Thruster88

1 hour ago, Area-51 said:

At 3300rpm the gen4 sees 119hp and 189Nm torque where a 68" prop is just shy of supersonic tip speed; the 3300rpm being advantageous for producing thrust over the 9XX unit's 2400rpm;

I don't believe that is correct. The 2400rpm propeller will be more efficient and produce more thrust if the hp was same.

Rotax could have chosen any ratio for the gearbox.  

The cessna 414 I have been working on recently has such a system. A bottle about 15cm and a hose running to the front, electric valve to release the goods. Could be retrofitted to an experimental.  

53 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

Performance of Rotax 912 in Sonex is inferior to Jab 3300 engine after comparison testing by the manufacturer.  Therefore Jabiru 3300 is King in both climb rate and cruise.

These numbers seem a tad rounded and they do not make sense re the turbo 100hp v non turbo 100hp in respect to altitude performance. They are not credible.  

The zongshen clone has the same usefulness as a time expired Rotax for flying schools.

The ready supply of good used time expired ex flying school rotax engines will limit the zongshen clones appeal for experimental users.

Some of the capital is recovered with a time expired rotax.

On the way home from Japan in an Qantas A330 last night. Waited till the moon set behind the winglet at 4am est. Phone did a good job to get the shot. Might have to fly the thruster tomorrow. 

Flying a thruster makes one a well rounded pilot. Use the stick to achieve the outcome (air speed) required regardless of what that looks like.

A steep 30° banked turn engine off all the way to the runway is just one of the fun things one can do in a thruster.

11 hours ago, danny_galaga said:

Well, I've taken so long building my plane that the company has stopped making them 😲 so my list (minus the engine parts) will become even more relevant for me over time. 

 

They are restructuring, and will still be supplying parts. One thing I'm toying with is to get a spare set of sails. People say 'just get a sailmaker to copy them'. Problem is, they are pretty complicated sails, and I've heard some horror stories. Of course it's a HUGE expense holding onto a spare set, and they take up room in my already chockers garage.

If you keep it Hangared those skins will last a life time. They have much better UV resistance than dacron type skins like a thruster would have. I replaced the original skins on my 1988 thruster in 2017, Alan the sail maker tested them and they were still in spec. Always hangared. 

8 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Nice looking aircraft and its (Wilkpedia) performance is almost as good as the ATEC Faet (also  Czech)

Comparing wikipedia or even manufacturer performance is a waste of time. Adsb shows anyone interested how they cruise in the real world. Cessna 182, 120-130 knots all day every day. 

The impossible turn is only impossible if the pilot stalls the aircraft. No stall anything is possible. As they say in the vid, you might not make the runway but it may be better than landing in suburbia. 

A better pre takeoff briefing, I WILL NOT STALL THE AIRCRAFT IN THE NEXT TWO MINUTES.  

1 hour ago, turboplanner said:

Next target 16 Thrusters and some Drifters

 

The target for next year is 8 thrusters, only 4 this year. I am doing my bit to stimulate grass roots flying in this area. One guy now has three, high hour commercial pilot, he loves them.

Drifters are a bit rare down here, have seen one at Cootamundra, I think it is blue drifter, a member on here. 

Maybe they are investigating it because the vertical stabilizer broke off. I would want to know how that happened.

14/4/2024OCC3655DubboNSWJabiruJ230JabiruGen 4 3300OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During the flight, the pilot heard a bang and the aircraft sh... 

OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During the flight, the pilot heard a bang and the aircraft shook violently. At first, the pilot thought they had collided with a large bird. The pilot disabled the autopilot and checked the readings, and temps and oil pressure were normal but RPM was erratic. The pilot closed the throttle to idle and made an immediate turn for Dubbo. Approximately 15nm east of Dubbo airport, the pilot contacted ATC with a Pan Pan. After 1-2 mins the prop began to spin slower than the RPM and was causing an excessive sink rate. The pilot switched to a MAYDAY call as the airframe was shaking even worse and affecting controls. The pilot made an uneventful landing into a paddock. The pilot shutdown the aircraft and advised ATC of landing.

End of RAAus report.

My comment

Bird, loose prop, dropped valve, we will never know. Got to love the way these reports are written. "After 1-2 mins the prop began to spin slower than the RPM and was causing an excessive sink rate". WTF does that mean.  

Sound like a very good event. Thank you to the sponsors. Not able to attend this time, look forward to the next one, 8 thrusters yes.

From the CEO

Fly'n For Fun Soars to Success at Parkes, NSW

Last weekend marked a truly remarkable and successful event as aviation enthusiasts from near and far gathered at Parkes, NSW, for Fly'n For Fun. This exhilarating occasion, made possible by the dedication and support of numerous individuals and organisations, showcased the best of aviation and community spirit.

