bushcaddy105

My sympathy to Rotax owners

You can understand from these stories why I personally chose and continue to sing the praises of the old Subaru EA81. The gyro flyers were first to pick them up, and gave (and still give!) them a hiding. Do they give trouble? Very rarely, and usually through external conversion components rather than the Subaru core. Best of all, just over 600 Oz dollars buys all parts for a rebuild, should you be unfortunate enough to need them. TBO is yet to be decided- wait until one wears out!

Another idea which is worth considering:- If you have a pocket scanner, make up a lead to connect its headphone output to an audio input on your intercom. It will then work similarly to the dual watch transceivers, with the exception of not being able to set a priority frequency. If the channels are busy, you'll get them both at once, so use the volume to set the secondary frequency to be in the background. Turn it up if anything interesting comes in!

More useful? info about fuel pumps

As Subaru EA81 engines have never run mechanical fuel pumps (all car installations used electric pumps) I fitted an electric pump in series with the fuel line from the high wing tanks, and always use it when climbing out. Level flight is always on gravity feed alone

Before Easter, en route to Narromine, the fuel pump stopped (turned out to be a stuck piston, after buying a new pump!) In experimenting caused by necessity, I discovered that I could still pull 4000 revs and 500 fpm on climbout just on gravity feed alone when the wing tanks were less than 500mm above the carby.

Are we a bit hung up on the need for multiple fuel pumps on high wing aircraft?

Here's an idea for a remote flying experience

We have just returned from a trip to a private strip out from Coober Pedy, and called in at Andamooka on the way back to Port Pirie. Sure is interesting country. I will attempt to post some pictures of Andamooka. The strip is a gibber-covered claypan, definitely dry weather only and with no facilities.

On the way north we fuelled at Olympic Dam (BHP- Billiton's mine village- note that prior permission is needed to use their strip) and had to avoid the Woomera restricted area as they are currently active there. Check out the current Notam for Woomera for a scary list of the possibilities one might encounter if too far off course!

Note that all this country is Designated Remote Area, and prescribed precautions need to be observed. When all you can see for 360 degrees is sand ridges, they all look the same!

All in all, a great trip

Count me in, not for the MT410G (it's big and aimed at boaties), but for the personal one whenever it's released. As I understand, its been promised for a long time, but hasn't yet been released. Avalon this year had many sellers stalls featuring the personal one, but they were all apparently just dummy cases for show only.

Gooday Paul

Yes, there are 2 lifetimes of experience with Graham and Kevin alone, and Malcolm has the Aeropup building experience to add.

Sure, I will help with the Headsets kit. You're about an hour from me by road, or 20 minutes from Port Pirie. A thought - I can arrange for you to fly in to a private strip about 4 Km from me if this suits.

No, I won't be at Paul's this weekend, as I have always wanted to get to the Bi-annual Waikerie Vintage machinery rally. When the Sports Aircraft Club advertised their flyin at Waikerie, with a bus to the rally, I decided to kill 2 birds with one flight, if that makes sense!

Just curious, how many of you are flying on Subaru engines? While there seems to be much info available in the USA, little comes from Australia.

I am personally only aware of the Terriers, Karatoos and assorted gyros - plus my BushCaddy R80 on its EA81

Hi Scott

I too have just had the go-ahead from my understanding first (and only!) wife to plan for AirVenture 2008. As she can't abide the thought of a week-long airshow (or 1 day, for that matter) I would be going solo for the trip. How about we gather any other forum members in the same position, and make up a party? This may give us some bargaining power with the tour operators.

Please keep in touch

Can anyone help with information about a converted Haflinger engine which was advertised in the magazines back in the early 90's? (Hopefully its present whereabouts!)

Ian, I have often puzzled over waypoint locations issued with Arfors, particularly here in Sth Oz where they are often used in conjunction with airstrip identifier codes. Some locations used do not appear in Ersa's list of either IFR or VFR waypoints. An approach direct to the BoM produced the "I don't know where you'd find out" answer!

Can anyone shed any light on where to to get a full list of locations used in Arfors?

What about BushCaddy R80 ? Not common, but a great aircraft (in my opinion at least!)

Regards, John

Gooday again, Mike

Rawnsley Park (YRYK)

31 39' S 138 36' E

03/21 gravel 1100 metres ( always a crosswind, according to the locals, and I agree from experience) Note:- All circuits to the East, away from the resort

Stands out from the air like the proverbial dog's dangles

Phone (08) 8648 0030 for permission

Regards, John B

Mike, Only 4 weeks ago we (3 couples) spent the SA long weekend at Rawnsley Park. As we would otherwise have taken 2 cars, I flew the BushCaddy in. Tony Smith is the owner- give him a call and he's fine with the idea. No charges if you are staying at Rawnsley. Centralair operate tourist flights around Wilpena Pound out of Rawnsley's strip, and their guys are more than happy to share their route and reporting points. The early morning flights over/around the Pound are spectacular. Go for it! (Of course I'm somewhat biased- I live in the Southern Flinders and fly out of Pt. Pirie.) Drop me a line if you need more info.

PS If you want a bit more adventure, Doug Sprigg, the proprietor at Arkaroola (further up in the Flinders), is also flying friendly and welcomes flyin visitors.

Regards, John Birrell

Gooday Steve,

After much headscratching, I chose to use a Foxcon redrive, as used on the Terrier 200. E-mail Foxcon direct for current price, as it has probably changed since I bought mine. I also used their prop hub and spinner, with blades from Bolly. Now has 68 hours flying on it and has been trouble-free (and incredibly smooooth!). The weight of my EA81, including redrive, starter, alternator, engine mount brackets, manifold, carby and oil (As weighed to calculate Weight and Balance for engine truss design) is 92 Kilos.

To this must be added the muffler (My own home-brew one weighs 2.5 Kg) and the radiator, coolant and hoses. I guess about 100 Kg all up

Hope this helps

John B

I fly an EA81 with a belt redrive, and am getting comments from pilot passengers that it is the smoothest, quietest engine they have ever flown behind, despite being hung on fairly stiff urethane bushes in an all-metal aircraft.

The main penalty, when compared with a 912, is approx 25 kilos extra to carry by the time you add radiator and coolant (although my radiator is clearly bigger than it needs to be)

The biggest plus is the cost, or lack of! I had 2 engines given to me, and picked up a third for $40 out of the local paper. A full rebuild kit - pistons, rings, gudgeons, small end bushes, main and big end bearings, all gaskets and seals costs $420.00 from SupaCheap, and thats for an Australian ACL package. Add about $60 each for a new water pump and oil pump and you have a zero time engine for under $600

The other plus is that EA81's simply don't break - they are bulletproof

Anyone like to comment on their experience with Icom A-200 radios? My new one is back for repair under warranty for the second time in 30 hours of use.

Greetings- I've just logged on and am finding my way around, albeit slowly!

I have recently finished building a BushCaddy R80, and have flown 32 hours of my 40 hour test period. It's currently based at Port Pirie, Sth Oz, about 30Km from home.

Am interested in what others have done with the Subaru EA81, as this is what I am flying in the BC