Shu_downunder

11 hours ago, BrendAn said:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313810012816?hash=item491088ca90:g:0w8AAOSwaZphyojh&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA0DlA4BfruWWUJHKxrzwJKwX2IPP2odpqlJro5YD6OJAxYZelTfb516POvcVDExH%2BbOAA0ArpY6O%2BNV79AbKAIv1qws%2BLDDkapO2FnkhxGgFMQG5DDRoNTk1KHxHWwCs8n%2B6%2BoR66CcjY6FAB4TByVHdX8OMJLUd2DJOdTk2Y7Fo9gRVhZsV6Om3bzREsvcXCyE22ozkfk%2B1Qad%2F42Fj3C1b%2Fjijp89VYMvcal2Xj6Md2dQVPlNyU6GTNctU60i8nmtdOF7kvbKPohKNqkuq%2FnDY%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4LM44TcYQ

 

one of these kits could do the job.  i converted a winch with one of these kits and it worked good.

Thanks. I just copy the description here for reference.

• Compatible with 8000lb-12000lb winch with DC 12V (series wound and permanent magnet)

• Made of solid and weather resistant steel and powder coated black surface for great durability.This winch solenoid contactor replacement come with shatterproof sealed and corrosion resistant case.
• It is designed to handle intermittent current loads of 250 amps for up to 10 seconds, requiring a 20-30 second cooling time between cycles,Wireless remote control kit 12V for winches up to 2000-5000lb.Easy to install and use, portable.
• Built-in antenna design,Remote range up to about 164ft(50m).Visual indicator light shows remote operation.Allows operator to keep clear of dangerous rigging.Operator can monitor winching or lifting from different positions.
• Weather-resistant receiver WATERPROOF design,Waterproof casing will protect the receiver from rain or coffee spill,Submerged in water operation is NOT recommended.

• Condition: 100% Brand New
• Color: Black Relay + Black Receiver + Blue Remote
• Material: ABS ; Aluminum Alloy
• Operating Voltage: 12V DC
• Coil Rated Voltage: 6-110V DC --- Contact Circuit Voltage: 80V DC
• Operating Wattage: 15W
• Loading Current: Max. 250V AC 500A
• Environment temperature: -40°C - 85°C
• Frequency: 10Hz-200Hz
• Acceleration: ≤3.5g
• Speed: 60-100 per min
• Mechanical life: up to 100,000Ops
• Electrical life: up to 50,000Ops
• Operation Regulation: 50 Circle
• Control Range: Max. 150 feet

• 1 x Winch Solenoid Relay
• 1 x Winch Receiver
• 2 x Remote Controls
• 6 x Covers
• 1 x Manual

• Each remote powered by 12V 23A battery, for safety reason, battery is not included in the package.
• Professionals install is highly recommended!
• Please note that there is a circuit switch (like a seesaw) inside the product, so when you shake the relay, there is a voice inside, not by the loose in the wiring or any defective issue. Thank you!

Thanks again everyone. These info really helps. I just altered my plan so the proposed garage is taking larger space from the old one I'm converting, or 7m long x 4m wide x 2.9m height. I reckon it would be enough to store some thing. 

1 hour ago, Old Koreelah said:

Keeping your plane folded up on it’s trailer might earn you a reduced rate in a hangar.

One of the reasons I'm thinking of parking at home, is that I would have opportunity to do more maintenance work. Not that I don't trust the more professional maintenance technicians, it's just a good chance to know better the machine that I rely on. 
If I can find an affordable hangar near home, that would be ideal for sure.

1 hour ago, Thruster88 said:

Puting an aircraft on and off the trailer four times, plus assembly, to go flying will get old very quickly. Rent some hangar space or join an aero club. Aero clubs are still the cheapest way to fly up to 50 hours a year.

Thanks. It would be definitely a pain unless the the plane can stay on the trailer. However my garage does not have the height required.

Saying that, would it be possible to do some maintenance in the garage, even though using hangar at other time? If so, How large would the garage need to be?

Thanks a lot @old Korelah @planedriver and @KRviator. 
 

I was a bit desperate yesterday. Now it seems be quite possible, just depends on whether I can figure out a practical way.

I will  do the new garage door with maximised height to make it possible. 

I'm renovating my house and start to consider to do some alterations to my garage in case I need to park my future plane in it.

