Millie

Would the beefree have anything to do with the Belite Aircraft, google it looks and sounds exactly the same type of aircraft, perhaps the Bee Free is the Aussie version????

Not supprised I expect they are watching the E-Go very carefully and cautiously, even rotax had and may still do warnings their engines are not suitable for aviation use.

Hello are you aware of the little single seat Canard in the UK called the "E-Go" which is undergoing final trials before production it is powered by a specially developed Wankle Rotary called the Rotron. Rotron make a range of rotarys which they are promoting to the drone and light aviation market. When I run out of 447's (I have a spare in a box), I am seriously considering one for the Sapphire by then they will have stood the test of time. I would attach the link but Ipads have a mind of their own so suggest you Google the site. Regards Anthony

Methusala is right I fly around Canberra in my Sapphire (mostly fibreglass) and often get calls from ATC wanting to know who I am and if I have a Transponder, even when I am well and truly outside ATC boundries, not only that but they pinpoint my location and altitude, mostly on Sundays I strongly suspect they are bored. As I always keep a listening watch on Canberra Approach it took me quite by supprise when ATC made a call to aircraft operating at my location and hight, I at first thought there was some other heavy metal very close but realised they were watching me, now we are good friends I often call them up and let them know my intensions.

Latest news on the ABC is that it was a midair between two gliders the second landed OK but sadly the other crashed, it was late yesterday afternoon and there were only the two gliders in the air, the circumstances are still to be established. Anthony

Hello David Made a mistake well after midnight when I made the last post. The LSA catagory is actually covered in CASR Part 21 Sections AC 21-41(0). and AC 21-42(1) Wide awake now Anthony.

Hello David LSA are very much alive and current yes some Sapphires were made before thhe LSA Catogary was instigated but many later models are LSA including kit built 19 Category. See CASR 1998 21.186 Anthony

Hello Tomo I have no idea how to download a photograph from my Ipad onto this site I tried but doesn't seem to work for me, but if you like send me your email address and I'll email them to you I think you can send it on a private post. Anthony

All LSA Sapphires have been grounded following a nasty incident where the rudder became detached in flight, The Sapphire was flying between the Latrobe Vally and Wangaratta when the top rudder hinge gave way and the rudder fell off (held on only by rudder cables) as a result directional control was lost and had to make a forced landing the pilot walked away but sadly the Sapphire was destroyed. A warning to all Sapphire owners check your rudder top mounting collar spigot, it appears some were fabricated from a one piece nylon block or some other plastic material and relys only on the integrity and strength of the nylon to hold the rudder in place, the lower mounting is a simple vertical pin that engages into the bottom of the rudder post so once the top collar fails there is nothing stopping the rudder except gravity to depart. Wayne Matthews RA AUS Technical Officer has grounded all LSA Sapphires until Steve Dumesney issues a fix. If you know any one with a Sapphire please let them know they may have a problem and to check to see if their top mounting is plastic (scrape the paint off a section it will probably be a white nylon material) if in doubt contact either Wayne or Steve Dumesney. I checked mine and was rather taken back when I saw what looked like a bit of bread board material holding it in place and taking all the rudder flight loads. Anthony

Hello folks can any one confirm or deny a roumour that we can refuse a ramp check, if approached by the CASA inspector are we at liberty to tell them to go away, is this correct or do they have the legal authority to carry one out against your will.

Hello as you can see by my Avatur I am a keen Sapphire owner I have been involved with and flown a number of versions, the first had been modified with a fully hinged canopy and instrument panel making it very easy to get in and out, my previous one had a Dumesney canopy but no wing tanks or flaps and my current Sapphire is one of the latest kit built (19-0000) with a Dumesney high arch canopy, wing tanks, flaps and a 447 Rotax, and 75 litres capacity, I weigh 85kgs am a bit over 6ft a tight fit I have to thread myself in but once settled it is quite comfy I regularly fly for 2 to 3 hours at a steady cruise of 75 knots could cruise faster but it feels relaxed at that speed. In my opinion the 447 is the most suitable engine sadly now out of production the 503 is heavier but has a faster cruise and climb the down side is most people have to add a lot of lead to counterbalance in the nose (extra weight is a drag), the Sapphire is the ultimate single seater it is a pilots aircraft very light and responsive it has great glider characteristics, loves thermals, glides well and a huge afinity for the air. In my opinion flaps are usless I rarely use them, spoilers are the answer Tony Whitlocks (RIP) designed and fitted them to his Sapphire it really gets the Sapphire down, my approaches are done at 50 knots the landings require a little skill but a lot easier than landing a Thruster, if any faster it floats forever, if you use flaps unless you are really on the ball it tends to waffel and baloon in ground effect which turns a good approach into a messy bounce perhaps my reflexes are a bit slow. If you would like any specific information or wanted to talk Sapphires I'm hangared at Goulburn and would be happy to chat. Regards AG

there is a place for an RC Forum, most of my ultralight associates also fly RC, we will often get more ultralight pilots in one place flying RC then ultralights, it has become an extension of our aviation addiction. Regards Millie