as recommended by rotax for this 2 stroke. Thanks.

Cheers

Maynard

Hi all,

Must be the season for 582 blow ups. Last week I had an efato at 250ft above the local aerodrome. Managed to land safely. Checked the spark plugs and found aluminium on the front spark plugs. Stripped the motor down and found that I had melted a hole in the crown of the front piston of the grey head 582. There was no problem with the rear piston. There was no indication on the gauges of any problems. The scuff marks on the piston show in the upper part of the piston skirt and are equally spaced on each quarter of the piston. No apparent damage to the bore or the head. I had just changed the main jets in the carbys from 165 to 162 in order to bring up the egt,s as they had always read 850 to 900 at cruise. The day was fairly cold, 9-11 degrees, and it was the first flight of the day for me. The fuel had been in the aircraft for about 2 weeks. Anyone have ideas why this occurred. Your input would be greatfully appreciated so I don't do this again.

Cheers

Maynard

I have just purchased a Lowrance Globalmap 1600 and was wondering if anyone had a copy of the cd that came with that model. Lowrance no longer have these. Any help greatly appreciated

Thanks

Maynard

He does take direct deposit if you ask him

Cheers