Thruster88

Hi Craig, great to hear you have 4 machines now. We have 4 flying in our Cowra group now with 2 more under restoration. We are flying 2 over for the Parkes flyin next Saturday april 2.

This sounds promising. https://updates.communication.casa.gov.au/link/id/zzzz623bbfea20b58662Pzzzz5f2e768d8d88b259/page.html

The rotax 277 single cyl is 28hp and 30kg complete, the 377 twin cylinder is 35hp and 38kg complete. Weight includes gearbox and exhaust. They are both out of production. 377 will turn a 60inch prop and is a solid performer, have one on a single seat thruster.

I shall look forward to meeting you Old K

https://www.facebook.com/1393913727530526/posts/3091314297790452/ Anyone going? Mate and I will be there Saturday in Thrusters with our ASIC cards at the ready😥. Looks like all the displays are off the airfield, no public access for potential terrorists 😂😂😂😂.

That is obviously a very forgiving aircraft, can do same thing in a thruster. Remember that the most forgiving aircraft can still stall and spin to the ground if the pilot is not paying attention. Defined Minimum Maneuvering Speed (1.4 x stall speed) live it.

It is a Grumman G-164 ag cat with a Garret turbine conversion. The operator likes them because they can fly slow and turn tight in the hills and with smaller paddocks.

Well it hasn't happened yet. RAAus have to submit the "documents" to casa for approval. I would have thought RAAus would have had those ready to go given how long this has taken. Not even a we have submitted the "documents" from RAAus yet.

It was fly your Thruster to work day at Cowra airport today. Mate and I have a nice pair of matching singles. I was surprised how economical the 2 stroke draggy machine was, same fuel use as the turbo diesel ute, 44km by road, 16nm by air.

A very beautiful Tiger Moth got fuel in Cowra Friday on their way to Serpentine Vic. I was not aware of the place.

These alloy kart wheels are designed for tube less tyres, the beads on tube type aircraft tyres must be a little different, ie slightly bigger diameter. I If your big tyre is tubless it may work without mechanical lock.

When I was young and relatively inexperienced with piloting I remember reading this accident report about weight and balance and how things could change in flight as fuel burned off. Six people died and GA took another hit, it is not surprising that the general public are reluctant to fly in light aircraft. https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1992/aair/aair199200014/

Yes a bead lock. Think you will need them with those big tyres and brakes

Running these same wheels on the thruster with 6x6.00 aircraft tyres have found they don't grip the beads very well and will tear the valve stem off at low pressure even without brakes. Problem solved with two short self tapping screws each side on the inner diameter. Screws go into the rubber by about 3mm.

Got to do a short ferry flight in a Cessna 182t recently, first G1000 experience. Nice aircraft.

Nice line of aircraft. They have all the good brands, Cessna, Beechcraft and lycoming. I think the Panthera is what Textron wants to complete their lineup. A worthy competitor to the Cirrus.

Here is a list of all the beavers made with their history. I have been fortunate to be involved with annual inspections on #1072 a beautiful clean example of this iconic aircraft. Click on the master index and then serial to see pics of aircraft. https://www.dhc-2.com/id634.htm

Keep us posted, I tried to register without success. They don't seem to accept mobile numbers. The government has more user friendly websites.

I think all aircraft owners are a bit eccentric. If the aircraft had been in annual for the last 8 years and flown say 200 hours would any part of it except the cylinders be in better condition? Being composite removes the big fear for aircraft buyers.

I think he will get 200k, someone out there will be prepared to take the risk on the engine which has 1300 hours to run in private ops. Parachute is still current so getting a permit to fly should not be a problem. Budget parachute, cylinders if required and other items it will still be a very cheap sr22.

The rim looks like a dirt kart item. Bitumen track karts use 5 inch wheels and dirt track types are 6 inch. https://edwardskartwheels.com.au/collections/dirt-kart-wheels I have bought these for the thruster. The disk I am guessing is custom made, you could get them made at an engineering shop perhaps.

The rules obviously don't apply to aircraft takeoff or landing. A low level endorsement can be obtained with RAAus pilot certificate.

Unfortunately I don't think the molten lead will melt in to the existing lead weight. This may be a problem depending on location of old holes new holes from a structural integrity point of view. If you are confident in the integrity of the weight go for it. Could you just recast the wieght.

The engine is heavy and expensive. No proven gearbox available. Firewall forward with liquid cooling system, unproven gearbox, exhaust, alternator and engine management system it would weigh as much as a 180hp lycoming. A rotax 915 would be much lighter and cheaper. Confidence in a proven engine package, priceless for pilots that like flying.

Welcome Thruster pilot, got any pics of your machine?