I'm lucky enough to have a garage with a garage door with over 2.4m of clearance. The length is 7m and width is 4m. That should be enough to put in a light plane with wings folded.

However, I'm not that lucky when looking at the driveway, the steepest section is close to 1 in 4, or 14 degrees.

I guess I will have to manually pull the plane out of the garage, manage it through the very steep yet short (4m long) driveway, turn 90 degrees so it is parallel to the road, which is also not flat, then get it onto the trailer.

Is it even possible?

Thank you @djpacro

Thanks @Garfly @rgmwa

26 minutes ago, facthunter said:

If you want to start Training check with a good school. If you want a bit of idea what its at, read "Fate is the Hunter".  Nev

Thanks. I will read it. Just to be sure, you mean the book, not the movie, right?

I wonder if there is a reading list for starters (and further learning of course)?

Areas cover:

- Aerodynamics

- Meteorology

- Airplane mechanics

- Maintenance

- Regulations

- Communication and navigation

- anything else?

I've read a couple of books including Mike Busch's Engines and Airplane Ownership 1. I really find it's necessary to read more.

On 12/10/2022 at 7:25 PM, Bosi72 said:

Where are you doing flying training and in which aircraft? That information may give you the answers to the questions.

 

I'm training at Lilydale flying school and the aircraft is AEROPRAKT A32 VIXXEN.

The pathway the school suggested was RAA --> RPL --> PPL.

When transferring to RPL, The aircraft will be PIPER WARRIOR II

On 11/10/2022 at 10:19 PM, APenNameAndThatA said:

Everything starts with a dream - preferably with a fairy god tax accountant. Maybe you need to develop a fascination with building things in regional areas? Take some lessons and tell us all how they went. 

I already started taking jobs in NSW and TAS, dreaming I can fly to work one day...

6 hours ago, facthunter said:

I think that applies to GA. Renting U/L's doesn't seem to be much of a goer. nor should it be  in my view, in a general sense.. The advantage of (some) U/L's is YOU can work on your own. This was of the essence of the original concept. Done properly it can be the SAFEST  of all because no one has more interest in your safety than YOU.    Nev

What's U/L stand for please?

22 hours ago, kgwilson said:

I have only ever flown recreationally. I flew 4 seat Cessnas & Pipers for 40 years. Other than club trips when the 4 seats were filled with 4 pilots, about half my flying was on my own & 45% or possibly more was with my wife as a passenger & sometimes the dog & only 3-4% of the time did I take 2 or 3 passengers, mostly family & friends. I built my RA aircraft & first flew it in 2015. 95% of my flying has been solo since.

 

Get all your endorsements & then rent. It will be heaps cheaper & the aircraft will likely be well maintained & hangared.

That's quite convincing!

On 10/10/2022 at 3:30 PM, facthunter said:

Maybe arrange a visit to TYABB and a good look around won't be a waste of your time. Nev

Thanks, the flying club looks cool. I will check it out.

On 10/10/2022 at 2:49 PM, MattP said:

From your posts you've just started training so haven't yet gotten to understand your "mission". The advice to buy for the 90% of flying you do and rent for the rest is sound, you just need to work out what you'll be doing, which is hard when you haven't started getting out by yourself yet. 

I love the word "mission" you used. Even though it's recreational flying, I do have set up a 'mission', which is to bring the kids to see the world via flying. 

It's a 'mission' that could fail easily, as I can't force my families to like what I like. So I have to try the best and prepare for the worst.  Bottom line, I need to have myself and my families expose to as much flying experience as possible.

Quote

Practically think of the 6 seat example.  Most se 6 seaters are 4 + bags + fuel and scale the Maths down from there with a few notable exceptions. Also, unless you already know your other half is into small planes don't assume they will line up to come with.  Mrs P occasionally tags along under duty and any child interest in flying had skipped my kids generation, meaning most of my flying is solo / with some other pilots or friends into the small plane vibe.

I've spent 6-7 years to change my wife's attitude from 'no-no', to 'give it a try and let's see...' Although I'm fresh but flying has been a daily discussion in the family. Not too bad a start...

Quote

 how much flying you'll practically do

I wish I could do 200h a year. That's an ambitious plan for me.  

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I actually get your point, even though I've prepared a bit more than other starters, there are still bunch of uncertainties. I might just rent for a while before making further decisions.

