robinsm

These can be ordered from http://www.xair.com.au and go to information kits. You cant have mine either:). They are great value and made up my mind for me. If you get the kit or buy one, the assembly dvd is an essential as it is very detailed.

Cheers

Maynard

Giday Airborne,

I fly an xair std out of Goulburn. Great little aircraft, designed for fun not for speed. Having said that, it takes 55 lts and cruises at 60-65 knots. 2.5 - 3 hrs endurance. This is a comfortable, but basic, economy aircraft. If you have the time, this will take you most places you want to go. Mine climbs like a homesick angel and is great fun. For what I want (relaxation and fun) the xair suits me. Just my humble, if not slightly biased, opinion. The supplier also gives very good support and advice.

Cheers

Maynard

I'll take one.

Cheers

Maynard

you haven't got the jet support sitting above the plastic slide instead of below it have you. Just a thought? This will cause the needle to come out of the jet and run exceedingly rich.

I have a RAA pilots cert, but when studying, did the PPL theory exam instead of the RAA one to cut out that step if I decided to go GA one day. Just an idea,

Darren,

I also use green lasers in my observatory both attached to my telescopes for star alignment, and for pointing out interesting astronomical items to visitors and groups. I operate in south eastern NSW and have had no problems with them. The latest news states that legitimate users may be able to get them licenced (at what cost?).

Darren, I agree, the idiots that misuse these are morons, and down right dangerous.

Dave & Rosemarie Matthews-Frederick

Aerofibre Industries Pty Ltd

8 Graham Street

Kingaroy, Queensland 4610, Australia

Ph: 61 7 4163 6632 Fax: 61 7 4163 6425 Mobile: 0400 115 320

Email: [email protected]

Cheetah looks great. Congratulations.

My rag and tube xair std gives me a lot of pleasure at a reasonable cost. I fly for flying sake, not to be rushing from a to b. As icebob says, $40 worth of fuel and a big grin are the dearest parts of this hobby for me.

Cheers

As an add on to the Ground speed vs Air speed, I was silly enough to go for a flight today, the wind at take off being marginal. After a very rough, not pleasant flight, I turned onto final at IAS of 50 knots. On the GPS my ground speed was showing as 25 knots. The stall speed for the Xair is of 29 knots. Needless to say my airspeed was fine but when the IAS and the ground speed intersected at touchdown, the roll out was very short. Just my 0.2c worth. Remember, ground speed for ground people, airspeed for real people.:big_grin:

I think flying in clouds is like driving on country roads at night with the lights off, no problem but watch out for big grey/white/etc rocks with propellers on that are also driving/flying without headlights. (apart from the other problems pointed out. The inside of clouds do not have a real good scenic attraction to me.)

Try micro-ultra plastic fantastic? ;)

Update:

Removed the Carburettors, striped them down and really cleaned them and the system out. Discovered major blockage of the intake valve with peices of the sealant I used on the brass fuel fittings. How it got through the filter I don't know. Reassembled both carbs, checked the mikuni pump for peices of garbage and installed both back on the rotax 582 (grey head).

Today, went out to the airport, started the xair and it ran ok. Did half a dozen circuits and it didn't miss a beat. (whew!!!!!!). My next questions are:

1 - Even when I wind the idle screw right in, the engine only idles at about 1800 rpm.??

2 - On a 4 slot needle valve, where should I be putting the clip, all the data I have applies to 3 slot needles.

3 - When on cruise at 5500 rpm, EGT only at 1050 degrees. Is it running to rich.

4 - Engine will only rev out to 6000 rpm. I run a brolga 3 blade prop as recommended for this aircraft. (xair std).

The amount of knowledge on this forum is great. Thanks for your help.

Maynard

Thanks for the replies and ideas.

1 - Temperature about 28c. Humidity 30% (normal for this time of year in Goulburn.)

Petrol from normal supplier and premixed by me as per my standard procedure. I think it was the front pot that failed from the EGT but subject to checking. Engine is mounted on my Xair standard as per the avatar photo. Carburettors are mounted perpendicular to the motor, not the ground so they are level when aloft.

