Frankus1aust

I was under the impression that any aircraft being hired would also need to be on a maintenance program such as would apply to a flying school and be a 23/24 registered aircraft. Also bearing in mind insurance issues.

Great post. Interesting to note the factory was dedicated six months before Pearl Harbor. So someone in the administration was thinking ahead.

Red wine with chicken??!!! It must be the Sixties.

Claret or Burgundy?

There is one at Lethbridge Vic. That big radial is a sight (and sound) to behold.

$417.00 per lesson? How much is flying hours and how much briefing? Assume 1 hour flying Aircraft cost $140.00, Instructor 1 hour $50.00, Briefing say 30 minutes and debrief 20 minutes, $40.00, landing/airport fees say $25.00. So the total is now $255.00 plus GST $25.50 & we are up to $280.50. These costs I reckon are generous so the rest is extortion. Our local school charges $200.00/hour including briefings etc in a Jab 160 & I thought that was expensive.

My local school is ~ $240.00 per hour (J160) dual and this includes the basic pre flight briefing. Time to a cert is realistically 35- 45 hrs.

There is also a J430 for sale with the R914 turbo engine and in flight ajustable prop. The owner did some rerouting of the fuel system (the Rotax engine has a fuel return system) and it apparently performs very well. Also there needed to be a few Kg's added to the tail and apparently it flies well and is under experimental category.

Nobody likes an unsolved mystery. Particularly in aviation. Here is an engineering presentation from an Engineering group that makes very interesting viewing (if you can get past the accents and acronyms). Best thing I have seen for a while and represents some very competent work

Re the opening comment from Neel on this link, https://www.smartcompany.com.au/entrepreneurs/influencers-profiles/soar-aviation-neel-khokhani-flight-school/

Yes he was fired, but not for telling the owner in question how to run his business. As he was dismissed he accused the owner of being a racist. The owner answered "I wasn't a racist but I am now".

This operation had "shonk" written all over it. The industry has enough challenges without get rich quick parasites fleecing it of resources.

A very enterprising young man - so good on him for that.... Selling to PEs probably not the best way to go.. because they, like VCs want to see very good returns and growth... and unless he was in cash flow drought territory, the services of a board of directors or business mentors may have been a better approach...

 

This is a pump up and sell exercise. Everything at Soar is working from the lowest denominator of cost and is a business model we have seen in other industries that delivers for the owner, and not the students. I have been waiting for the homing pigeons to return for this enterprise for a while. Frankly, it's overdue. Lots of empathy for the students and no sympathy for the owner.  This industry has enough to deal with without this kind of operation "asset stripping" the training industry.

Yes it seems happiest at around 75 Kn. An ideal hour builder as it takes hours to get anywhere. However the cost per hour is cheap and I think there are a few flying schools still running them. It took 8 hours flying time into a 20 kn headwind to get it from Moruya to Melb. Following the road, I was impressed when I raced past a truck. Only to realise he was changing a Tyre. (A little exaggerated but not far off).

Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks Guys for the info. I will remove the leg and have a look.

And last question, ('till next time), can anyone suggest where a person could buy the rubber donuts that go in the nose wheel strut?

What I am looking for are the rubber donuts that go in the front nose gear strut that dampen the landing shock. Basically just rubber washers.

Last I saw I think I had a packet with Bert Flood imports on it. But that was nearly 10 years ago.

 

try this:

 

 

 

 

Thanks and I called but they didn't seem to know. I'm guessing it is a part that may be on other aircraft so any suggestions would be welcome

Does anyone in the experience trust know where to buy the rubber donuts that are inside the front gear leg of a Skyfox Gazelle? Front strut leg is a bit clunky. I don't have a picture.

Thanks in advance

Interesting...FGN is 4 NM south of YMEN and inside CTR.

 

The rules say a drone must not be flown:

 

• closer than 30 m to people — other than those helping to fly or navigate your drone
   
  
• over or above people at any time or height
   
  
• in a way that creates a hazard to another person, aircraft or property
   
  
• near emergency situations
   
  
• in prohibited or restricted airspace
   
  

 

Guess Police are exempt, hey?

 

There is the drone license which allows you to be exempt from those rules. You will also need to submit a flight plan and read the local Notams and list a Notam of your activities under some circumstances.

I am guessing it comes back to the point of "professionalism" and threat and error management. The professional makes themselves educated on the rules and skils, and when there is an ambiguity applies the TEM process to determine risk and take sensible command action. To get a (suitable) RH seat passenger to hold the aircraft straight and level (under supervision) while the pilot is attending to a necessary task for the safe conduct of the flight, would to me not be breaking the rules.  Before any non standard action, it's always worth concerning your future explanation during tea and biscuits at CASA HQ if you have a non standard outcome. (Circumstances alter cases).

Hangout at Moorabbin for a while and there are any quantity of stories on Soar. Not all are sourer grapes. The business model looks like grow with lowest common denominator and flip for  a big cash out. The price is false economy for the student and a windfall for the company.

It was a good event and well attended. The Saturday dinner was a bit of a chaos with the food (compared to last year) but the company was good. Weather conditions were ok though a dust storm later Saturday arvo. Sunday fly home weather was good. The event is well supported locally by the council. It would be great if RAA could have been there in a more collaborative role, but for reasons we all know, probably won't happen any time soon. With a more "all aviators under one sky" participation, the trade distributors for aircraft and accessories would be there in greater numbers. The trade side of the event is an attraction, but the traders need a good chance of a ROI to show up.

Let me know how you get on. I could not get it copied until Tuesday.  When you get the 'e' copy it will say what version it is, eg 'Aug 1993'. Plus page 91 should be 14 or  more attachments - prop attachment, wiring diagram, control system etc.  If so print of and do up a folder with all the notices, an's etc. If not clear my offer stands. Enjoy the refit / maintenance. Cheers

 

Thanks a lot for your offer and help and I will advise how I go next week

Thanks for that link and I was speaking to an L2 today, who referenced that comment about L1 maintainers and paperwork. If they can't do the correct followup on paperwork on reoccurring AD's and the aircraft's prescribed schedule, you would wonder about the work. The foundation point is that one of a sense of professionalism. Must drive the RAA tech dept nuts.

Did you track down a copy?

 

I think so but if you have something available it would be appreciated. Any costs let me know. For some reason the "messages" part of the site is not working for me. Alternatively [email protected].

Thanks for the reply and no, I have only the POH and still looking for the maintenance schedule or a service manual. I have all the AD's. If you have one and can email it my address is [email protected]. It would probably be good to upload it to the Rec flying resources site if possible as a useful reference for any other interested owners.

 

I think so but not seen it yet. A generous member is sending me an e copy, but if you have something easily available, that would be a great help 

Thanks Guys,

Info is clear and questions answered. The 12 months or 100 hours, which ever comes first, may be a confusion for some RAA owners. I think there are some out there that don't realise an annual is required. Also I wonder how many maintainers actually have a copy of the required maintenance scheduled for their aircraft and a record of AD's?