Mick

In response to comments re the Jab 6 cylinder having more power than a Rotax 912 100hp, I met a guy last week that fitted a Rotax 912uls in his Jab J230 after getting sick of problems with the Jab motor. His performance did not change. In theory 120 hp versus 100hp but in practise not much difference.

I've been sweating my butt off all week in the hangar doing some maintenance on the Sportstar so after lunch today it was great to sneak in an hour long "post maintenance check flight" along the coast near Bundy. Picture below is of Elliott Heads, always spectacular from the air and as it's only 10 minutes from home, it's also a nice place for a swim.

I knew a guy who owned one. He reckoned that when doing a power on stall you did not need a seat belt..... Because your butt reached right out & grabbed hold of the seat!!!

David is your Sportstar registered LSA? If so you will need approval from Evektor to make the change. As I mentioned my Sporty has the 3 1/8 VDO tacho fitted from the factory so that might be their preffered tacho. I know what you mean about the small one, my firt Sporty had that. Cheers!

What has happened to the old one? The VDO one in my Sportstar had the LCD screen for the hour meter fail. I took it out & had the LCD screen replaced. The time was still counting accurately even though the screen would only display intermittently.

Your reliable inside information should have told you it was not a "crash landing" but a fully controlled & well executed gear up landing. Also it was not "in a field near Sydney" but at Maitland airport where there is an airshow today. Our media sensationalise these events enough, we don't need to contribute to that anymore.

So you are saying that Jab engines are good based on your single engine? Going by that Cammit only needed to produce one engine with no problems to be just as good? As Nev has said your Corby being small & fast does not work the engine hard and cools it well. Hardly representative of your common Jab engine working enviroment.

Apparently as the F-35 is supposed to be so multi purpose there was some thinking it would be used as an FAC. The guys carrying out the FAC role would much prefer the Super Tucano.

I was talking to an RAAF guy early last year & he told me there is a push for Australia to aquire a small number of Super Tucano's for use in the Forward Air Controller role. Much more sense than using a mega $$$ F-35 if we ever get them operational.

Is it the clamps that secure the manifold into the muffler that you are after? I think they are an Evektor part. I get all my Sportstar parts from Nelson Aeroplane Company in Victoria. Google will find their details. Harvey the Owner & Lame is very helpful.

The standard Sportstar exhaust does not use springs, so not sure what you are after?

Yep. But that is still not Nikasil..........

I was told by someone who would know that it is a Nikasil "like" plating.

Where have I been? Living with Type 1 diabetes since my late teens. Never believing that CASA will acknowledge the advances in the management of this condition to the point of enabling me to fly GA. For many years I did not think I would ever fly at all. I am thankful for what RAAus has allowed me to do, but fearful that this never ending drive for more by some will result in restrictions most of us do not want to see. Good for you for having PPL, but don't assume that is an option for all RAAus pilots. Also don't bother reffering to the "Drivers License Medical" crap because CASA seem determind to make sure that is not a viable option.

Or maybe we could just accept that what we have is good enough. I don't agree withe constant push for more weight, controlled airspace etc. Where do we stop? It is inevitable that these extras will not come without inreases in regulation. Yes I fly what some may call mini GA, but I am happy with what we have & don't see the need for more.

Yes I have done plenty of flying with the CFI and had a ride in the Sea Max with him. Very good pilot & teacher. Sorry not sure of the rates in the Sea Max, my ride was just a lift home after dropping another aircraft to them after maintenance. We did sneak in several water landings - awesome fun! The Great Sandy Straights between Maryborough and Fraser Island where they operate is just one massive playground in the sea plane. Ideal for training as it offers a great variety of water conditions in just one flight.

Google ProSky Maryborough in Queensland, they have a Sea Max flying boat available to train on. It is in for maintenance at the moment but should be back on line soon.

Definitely not a Globe Swift but quite similar, a nice look.

That drawing of the Beech Model 33 looks a bit like a Globe Swift.

ProSky from Maryborough comes to Bundy a couple of days a week doing RAAus training in an Evektor Sportstar.

Pretty sure Adelaide Biplanes flying school operate Sportstars out of Aldinga near Adelaide. That might be a good option if you want to fly while there without the stress of learning a new aircraft.

Hearing of schools that send students solo at 6 hours makes me wonder just well prepared is that student? I struggle to see how all the elements of training can be covered in so little time? At 6 hours have they had time to achieve any degree of consistancy in their landings? How well have they covered EFIC's? To me before going solo a student should be prepared to deal with any emergency scenarios that could possibly eventuate during that solo. What will the student do if there is an engine failure after take off on their first solo?

I didn't go into all the specs, I was just getting a ride home. I am sure google will find some info for you.

Something different today, hitched a ride back from Maryborough in the Seamax. Weather was perfect so lots of splash & goes along the way. Great fun!!! The SeaMax will soon be on line with ProSky Maryborough for water training & endorsements. The Sandy Straights between Maryborough & Fraser Island are an ideal place to enjoy this type of flying.

An interesting post Ian, I too would like to hear the answers to your questions but it seems the silence is deafening? At some fly in's I have heard people complain about the lack of rag & tube basic aircraft, but no-one is stopping them or turning them away. Event organisers can only put an event on, they can't make certain aircraft come along.