2 - Unfortunately using the secondary Facet fuel pump made no difference when the problem occurred (runs correctly - checked). Good point about the position of the circlips on the needle valve thanks, will check that. The stator generates correctly when under load, no problem there.

3 - Needle valves are able to be moved and move up and down when the throttle is operated. Fuel pressure needs to be measured but flow seems fine when measured into a jug.

4 - Because the EGT for the cylinder dropped to zero I am going to have to check for blockages (again). The viton tipped valves may be sticking, I will have change them.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, it gives me a real good flying start at this thing.

Thanks

Maynard

I am close to tearing out what little hair I have left. I am running a grey head rotax 582. I bought the motor second hand. It had been reconditioned and I hasten to add that I have found nothing mechanically wrong with this engine. (The problems I have had I believe are related to my inexperience.) The problems I have had all seem to be related to fuel problems. I have cleaned the fuel system out (I didn't clean it out when I filled it with fuel for the first time. I have fixed vacuum leaks, fuel fitting leaks and a faulty curtis valve (it leaked). I have just cleaned the carburettors out and checked the needles and jets. I fixed one carby, (I had put the needle on top of the plastic thing instead of under it).

Thinking I had cured the problem, I ran the engine up on the ground and it went well. I took off this morning and did a low level circuit and it ran well. Touched, applied full throttle for the take off, got to about 150 ft and the ****** thing started running on one cylinder only. Luckily I had selected the longest runway for the test and was able to put it down on the tarmac. Parked, ran the motor up for a short run and it ran fine so I taxied out and took off. Well needless to say at 150ft the damn thing dropped back to one cylinder again. Took the hint this time and taxied back to the hanger. Secured the tail of the aircraft to a post and ran the engine up to 6000 revs outside the hanger. About 30 secs into the test I saw one of the egt needles (I run a dual needle gauge) go to zero and the engine began to run on one cylinder again. (checked the gauge, both needles operating correctly). I am guessing that fuel starvation to one cylinder cased the problem. What should I be looking for and what level should the petrol be in the carburettor bowl? Will a low bowl level cause this problem.? All and any suggestions greatfully received as I want to fix this so I can go and play with the clouds.

Thanks

Maynard

Also using Castrol Activ 2T.

Cheers

Maynard

Right on Pelorous 32. I am from the north of the north island and this was a standard thing. In my day they were using Fletcher aircraft and a converted DC3. The Fletchers flew from the small farm strips and the DC3 from our local aerodrome which was central to the hilly farming area around the north of NZ. Watching the DC3 low flying and top dressing was amazing. (the pilot was an ex ww2 bomber pilot).

I have a situation where I need to extend the leads of my dual EGT gauge by about 30cm. What will the best cable be to use for the extension and can I solder the joins without too much voltage loss in the line.

Thanks

Maynard

its that thing thats also included in the XCOM as standard

Maynard

Listening to 2nd frequency

Try the XCOM 760. Monitoring a second channell comes as a standard feature of this transceiver. Great radio

Cheers

Maynard

Welcome to the forum from a fellow Goulburnian. Maybe catch you out there.

Cheers

Maynard

Goulburn is 200 km sth of Sydney, about 2hrs by freeway. (between Sydney and Canberra). Home of Wakefield park, the motor racing circuit

They hold car club time trials on the sealed runway at the Goulburn Aerodrome. Try the Goulburn Mulwaree council. Worth a try!

how about the x-air std. Less than $18000 for the kit and 300-400 hours (including redoing stuff ups) for a total amateur to assemble to test fly stage. Very easy to assemble and not much room required.

Just my 2c

Maynard

How about

F - Sufficient fuel

E- Engine instruments

S- System (flight instruments)

A- Airframe (brakes and flaps)

P- Passenger (belts etc)

A- Airfield (wind and location)

Different but very effective (as taught to me by my instructor)

Cheers

Maynard