ianwells

So Sorry to hear this bad news Here is Rob with the Bush Boar camping in the Simpson desert last August. RIP Rob. We will miss you.

At Newry Island

Flying past Hill Inlet and Whitehaven beach.

Here is the 701 out playing in the Whitsundays. Roberta bay, Shaw island.

We've just had BOB the 701 on floats at Starke airfield for the Easter fly in, so we are now planning the trip down for the Lake Barambah splash in. hope to see many other seaplanes there. Just after our arrival at Starke, quite a few well known NQ aviators in this picture!!!!

At least 5 aircraft coming up from the Whitsundays, I have to work Sat morning so will arrive late Saturday. The wind should ease, but may be a bit wet over the weekend. See you all there.

Hi Deb and Ralph Julie and I will certainly be attending the splash in, weather permitting. We have just christened our new 701 on amphibious floats so this will be the first trip away with it. There should be a fair few others from the Whitsundays heading down including a Searay a Supper Petrel and a couple of Lightwings. We will try and give firm figures closer to the day. Looking forward to a great weekend cheers Ian

Fine with stingrays though.

I'm not going to get close enough to find out, I hope!!!!

another glorious day in the tropics.

Was out again this morning and spotted this up the prosie river

This photo taken about 2 hours ago, on final runway 16!!!!! Beautiful winters day in the Whitsundays.

Hi Justnuzza A Lithium iron can't be too light for any aircraft, if it affects the W & B then put something else there ie tools, tie downs etc I am replacing my lead acid battery with a lithium iron one and will save 5 kg weight, nearly 2% of the aircraft weight for no downside. This is free extra performance. Most people don't understand the term ultralight aircraft. who was it said "design a plane then add some lightness" Cheers Ian

Are there any wind socks at this strip Phil, part of the reason for doing circuits is so you can observe the wind sock, determine the wind direction, then decided which runway to use. And land into the wind. Pretty basic really. Or do you have to land down wind back in England because of the Corriolis effect?

Cab sav is all loaded for an early start tommorow. At least 4 aircraft from the whitsundays are heading down. Lunch at Dingo then on to Thangool.. See you there.

Hey Doug, Here is me in a float lightwing in a different life. This was just on the sandspit off Langford reef near Hayman island. Note I'm in the left seat though definitely not the PIC.

Hi Richard We live just north of you, about 20k south of proserpine. I have a drifter that I am putting floats on and a savannah. Where is the strip at kuttabul? send us the coordinates and we will drop in on you when the rain stops. You do use lots of aileron with the drifter, and rudder. Dont need a turn and bank gauge, just a bit of wool stuck in the centre of the windscreen, keep it vertical and you will have a coordinated turn. If you need any help with the drifter give a call. Welcome to the wonderful world of drifter flying. Cheers Ian.

OK previous bikes. Honda C50, Yamaha FS1E, Honda CM 250, Kawasaki GPZ 750 R. Recently had a BBQ flyin at Heathrow, six pilots. All six presently owned a motorbike. Must be something in the blood?

presently Honda CB 900 Hornet, I like reliability, Honda motorbike and ROTAX aero engines. Safe Flying and Riding Ian

Hi Tagati Go for the drifter. Weightshift aircraft are generaly only for calm, non thermic conditions, otherwise are hard work shifting all the weight, PPGs are great but still limited to low wind days. I have done both of these then got the Drifter. You can pick one approx. 10-12K . Have you been for a flight in one yet? If you are in Townsville try contacting Farri. or if you are passing the whitsundays give me a call. If the wife wont fly with you, take the girlfriend instead. Cheers Ian

I learnt to fly in a drifter with Wayne fisher. Previously had been for tifs in a lightwing and a low wing Technam, but after a tif with Wayne in his drifter at Lismore I decided to learn with him because it was WAY MUCH MORE FUN than the proper aircraft. The cost of the lessons wasn't very different and had no effect on my choice. Perhaps we need to put the fun back into flying and show people what ultralight flying is about. We need more instuctors like Wayne and Fari to spread the word. Cheers and Fun Flying Ian

Hi Nev, dr Zoos, Merv and Russ. Couldn't agree more Nev and Merv, My friends with the jabs aren't particularly experienced with off airport operations. The 600m 17/35 has mangroves at the northern end then a couple of hundred meters of gentle undulations then approx. 350m fairly flat. I think its the undulations that puts them off. The Sav and drifter have absolutely no problem with the undulations. The southern end is clear so no problems with a go around. prevailing winds e/se. Multiple other "ultralight aircraft use the strip with no concerns, Titan Tornado, lightwings, eurofox, foxbat, x air, 701, Gyros, Most of the time we use the 240m 09/27 strip. That's why I would like an "Experienced" Jab pilot to check the strip out to see what they think. Certainly a good idea to check it out from the ground first. Russ. 20 deg 32.8' S, 148 deg 39.1'E Tel 0428 446676, we have plenty of accommodation if needed. Give us a call when you are coming up. Cheers Ian

Hi Phil, you are cordially invited to drop in any time when next passing, we have two good friends with jabirus (J230 and J430)and would love them to visit us here. Both pilots have inspected the strip which has several gentle undulations, and neither one will land. We seriously would like an experienced jab pilot to demonstrate it is possible to land safely here. The challenge is on. Look forward to meeting you Phil. Cheers Ian

Hi Roger Yes we all occasionally fly over less than perfect terrain, but personally I try to avoid the "very nasty tiger country" . The danger of flying over such country is not an unfounded fear, it KILLS people, every year. We have a 600 m grass strip at our home, we have never had a jabiru land on it, its way too short apparently, The jabiru is not particularly STOL and very slippery, especially yours with the new brown pinstripe. So I doubt that there would be many places in the very nasty tiger country that you would have been able to put down safely in. We do all make choices as to how much risk we take in our flying, how much less than perfect terrain we fly over. I certainly wouldn't fly over the snowy mountains just because an instructor tells me to, just to obtain a bit of paper ie nav endorsement. I may fly over it for my own recreation once a lot more experienced and able to make my own judgement as to the risks involved. I'm very glad that it all worked out well for you and luck was on your side, even more impressed that you would do the flight again and havn't been put off flying. Good luck with the navs and pax endorsements and fly safe Cheers Ian

Just a quetion. Why was a nav training flight carried out over such tigger country? surely the reason for doing nav training is to teach us NOT to fly over such areas. If the head bolt had let go a bit earlier and the outcome not been so good, whoose fault would the crash have been, Jabbirus, the instructors or the pilot in commands?