At the heart of this extraordinary event stood our Principal Sponsor, the AMDA Foundation, whose unwavering support helped turn our vision into reality. Their commitment to fostering aviation excellence played a pivotal role in making Fly'n For Fun a resounding success.

In addition to the AMDA Foundation, we extend our deepest gratitude to our Platinum Sponsor OzRunways who sponsored breakfast for every pilot and passenger who flew in, and added significant value, ensuring a memorable experience for all attendees. Their partnership and enthusiasm for aviation were crucial in creating an unforgettable event for everyone involved.

We have received great feedback about the shuttle bus service that was offered to ferry people between the event site and the town of Parkes. We would like to thank ROTAX for their generous sponsorship, which allowed us to make this fantastic service free to all attendees.

Of course, our appreciation extends beyond our principal and platinum sponsors to encompass all our other sponsors and exhibitors. Your support and involvement enriched the event, providing attendees with unique insights and experiences that celebrated the diversity of aviation.

A special mention must be made to the HARS Aviation Museum for their invaluable contribution to the success of Fly'n For Fun. Their tireless efforts in developing the event site into a remarkable venue underscore their dedication to preserving aviation heritage and promoting the joy of flight. Witnessing the transformation of the site from a cow paddock to its current grandeur is a testament to the passion and hard work of everyone involved. HARS have more fantastic improvements planned for the site - stay tuned!

We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our members who attended the event. Your continued support to aviation is overwhelming and inspiring. Your presence and enthusiasm contributed immeasurably to the vibrant atmosphere of Fly'n For Fun.

As we reflect on the weekend's achievements, we are filled with excitement for the future of this event. With ambitious plans underway to further enhance the event site and expand its offerings, we are confident that this biennial gathering will continue to captivate aviation enthusiasts for many years to come.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, exhibitors, partners, and members for their invaluable contributions. Your support has been instrumental in making Fly'n For Fun a highlight of the RAAus calendar, and we eagerly anticipate the continued growth and success of this fly-in.

Here's to many more years of flying high together!

Maxine Milera
CEO

I don't see the difference between any of the 103 aircraft available and a thruster, single or two seat flown solo. How is your thruster going Jack?

I would rate the lycoming O-235 as the best piston aero engine. Only producers 112hp from a platform capable of 210hp (io-390) 2400 hour tbo, could be the highest ever? Powers the C152 and some others.

56 minutes ago, facthunter said:

They have been fiddling with this one for a long time. Clutter bother's me and you'll still need better radio work..  The current set up is not good enough.  Nev

It is just a another tool like the radio or looking out the window into the sphere that surrounds our aircraft. Hearing an aircraft call and seeing it on screen is very reassuring. The screen is like a mirror in a car, no staring required.

All the RAAus aircraft are capable of being hit from behind by an RV.

I believe there was 4 Thrusters at Parkes. That is cheap fun flying. Could have been even more since a couple of mates and myself had other things on.

Yes sad, they seem like a great aircraft. Friend has one down here. 

There is a post on Facebook confirming the Bushcat production is ending. 

Looking at fr24 about 30 adsb aircraft so maybe 100 in total have flown in so far today. A good mix of GA and RAAus. Would have liked to be there. 

Both sides of cowl opened at different times so most likely not locked correctly.  

2 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

 $115k !!!!!!???? - you jest??? Can I buy it off you?

 

The RV Range certainly have a great reputation - my pick - the 4 or the 8.

Had a couple of rides in two diffrent 4's.

No not for sale. The rise in value since buying 4 years ago is another bonus, helps offset that $3 avgas.

As a fun machine I think my RV6a is hard to beat. 10 out of ten in the above categories except maybe efficiency. True speed does not come cheap. There is no better aircraft out there for $115k new or used. Being aerobatic is a bonus. 

The speeds quoted by some manufacturers are BS, fantasy or highly optimistic. ADSB data shows how they really perform. You can't have a head wind both ways. 👿👿👿 

1 hour ago, Hopey said:

Good evening from New Zealand. I have just purchased a Sky Ranger V Max with a 92 HP Simonini engine and very pleased with its performance. Two up 50 litres of fuel using 65 meters on TO.

The motor only has 100 hours on it, with a 3 bladed prop.

Yes they are two strokes and a bit roudy but we are a moto cross family and dont mind. I am a PPL with 38 years of flying and very much enjoy spending time with my grand kids showing them how to fly it.

Using around 15 litres per hour and crusing 75 kts ( 85 mph ) at 5700 rpm.

The simonini is a cheap reliable engine to operate and requires maintenance and operating performance as per the manual ( not what others think )

I have flown behind rotax 2 stokes for 40 years with zero issues. Keep it jetted correctly and enjoy