On 10/10/2022 at 12:29 PM, rgmwa said:

Upgrading is usually very expensive, particularly if you need to have it done professionally, which will be necessary as the work (maintenance and upgrades) you can do yourself as the owner of a commercial aircraft (Cessna, Piper, etc) is extremely limited. One option might be to buy a two seater and consider building your own 4 seater over 4-5 years like a Vans RV-10 (expect to pay $250-$300K however). Alternatively, buy a two seater and just hire a larger aircraft if/when you need it - which will probably be far less often that you may be thinking now. Very few private pilots own a six seater.  You may also be able to buy into a syndicate that owns a larger aircraft. There are plenty options, but  none of them will be cheap. Probably the least expensive option would be to own a two-seat experimental aircraft like a Jabiru or Vans and hire a larger plane when you need it.

None of the options will be cheap. - Got it 😰

I guess I will go for a 2 seater, hire and try different 4 seaters before finding out the way to go.

19 hours ago, cscotthendry said:

Yes, hangars are generally near a runway, whether it's at an airport or on someone's farm and for the reasons you mentioned (transporting and removing wings etc)

Generally removing flying surfaces for storage or transport is not a great option. It introduces lots of potential for missing something vital and having a really bad flying day when a wing folds or comes off, or a control surface ceases to function. Also, it adds a significant amount of overhead time to your actual flying hours. I used to own a trike which I used to transport on a trailer to other airfields. The setup/packup becomes a real PITA after a few goes.

Also, aircraft REALLY don't like being transported by road. They are very lightly constructed and not designed for extended travel, particularly on Oz's crappy road system. The bumps and shakes bend things and loosen things and it's generally not a great solution.

As others have said, if you're looking for a 4-6 place plane, you definitely won't be taking the wings off that unless you have a LAME license or similar.

Also about that 4-6 seats. You probably find that unless you have an IFR license and a very well fitted out IFR aircraft, you probably do mostly recreational flying, which usually means yourself and probably one other person. If you're paying the maintenance and fuel bills to carry 4 empty seats for most flights, flying gets expensive real quick.

Back to the hangar situation, I stick with my suggestions as they've worked well for me. But if your situation is such that there's not an airport near you, then someone's farm might be the solution. The potential downside is you're subject to how well the farmer maintains the runway(s) and if they run cattle or other animals on it, it can get a bit complicated.

In all things flying “Simplicate and add lightness.”: R. Kelly Johnson, designer of the U2 and the SR71.

I will go searching as per your suggesting instead of rely on online information only.

I will give up the ideal of storing the plane remotely from home airfield/runway.

Regards to 4-6 seats, which is the better approach providing I will eventually need a 4-6 seats soon, or, in 4-5 years for family? I can't wait too long before my kids are too old to be willing to hang around with me. lol.

1. Start with a 2-seat for a couple of years and change to a larger one after I'm confident to take families for travel.

2. Have a long term 4-6 seats from the beginning, spend time to do get familiar with it, upgrade the avionics and do maintenance allowed as owner. 

I understand the learning curve / cost might be easier to take for approach 1. But I guess the time spent on learning and get familiar with at least two aircrafts in just a few years, and money spent on upgrading each of them would offset the easier starting point.

Any suggestions please?

21 hours ago, rgmwa said:

Usually, yes and not necessarily. If you really need a 4-6 seat aircraft it won’t have easily removable wings anyway. Best thing would be to visit local airfields and talk to hangar owners. You are at the start of a long journey if you have only just started lessons and your plans and ideas will change over time.

Yes, my plan changed a few times already just during reading Mike Busch's Airplane Ownership.

The idea of searching a hangar comes from that book as well.

Don't you think it's necessary?

3 hours ago, cscotthendry said:

Ummm, I just te-read your post. Are you looking for someone who can construct a hangar for you?

Thanks scott for the advice.

I can probably build a hangar myself as I'm a builder. But I simply don't have a clue where to start. My questions are actually more 'entry-level':

- Are the potential hangars only located in or immediately around airports and runways?

- If there are other available places, where could they be? Someone's farm?

- If it's somewhere off the runway, does it mean I need to source an airplane with removable wings for transportation?

I've just started training and been dreaming to own a 4-6 seats light airplane, hopefully in the near future. 

Can anyone give me some idea where should I look for source for hangars?

I live in North-east of Melbourne, between ESSENDON and Lilydale. 

Is he doing so to prove he's a 'downunder'?